11 Best Hotels in The Exumas, Bahamas

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Accommodations in the Exumas are more wide-ranging than on most Bahamian Out Islands. You can stay in simple stilt cottages, fabulous rooms with butler service, atmospheric old inns, modern condo rentals, all-inclusives, eco-lodges, or bed-and-breakfasts—temporary homes-away-from-home for every taste and price point. Most places have lots of personality and are distinctive in some marvelous way—a great hangout for fishermen, a peaceful place of tranquillity with no distractions, or action-packed resorts with head-spinning activity choices. Meal plans are available at some hotels.

The mainland of Great Exuma has had an energetic growth spurt that includes some of the country's most luxurious hotels, including Sandals Emerald Bay, Grand Isle Resort and Spa; and February Point Resort Estates.

Augusta Bay

$$$ | Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas

The perfect balance of luxury and casual chic, without the megaresort feel, this eighteen-room resort on 300 feet of narrow beach is a mile north of George Town. Decor includes luxurious, dark colonial-style furniture and woven jute beds. Pillow-top queen- and king-size beds, 400-thread-count linens, feather-down comforters, stone floors, and marble baths with glass-enclosed rain showers and double-vanity sinks round out the opulence. French doors open onto private patios or balconies that overlook the pool and a gorgeous white-sand beach. Marvel at the lodge's tiered, stained-pine cathedral ceiling. Augusta Bay Restaurant serves authentic Bahamian dishes.

Pros

  • Quiet property
  • Resort provides snorkeling and sea kayaking
  • On-site ocean-view bar has top-rated rum punch and cocktails

Cons

  • Some fixtures and furnishings show wear
  • Need a car to drive to town and shops
  • Many services come at an extra cost
Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas
242-336–2251
hotel Details
18 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Compass Cay Marina

$$$$ | Compass Cay, Bahamas

Five spacious houses on the island, which is 1½ miles long and one mile wide, are separated by lush palm and hardwood hammocks and so far apart that you feel you have the island to yourself. Houses all have spectacular 360-degree water views from atop the limestone hilltops, and some come with 13-foot Boston Whalers. There is a small Dockside Grill for lunch, and a store selling drinks and snacks—as well as hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch during high season. Rates for houses are per week.

Pros

  • Remote tranquility
  • Boat included
  • All houses are fully equipped with amenities

Cons

  • Expensive to get to
  • Too remote
  • Not many activities
Compass Cay, Bahamas
772-532–4793
hotel Details
5 villas
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Embrace Resort

$$ | Staniel Cay, Bahamas

Less than two minutes away from the Staniel Cay Airport is Embrace Resort, a charming boutique hotel that prides itself on offering top-notch Bahamian hospitality. What this resort lacks in luxury it makes up for in comfort — with a welcoming owner, Nikki, and accommodating staff that goes above and beyond for guests. The resort features seven pastel-painted villaseach named after an island in The Bahamas. No two villas are designed the same, but all feature island-inspired decor, a refrigerator, and air-conditioning, along with daily maid services. There's also a great restaurant on-site.

Pros

  • Staff will book excursions upon request
  • Complimentary airport and marina transfers
  • Most villas have a balcony

Cons

  • Basic rooms
  • On-site pool is small
  • Most services are at an extra cost
Staniel Cay, Bahamas
242-524--0951-whatsapp
hotel Details
7 villas
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast, Breakfast not offered on Sunday.

Quick Facts

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Recommended Fodor's Video

February Point Resort Estates

$$$$ | Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas

This gated residential community and resort is a world all on its own—with oceanfront residences, penthouses, custom homes, and vacation villas that are available as guest accommodations. The two-story villas painted in pastel colors have magnificent views of Elizabeth Harbour. Luxuriously decorated, the villas are serviced by housekeepers every other day. Guests may use the community's fitness center, tennis courts, and spa. 

Pros

  • Beach club with an infinity pool and sundeck
  • Great restaurant on-property
  • Villas are completely private

Cons

  • More like a gated community than a resort
  • A small number of guests per villa
  • No entertainment within the community
Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas
242-336–2660
hotel Details
8 villas
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Grand Isle Resort & Residences

$$$$ | Rokers Point Settlement, Bahamas Fodor's Choice

This luxurious 78-villa complex boasts one of the island's few spas, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a poolside patio restaurant. A secluded patch of Emerald Bay Beach is right off the pool, and guests can use the kayaks and snorkel equipment. Rooms are elaborate and vary from one-bedroom garden-view villas to four-bedroom penthouses. 

Pros

  • The ultimate in luxury accommodations
  • Villas have fully loaded kitchens, private patios, and washers and dryers
  • Each villa has its own golf cart

Cons

  • 20-minute drive from George Town and not much to do near the resort
  • Lacks local flavor
  • Golf-cart parking is extra
Rokers Point Settlement, Bahamas
242-358–5000
hotel Details
78 villas
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Hideaways at Palm Bay

$$ | Queen's Hwy., Bahamas

One of George Town's most modern accommodations, Hideaways is all about light and color. The rooms and villas have a calming color scheme that includes beige and light blue, but the interiors are brightly painted, with wood furniture. Ranging from studio to two-bedroom options, most of the accommodations are on or near the beach and are in close proximity to the other amenities. Clustered on oleander-lined boardwalk paths along a lovely sand beach, the indulgence can definitely be justified. Each unit has a patio and a kitchenette or kitchen. Kayaks and paddleboats are free for guests. The huge circular poolside bar and patio attracts island crowds.

Pros

  • Roomy accommodations
  • A short drive to George Town's restaurants
  • Great restaurant and bar on-site

Cons

  • Beach all but disappears at high tide
  • Accommodations are close together
  • Free Wi-Fi is unreliable
Queen's Hwy., Bahamas
242-336–2787
hotel Details
40 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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MacDuff's Cottages

$$$$ | Norman’s Cay, Bahamas

Surrounded by tranquil seas, lush landscapes, and remote island living, this stunning retreat, with six oceanfront cottages and a restaurant, offers the beauty of a tropical paradise and the remoteness of a private escape. The six oceanfront and ocean-view cottages are decorated with simple, contemporary decor, providing just what you need for a true Family Islands vacation. The on-site restaurant serves delicious Bahamian meals and specialty cocktails.

Pros

  • Staff will arrange excursions to nearby cays
  • Kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding available
  • All cottages feature a large covered porch with ocean view

Cons

  • Expensive to get there
  • Might be too remote
  • Not many activities
Norman’s Cay, Bahamas
242-357--9501
hotel Details
6 cottages
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Paradise Bay Bahamas

$$ | Queen's Hwy., Bahamas Fodor's Choice

Sitting right on the beach in Great Exuma, Paradise Bay is a charming boutique hotel with a cheerful Franco-Bahamian style. The resort is owned by a family hailing from Paris, and the French influence is evident throughout the property, but especially at the on-site restaurant, Cocoplum Bistro, which serves a fusion of Bahamian and French dishes. The resort has 11 cottages and villas, all of which are beachfront. The rooms are spacious and modern, painted in a calming color scheme of blue, white, and yellow. The two-bedroom cottages and the villas are equipped with a kitchenette. There's also a small pool with partial ocean views.

Pros

  • Kayaks and other water sports available
  • Convenience stores and restaurants are nearby
  • Ocean view from rooms

Cons

  • Limited amenities
  • Need to rent a car to go into the town
  • Cottages are close together, so little privacy
Queen's Hwy., Bahamas
242-358–5229
hotel Details
11 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast, Closed late Aug. to mid-Oct.

Quick Facts

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Peace & Plenty Resort and Beach Club

$$$ | Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas

The first Exumas hotel and granddaddy of the island's omnipresent Peace & Plenty empire, this pink, two-story lodge is in the heart of the action in George Town. Rooms have private balconies overlooking the pool or ocean. There's no on-property beach, but its Beach Club on Stocking Island is a five-minute ferry shuttle away (free for guests). A poolside bar, named "Doc's" in honor of Lermon "Doc" Rolle, who held court at the poolside bar for over 40 years, offers an incredible view. The indoor bar attracts locals and a yachting crowd, especially during the National Family Island Regatta. Peace & Plenty also has five island cottages on Stocking Island for those who want to make Exuma their temporary home.

Pros

  • Resort has a marina, stunning pool, and business center
  • Friendly staff
  • Ocean-view balconies in some rooms

Cons

  • No beach
  • Have to take a water taxi to Stocking Island
  • Some furniture shows signs of wear and tear
Queen's Hwy., George Town, Bahamas
242-524--9197
hotel Details
34 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Sandals Emerald Bay

$$$$ | Queen's Hwy., Rokers Point Settlement, Bahamas Fodor's Choice
Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma
Sandals Grande Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas

Sandals Emerald Bay is Great Exuma's most luxurious all-inclusive resort, with cream and aqua buildings facing a mile-long stretch of powdery white sand and a half-acre zero-entry pool in the center of the property. The room rate includes all food at the resort's 11 restaurants and all nonmotorized water sports. The resort also features a deep-water marina with 150 slips, two other pools, six bars, and a game room.

Pros

  • Luxe butler suites available
  • Popular spa with 16 treatment rooms
  • Has the only 18-hole golf course on the island

Cons

  • The resort is isolated
  • Lacks Bahamian flavor
  • Rooms near entertainment areas can be noisy
Queen's Hwy., Rokers Point Settlement, Bahamas
242-336–6800
hotel Details
249 suites
Rate Includes: All-Inclusive

Quick Facts

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

$$$$ | Staniel Cay, Bahamas Fodor's Choice
Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Cays of the Exumas
SCYC

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club is nothing short of legendary, once drawing such luminaries as Malcolm Forbes and Robert Mitchum to its property. It's now a low-key getaway for yachties and escapists. The cotton candy–color cottages, perched on stilts along a rocky bank, have broad ocean vistas and dramatic sunsets, which you can treasure from a chaise lounge on your spacious private balcony. Take a tour of the cay in one of the club's golf carts. Meal plans are available.

Pros

  • Great restaurant
  • Authentic Bahamian experience
  • Great for families, and children's activities can be arranged

Cons

  • Expensive to get to without a private boat or plane
  • No TVs in many of the rooms
  • Most services cost extra
Staniel Cay, Bahamas
242-355–2024
hotel Details
15 cottages
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts