Beaches Exuma Resort Preview
Sandals announced the closure of Sandals Emerald Bay and that it will be refurbished and revitalized before reopening as Beaches Exuma. We will keep this page updated as more details become available.
Here is what we know about Beaches Exuma.
Arrival:
Where Is Beaches Exuma Located?
Set on a privileged enclave of The Bahama’s, Beaches Exuma is located in, Great Exuma, Bahamas along a mile-long private beach makes the perfect place to escape to.
What Airport Do You Fly Into For Beaches Exuma?
When traveling to Exuma, the airport you fly into is in George Town Exuma International Bahamas. The airport is very small and really easy to navigate. Luggage retrieval is literally through a small, garage-door like portal. Don’t let it fool you, it was the most organized luggage pick-up I have witnessed to date.
How Far Is Beaches Exuma From The Airport?
Located on the white sands of Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, this luxurious couples-only all-inclusive resort is 10 km from Exuma International Airport and 22 km from George Town, Queens Highway, Great Exuma, Bahamas.
Does Beaches Exuma Pick You Up From the Airport?
Yes! Transfers to and from the airport are always included as part of your resort stay.
After proceeding through customs, we exited and went to the right to the Sandals check-in desk and had our luggage tagged. We were then escorted to a car and shared a ride with another couple to the resort.
Pro tip: Check-in starts at 3pm. So if you don’t want to wait for your room to be ready to change your clothes, bring a suit and flip flops in your personal item. The staff takes your bags, and you don’t see them again until you are in your room.
The Rooms:
As Sandals revitalizes the resort, many of the current rooms and villas will be remodeled and will be able to accommodate families. For example, the one bedroom butler suites that have a living room will easily accommodate up to 5 people. I believe some of the beach villas could be converted into 2-4 bedroom villas for a larger family group.
For our last trip, we stayed in the Beach House Honeymoon Oceanview Grande Luxe Club Level Room.
This room might be able to fit a sofa bed or additional trundle bed.
Pro tip: Ask for a second-floor room. You still get a beautiful view AND you have a covered patio for the times you have “liquid sunshine”. Also, building 2 is the ideal location. If you head out the back exit, you are right by the path to the golf pro shop AND the shops. The front exit takes you right by the Drunken Duck, the main stage, and the fabulous pool.
Experiencing The Beach At Beaches Exuma
I just want to say that there are truly no words to describe the beauty that is the beach at the resort and experiencing it in person is the only way to fully appreciate it. The water is stunning and breathtaking, and the sand is soft & white.
The only downside to the beach is that it can be fairly windy, which means there are a lot of red flag days (you can’t use the water toys or go in the water very far). And with wind, comes seaweed and other ocean foliage being washed up. The staff works hard to keep up with it, but Mother Nature generally wins.
Because of the wind and the choppy water conditions that accompany it, there were times that the included snorkeling trips were cancelled. It was a bit of a disappointment because I really wanted to experience the blue water.
Pro tip: the beach palapas can be snatched up quickly. Head to the beach early to grab one. You really don’t need to go anywhere else once you are there. Your spouse can grab lunch to bring back, and you can run the short distance to the pool bar for another beverage. Because of the size of the beach, beverage service on the beach can be few and far between.
The Pool:
With Beaches Exuma, the main pool, and spa pool will likely stay the same. The quiet pool will make for a perfect adult only pool, but that is only a guess. The spa pool will also likely remain. We also expect to see new pools and fun water features or water slides perfect for kids.
Pro tip: there tends to be A LOT of floatie hoarding. Bring your own so you can spend the day floating around with a drink in your hand. And be considerate of those around you. If you aren’t going to use your lounger or float, set it free for another guest to enjoy.
Beaches Exuma Golf Course:
The golf course will definitely remain. The back 9 is something that absolutely cannot be missed. The beauty of the ocean, the homes you see, and the challenge of the course made it the perfect addition to our trip to paradise.
Tours & Excursions:
Experiencing Beaches Exumas includes leaving the resort and exploring the island. We did the historical tour through Island Routes, and another tour through an outside vendor.
Both of them allowed us to see all parts of this beautiful island and were well worth it. During the tours, you never felt unsafe or pressured, and it gave you an opportunity to truly live the island life.
We did the famous “Swimming with The Pigs” tour through Robert’s Island Adventures. It was definitely one of my favorite tours!
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