To say our trip to Exuma was a dream come true is cliche but the truth. The last 7 years I’ve been very fortunate to travel to lots of places, but this trip was next level. This was our first overnight trip to the Bahamas, as we had only visited this country before for short stops on a cruise. It was also our first time at a Sandals resort. Here’s my honest feedback on the resort and more.

Location

20 out of 10 and I am not exaggerating. I’m a sucker for pretty ocean water and Exuma is home to some of the most beautiful in the world. It is a super small group of islands with a population of only about 7,000 people. The airport was the smallest I had ever been to. It literally gave me “old country store” vibes but I loved it. Sandals Emerald Bay is just a short 10 minute ride from the airport with beautiful views along the way. We took a tour from the resort as well one day and got to see more of the other islands that make up Exuma as well as shoreline, cays and bays. Exuma is also a super safe place! We didn’t leave the resort to adventure but we have a list of local places we want to try when we go back.

Food

10 out of 10…In all of our travels this was the best resort food we’ve ever had. Sandals prides themselves on 5 star gourmet meals and it shows. This resort is on the smaller side, so the food is not bland, “resort style” buffets that you might find at other places who are trying to feed the masses. A couple of restaurants required reservations, but those were easily made through the concierge. My personal favorite was the sushi restaurant, Soy. Everything was fresh and made to order.

Service

7 out of 10…The staff at the resort were super friendly. Everyone you met gave a nod, smile and “hello” regardless of time or place. However, there wasn’t a sense of urgency to wait on you. Now part of this is a cultural difference. As Americans we’re always in a hurry, but Bahamian time is a slower pace. This isn’t a bad thing, but it did take some getting used to. Also we learned that they’re very short staffed so many of the employees were working 2-3 jobs a day and like us, they get tired. With all that said, we never went hungry or thirsty so I guess it’s not a complaint but rather an adjustment. We experienced the delay in service more so at the bars than anywhere. Restaurant service was always quick. Sandals offers different levels of rooms at their resorts. We chose the Club Level which provided us with concierge and room service. You’ll often hear folks speak of the Butler Level at Sandals, but for us we didn’t see the benefit for the price difference. Now this may vary by location, but we didn’t see a butler being worth our money at Emerald Bay.

Excursion

10 out of 10…Call me crazy but swimming with pigs, although we have 3500 at home, just hit different. They even put Richard to work when they found out he was a pig farmer. I also faced a huge fear…lizards. Yep, I fed an iguana and didn’t die when we stopped at Iguana Island. We booked the tour through Sandals before we arrived. It was about a 30 minute trip by van to Exuma Adventures where we then took a boat to Pig Island, Iguana Island and several other well known spots in the islands. I would book this same tour again in a heartbeat. It was one of the best tours I’ve ever taken.

Beach/Pools

9 out of 10…Again, I wanted to visit Exuma for the beaches and water and the one at the resort did not disappoint. There were multiple hammocks and swings for photo ops or relaxing on the beach and plenty of chairs with palapas for shade. We did experience red flag conditions the entire week, however we were still able to swim and enjoy the ocean. Personal opinion, but their red flag isn’t as bad as the ones we have here in the south. Because of the red flags though we were not able to use the watersports equipment that is a part of their all-inclusive package but we enjoyed the area nonetheless. They offer a main pool where there is music, games and plenty of socialization and a quiet pool if you’re looking for privacy. We never had a problem securing a chair or an umbrella at the main pool and enjoyed meeting folks from all over while there.

Resort Grounds/Facilities

8 out of 10…This facility isn’t new, but has been well kept considering the beating it takes from the elements daily. All indoor areas were nicely furnished and clean. The outdoor areas were well maintained. People were constantly working to keep all areas looking neat. Our room was spacious and comfortable. My biggest complaint would be that everything towards the end of the week seemed damp in our room, but it is because it was so hot outside and our room was being air conditioned. Again, not a big issue and nothing anyone could help or fix.

Overall, we would book another Sandals but just know that if you’re looking for “bang for your buck” this is not it. For places like Mexico or Jamaica, I still recommend Excellence based upon amenities offered and overall value. However, if Exuma is on your list then Sandals Emerald Bay is the perfect location. Remember, it is adults only and geared toward couples. It is not a party spot, but Exuma offers a few other resorts and lots of AirBnB options. Wherever your travels take you, be safe and have fun!

With love,

Holly

My Review of Sandals Emerald Bay-Exuma, Bahamas