Four-star Emerald Bay, about 15 minutes from George Town, Exuma
Grand Isle Resort & Residences
Seventy-eight villas on the slope above Emerald Bay, a mile of pale sand below them and the airport twelve minutes up the road.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- Villas
- 78, from one to four bedrooms
- Beach
- About a mile on Emerald Bay
- AAA
- Four Diamond
- From the airport
- About 12 minutes from Exuma International
The hotel
Villas owned one by one, run as a hotel.
Grand Isle was built by the Bahamian developer EGI and finished in the late 2000s, just before the recession. EGI went into receivership two years later. The villa owners formed a board, paid the bills and kept the doors open, and the resort has run that way since: each villa belongs to someone, and those in the rental programme are let to hotel guests.
The villas climb the ridge above Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, about fifteen minutes from George Town. They are plantation in style, with marble bathrooms and French doors onto terraces facing the sea or the gardens. Below them runs a mile of beach, and the 18-hole Emerald Reef course lies next door.
- 23° North Beach Club A pool, cabanas and daybeds on the sand, with its own bar and restaurant inside and out.
- Seastar Spa Treatments beside a free-form infinity pool, with a fitness centre alongside.
- On the water Sport and fly fishing, diving, snorkelling and boat trips, with a marina nearby.
Rooms & suites
Room for a family, or for two.
Every villa is a full apartment with a terrace, facing the ocean, the beach or the gardens. Sizes are the hotel's, converted to square metres.
- One bedroom One Bedroom Villa About 116 square metres on a single level.
- Two bedrooms Two Bedroom Villa About 215 square metres over two floors, each bedroom with its own bathroom, looking at the ocean or straight onto the beach.
- Three bedrooms Three Bedroom Villa About 254 square metres, with the living and dining rooms on the top floor.
- Four bedrooms Grand Penthouse Just over 480 square metres at the highest point of the resort.
Dining
Four places to eat and drink.
Restaurants and bars as listed by the resort. Shown for information.
- 23° North Restaurant Listed by the resort
- Palapa Grill Local dishes, jerk-style seafood, barbecue Outdoors, by the pool
- 23° North Beach Club Bar and restaurant Beside the beach club pool
- Sandy Toes Casual Listed by the resort
Recognition
Standing.
- AAA Four Diamond Cited by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
- American Express The Hotel Collection Member hotel
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 4 pm, check-out by 11 am. Luggage can be left at reception either side.
- Children Welcome. Cots and rollaway beds on request, and some villas connect. There is no kids' club or childcare.
- Pets Certified service animals only.
Getting there
Flying to Exuma.
Exuma International is about twelve minutes away by car, says the resort, which books transfers through its concierge. Scheduled flights come in from Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Toronto and Nassau. Private jets use the same airport, where Odyssey Aviation handles arrivals with customs on site.
- Nassau 40 min
- Miami 1 h 00
- New York 2 h 50
- Boston 3 h 10
- London 9 h 35 long-range jet
Questions
What guests ask first.
- How far is Grand Isle from Exuma airport?
- About twelve minutes by car from Exuma International. The concierge arranges transfers, and taxis and hire cars wait at the airport.
- Does Grand Isle have MICHELIN Keys?
- No. The MICHELIN Guide lists no Key hotel on Exuma. The resort holds AAA Four Diamond standing.
- Is Grand Isle suitable for families?
- Yes. The villas run from one to four bedrooms, some with full kitchens, and cots and extra beds are available. There is no kids' club.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Exuma?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Exuma, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Staying at Grand Isle Resort & Residences?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Exuma, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.