Grand Isle Resort And Residences
Family-friendly resort in Great Exuma.
Things to Know
Amenities
Traveler Insights(398 discussions)
Grand Isle Resort in Great Exuma is the kind of place people describe as a bucket-list destination rather than an annual holiday - it earns that status through sheer beauty and remoteness. Emerald Bay is legitimately one of the most striking stretches of beach in the Bahamas, and the villa format means guests arrive to a gourmet kitchen, a golf cart, and a private patio rather than a standard hotel corridor. The scale is deliberately small and uncrowded, which is the point. For travellers who have done Nassau and Atlantis and want to understand why people love the Bahamas beyond the tourist circus, Great Exuma makes an immediate, compelling case.
The resort works best as a launching pad for the Exuma Cays excursion circuit. Swimming with the famous Exuma pigs, feeding nurse sharks, snorkeling in grottos, watching iguanas crowd the shoreline for food - these day-trip experiences are genuinely extraordinary and unavailable anywhere else in the world. The on-site restaurants are solid rather than spectacular, and the Kids Club provides a structured daytime option for families. Paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkel gear are included, so guests who stay on-property still have enough activity to fill a day without spending extra. The two restaurants handle most guest needs adequately, though they are stretched during peak occupancy.
Grand Isle makes the most sense for couples or small families who want a true off-the-beaten-path Caribbean escape and have the budget to absorb both the villa rates and the cost of flights through Nassau. It is not a fit for travellers who need variety in dining, walkable surroundings, or reliable connectivity. It competes in a niche bucket-list category alongside properties like Fowl Cay and other small Bahamian boutique resorts rather than against Nassau's large-scale resort market. Most guests who leave having done the excursion circuit describe it as one of the most memorable trips of their lives.
Pros
- +Private personal golf cart included with every villa stay - guests drive themselves around the property at their own pace without waiting for shuttles
- +One to four bedroom villas with fully equipped gourmet kitchens, spacious marble bathrooms, and private patios make the accommodations feel like a private vacation home rather than a hotel room
- +Mile-long Emerald Bay beach with ivory sand and crystal-clear turquoise water that rivals any beach in the Bahamas without the crowds of Nassau
- +Complimentary non-motorised water sports including paddleboards, kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkel kits available directly at the beach
- +Gateway to the Exuma Cays excursion circuit - swimming pigs, nurse sharks, iguanas, and private sand bars all reachable within a short boat ride
- +Kids Club on-site gives families a structured activity option in a destination that can otherwise be challenging to occupy young children
- +Intimate, uncrowded atmosphere compared to Nassau mega-resorts - the small number of villas means the beach and pool never feel overrun
- +On-site dining at two restaurants including the Grill House at 23 North, which guests praise for quality Caribbean and American fare
Cons
- −Remote Great Exuma location means flights typically require a connection through Nassau, adding significant travel time and cost compared to other Bahamian destinations
- −Limited dining options on-property with only two restaurants, and leaving the resort for variety requires a 20-minute taxi ride into Georgetown at your own expense
- −Sargassum seaweed can accumulate on Emerald Bay beach during certain months, and housekeeping does not always address it promptly
- −Grocery and supply options near the resort are very limited, so guests who want to use the villa kitchen for cooking need to plan and shop in Georgetown in advance
- −The price point is steep even by Bahamian luxury standards - the nightly villa rates are hard to justify for travellers who do not maximise the space and location
- −Some guests report inconsistency in service speed and dining availability, particularly during busy periods when the small restaurant staff is stretched thin
- −There is genuinely very little to do within walking distance of the resort itself - without booking excursions or renting a car, days can feel isolated
- −Internet connectivity and phone signal are limited in parts of the property, which is a deal-breaker for any travellers who need reliable remote work access
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Beautiful place to stay. It's far from town, fyi. Cheapest, and best selection of groceries are in town. The condos are amazing. Daily service if you want it. They were good about just leaving us coffee, tea, and towels if we didn't need service. The...”
“Absolutely Outstanding Stay at Grand Isle Resort! Grand Isle Resort is truly accommodating, beautiful, and staffed with amazing people! We originally stopped by just to have lunch at Palapa, but the moment we entered the property, we knew we had to...”
“This place was beautiful. The people are so kind starting with Paul and Jay from once you get out of the taxi followed by the rest of the staff. If there is an event or an excursion you are interested in Sherry will pull the strings and have everythi...”