Club Med Columbus - Bahamas
Family-friendly resort in San Salvador. Quiet, Family.
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Traveler Insights(340 discussions)
Club Med Columbus Isle is one of those resorts that earns its 4.5 rating by being genuinely exceptional for a specific type of traveler - the scuba diver or serious water sports enthusiast who wants a fully supported all-inclusive base for underwater exploration in one of the Caribbean's most dramatic dive environments. The reefs surrounding San Salvador drop thousands of feet, feature abundant shark and ray activity, and the dive boats and equipment infrastructure that Club Med maintains specifically for this property are legitimately world-class. The ScubaBoard community talks about this resort as one of the premier dive-and-stay options in the Caribbean.
The counterintuitive thing to know before booking: diving costs extra. Despite the dive operation being the resort's signature feature and despite the all-inclusive covering 22+ activities, scuba diving involves additional per-dive charges. This gets called out as confusing in reviews - budget for diving as a separate cost from the start. The island location on San Salvador is genuinely remote and getting there involves a Bahamian puddle-jumper from Nassau. For the right traveler - someone who specifically wants this dive environment - the logistics are worth it.
Club Med Columbus Isle is right for certified divers who want to base a Caribbean dive trip around an all-inclusive with proper infrastructure, travelers who want genuine water sports variety included in their stay, and Club Med loyalists who prefer the brand's participatory social culture. Non-divers considering this resort primarily for beach should compare it against better-value Club Med properties in more accessible locations.
Pros
- +The dive operation at Columbus Isle is among the best-equipped in the Caribbean - boats, gear, and dive staff that scuba enthusiasts specifically travel to access
- +Wall dives dropping from 50 feet to over 2,000 feet, stunning swim-throughs, sharks, rays, and lionfish are accessible on the reefs surrounding San Salvador island
- +All-inclusive covers 22+ activities including sailing, windsurfing, tennis, kayaking, and more - extraordinary breadth of activity inclusion
- +San Salvador is one of the most historically significant sites in the Americas - reputed to be Columbus's first Caribbean landing site
- +The resort reopened in 2022 after a long closure with state-of-the-art dive facilities and renovated water sports infrastructure
- +Small, intimate resort atmosphere - one of Club Med's most boutique properties with a relaxed, European-influenced vibe
- +Consistently excellent weather in the southern Bahamas with less hurricane exposure than the northern Out Islands
- +Club Med's GO (Gentil Organisateur) staff culture creates genuinely social, participatory energy throughout the resort
Cons
- −Scuba diving is NOT included in the all-inclusive despite being the resort's primary draw - it's a significant additional cost per dive
- −Getting to San Salvador is logistically complex - you fly to Nassau and take a connecting flight on a small prop plane, adding time and complexity
- −Limited off-resort options on San Salvador - the island is small and rural with minimal town infrastructure beyond the resort
- −Club Med's pricing is premium and commands a notable premium over comparable Caribbean all-inclusives without the dive infrastructure
- −Club Med's organized activities format doesn't appeal to guests who want to be left alone - the GO staff actively try to engage guests
- −The activity variety is comprehensive but some activities require advance sign-up and can fill up
- −San Salvador's remoteness makes it a genuine commitment - this is not a casual last-minute resort choice
- −Non-divers visiting primarily for beach may find the all-inclusive value harder to justify at the price point
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Google Reviews
“We absolutely loved our stay at Club Med Columbus in the Bahamas. The beach is simply breathtaking, with an idyllic turquoise blue that looks straight out of a postcard. This resort has a relaxed atmosphere and is mainly focused on water sports — ca...”
“I’ve been here for two weeks. I never saw such an amazing coastline. This club is now my favourite 😍The food was great. The GO’s were amazing. You can play tennis or all kinds of water sports go to yoga class diving around the island or snorkelling...”
“One of the best hotels in the Bahamas! Fantastic stay! We stayed here a few years back with my wife, we really enjoyed our stay, and I have some memorable souvenirs of the food. Generally speaking the buffet time is not something to look for but not...”