Sandals Emerald Bay
Adults-only resort in Great Exuma.
Things to Know
Traveler Insights(420 discussions)
Sandals Emerald Bay was widely regarded as the most beautiful and romantic property in the entire Sandals portfolio - not necessarily the flashiest or the most amenity-heavy, but the one with the most breathtaking natural setting. Situated on Great Exuma in the Bahamas, the resort sat on a beach that travelers consistently described in superlatives: wide, white, nearly empty, with a shade of turquoise water that photographs couldn't do justice. The property was built on the bones of a former Four Seasons resort (previously a Ritz-Carlton before that), and that architectural pedigree showed in the grounds and room layouts. The resort closed on August 15, 2024, and Sandals Resorts announced a $100 million redevelopment to transform it into Beaches Exuma, a family-friendly brand extension. Groundbreaking was set for early 2026.
For honeymoon travelers, Sandals Emerald Bay delivered on the core promise. The butler service in premium suites was exceptional when it clicked - guests described private beach dinners, seamless logistics, and a level of anticipatory attention that created genuinely memorable experiences. The golf course, designed by Greg Norman, was repeatedly praised as one of the finest resort courses in the Caribbean and was included free for guests staying three nights or more. The surrounding Exuma waters are some of the most pristine in the Caribbean, with snorkeling and diving access to sharks, rays, and the famous swimming pigs of Exuma within excursion range. The tradeoff was the remoteness: getting there required a connection through Nassau, and once there, you were committed to the resort - off-property options were minimal.
Sandals Emerald Bay was the right choice for couples who prioritized natural beauty, seclusion, and the golf or diving experience over resort campus size or dining variety. It competed at the premium tier of Sandals pricing, and the butler villa suites pushed it to the top of the brand's cost range. As it transitions into Beaches Exuma, the property will shift its identity toward families, adding kids and teens clubs, a splash deck, and expanded dining. The beach, the golf course, and the Red Lane Spa are expected to carry over. For past guests who loved it as a couples sanctuary, the new family-focused chapter will be a significant change of character.
Pros
- +Arguably the most beautiful beach in the Sandals portfolio - wide white sand on Great Exuma with turquoise water that former guests still describe as the best they've ever seen
- +Uncrowded by design: the resort's remote Great Exuma location and smaller scale meant far fewer guests than the large-campus Sandals properties in Jamaica or St. Lucia
- +Spectacular Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course with ocean views, included free for guests staying 3+ nights - one of the best resort golf experiences in the Caribbean
- +Butler service in top-tier suites was genuinely praised for anticipating needs, arranging private beach dinners, and handling logistics that made honeymoons feel truly special
- +Former Four Seasons property bones showed in the architecture, room layouts, and grounds quality - a level of built-in elegance not always present at other Sandals locations
- +Exceptional snorkeling and diving access, with pristine Exuma waters offering encounters with sharks, rays, swimming pigs, and vibrant reef systems rarely found at more touristy island destinations
- +Romantic seclusion was genuine, not just marketed - the island's remoteness and low guest density created an intimacy that couples consistently described as the defining feature of the experience
Cons
- −Getting to Great Exuma required a connecting flight through Nassau, adding travel time and cost that some guests underestimated when planning
- −The remote location meant very limited options for off-resort dining or activities beyond what Sandals offered - if you wanted to leave, options were sparse
- −Butler service quality was inconsistent - some couples found it transformative, others reported slow response times and questioned whether the premium suite cost was justified
- −Food quality and variety received mixed reviews, with some guests feeling the dining fell short of what the price point and former Four Seasons reputation suggested
- −The property showed age-related maintenance issues in the years before closure, with some areas feeling dated despite the original quality of construction
- −Sandals' couples-only policy and specific relationship recognition policies had created friction for some prospective guests prior to the company updating its inclusivity standards
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon here. From the moment we stepped out of our vehicle, we realized what a beautiful resort it was. We were treated like royalty and taken care of from check-in to checkout. We purchased the butler package with a v...”
“I can’t begin to tell you what a great time we had at Sandals Emerald Bay. We arrived at the airport and were greeted by a well organized team getting everyone loaded into taxis for the short ride to the resort. There we were greeted by staff and tak...”
“Our honeymoon at sandals emerald bay was perfect from the minute we arrived to departure. Short drive from the airport. On arrival staffed greeted us and we were quickly situated eating lunch and on the beach. The beach is large and beautiful. Not sa...”