Grand Isle Resort & Residences is the most comfortable place to stay on Great Exuma for couples who want space, a kitchen and easy access to boat days in the cays. It sits on Emerald Bay, about 12 minutes from Exuma International Airport, with 78 villas set on a hillside above a sandy beach. A one-bedroom villa here is roughly 1,250 square feet, which is bigger than many city apartments.
The villas come with full gourmet kitchens, marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and terraces looking toward the ocean or the gardens. The resort has a beach club with a pool, bar and restaurant, two more places to eat, the Seastar Spa and a marina. Captains can collect you for full-day trips to Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs. You are also close enough to George Town for an evening at a local fish fry.
Grand Isle suits couples who want a comfortable base with resort facilities and a good price for the space. It is family-friendly, so it will not feel as intimate as a small boutique hotel. There is also a resort fee on top of room rates. For a week on Great Exuma, though, it is a sensible honeymoon choice.
Highlights at a glance
- One-bedroom villas of about 1,250 square feet
- Full gourmet kitchens and whirlpool tubs
- 23° North Beach Club with pool and restaurant
- Seastar Spa and a marina on site
- About 12 minutes from Exuma International Airport
Why Couples Love Grand Isle
Space is the first thing people mention. Even the one-bedroom villas feel like proper homes, with a separate parlor, a dining room and a kitchen equipped with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, oven and dishwasher. That makes it easy to cook breakfast on lazy mornings, pack a picnic for a boat day or simply enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace with no one else around.
The resort also offers the convenience of Great Exuma. The airport is close, so you can be in your villa within minutes of landing. The beach on Emerald Bay is calm and good for swimming. Couples like having a choice of restaurants on site and a spa for a slow afternoon, while George Town is a short drive away for local food and nightlife. It is a good balance between independence and resort comforts. It also costs far less than a private island.
Villas to Book
There are several villa types, but most couples only need to consider one.
- One-Bedroom Villas, about 1,250 square feet, have a king bedroom, a parlor with a sleeper sofa, a full kitchen, a dining room and a marble bathroom with a whirlpool tub. French doors lead from the bedroom to a terrace or balcony. Choose between ocean and garden views.
- Bahia Mar two-bedroom villas, about 2,315 square feet over two floors, offer oceanfront or ocean views.
- The Panoramic Penthouse has two bedrooms on one floor with unobstructed ocean views.
- Lucayan three-bedroom villas and the four-bedroom Grand Penthouse suit groups.
For a honeymoon, book a One-Bedroom Villa with an ocean view. The extra cost over a garden view is worth it for the terrace outlook, which you will enjoy every morning and evening of your stay.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The resort has three places to eat. 23° North Beach Club is the main hub, with a pool, bar and restaurant in an indoor and outdoor space that opens onto Emerald Bay. Palapa offers casual dining, while Sandy Toes sits by the beach for relaxed meals and drinks. Poolside dining is available. The beach club also hosts a New Year's Eve party for couples visiting over the holidays.
Since every villa has a full kitchen, many couples mix restaurant dinners with home cooking. Stock up at the grocery stores in George Town or ask the concierge about provisioning. That flexibility keeps costs down on a longer stay.
The Seastar Spa offers treatments for a quiet afternoon between boat days. Book couples treatments in advance, especially in high season when the resort is busy.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Grand Isle is a good base for exploring the Exumas by boat. Charter a captain for a full day to Thunderball Grotto, the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay and the sandbars of the northern cays. The concierge can book tours, including ATV outings on Great Exuma. The resort's marina is useful if you want to rent a boat or meet a charter.
On land, Emerald Bay's beach is calm and good for swimming and paddleboarding. Drive south to George Town for lunch and a water taxi to Stocking Island, where Chat 'N' Chill is a lively spot for conch salad and a cold drink. Continue to Little Exuma for sunset on Tropic of Cancer Beach. Golf carts can be rented at the resort for short trips, while a rental car is best for longer drives along the island's single main road.
Getting There
Exuma International Airport (GGT) on Great Exuma has direct flights from several US cities, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta, as well as connections via Nassau. The resort is about 12 minutes from the airport. Transfers cost about USD 35 each way for two guests, with a small charge for each additional guest. Taxis are available at similar prices.
Rent a car if you want to explore Great Exuma and Little Exuma at your own pace. Driving is on the left and the main road is straightforward, though street lighting is limited after dark. Golf carts are available at the resort for about USD 50 for the first day and USD 40 for each day after. Pair Grand Isle with a few nights in the cays at Staniel Cay if you want a mix of resort comfort and remote island life.
Is It Worth It?
Grand Isle offers good value for the space. Expect one-bedroom villas to start at roughly USD 450 to 600 a night for two, room only, plus a 22% resort fee. Treat those figures as approximate, since rates rise in winter and over holidays.
You get a large villa with a full kitchen, resort facilities and easy airport access, which is hard to find on Great Exuma at this price. The trade-off is atmosphere: the resort is family-friendly, so it lacks the intimacy of a small boutique hotel. You will also need to book boat days separately. Pick elsewhere if you want a kid-free resort, an all-inclusive plan or a private island setting. Fowl Cay Resort offers an all-inclusive private island stay for much more, while Staniel Cay Yacht Club puts you closer to the cays.
Insider tips
- Book an ocean-view One-Bedroom Villa; the terrace outlook is worth the extra.
- Factor the 22% resort fee into your budget when comparing hotels.
- Stock up on groceries in George Town to make the most of the villa kitchen.
- Book a full-day boat charter early in your stay in case weather forces a reschedule.
