Exuma All Inclusive Resort-Dreams and Destinations

Authors Note Aug. 15, 2024:

Sandals Exuma all-inclusive resort closed August 15, 2024 to transform into an all new Beaches Emerald Bay. Once the resort reopens it will be a family friendly property perfect for destination weddings, family reunions and family group travel. The Exumas are an amazing destination for travelers of all ages (what kid wouldn’t want to swim with pigs?!?), and even though it won’t be an adults-only Sandals we feel this resort will still appeal to couples after it’s transformation. If you were thinking of planning a trip to Sandals Emerald Bay we’ve listed a few alternate options that we think you may enjoy until this resort reopens.

Sandals Royal Bahamian – From Nassau you are still able to take a power boat excursion and visit the swimming pigs in the exumas!
Sandals Grande Antigua – If you are looking for amazing, calm turquoise water and white sand beaches this is a great alternate
Sandals Grande St Lucian – One of our all-time favorite Sandals on fabulous Rodney Bay
Sandals Royal Barbados – Two resorts with walkable exchange privileges and easy access for exploring The Gap
Sandals Negril – Sunsets, calm water and the white sands of 7 Mile Beach

Ways To Book Your Sandals Vacation

Official Sandals Site

Previously Posted March 2023 – We just returned from Sandals Emerald Bay, our favorite Exuma all-inclusive resort, and once again it didn’t disappoint! Not only do we send clients here for honeymoon, destination weddings and milestone vacations, but we LOVE this resort when it is time for US to celebrate with a group of friends or just relax.

Why are the Exumas one of our favorite tropical destinations? The Exumas are a laid back Bahamian paradise of 365 cays and islands located 35 miles southeast of Nassau. In terms of location they are close enough to the US that you can be on the beach before supper, and enough off the beaten path that you feel like you are a world away from your normal.

Why is our favorite Exuma all inclusive resort Sandals Emerald Bay? The Exumas are known as a playground for the rich and famous. There are a number of ultra private, ultra luxurious celebrity homes located here, marinas filled with yachts, high-end beach resorts, private island retreats, and Sandals Emerald Bay is the only luxury ADULTS only, couples only, all inclusive resort in the Exumas.

Here are just a few things we love about the Exumas…

Turquoise water so clear and so turquoise we are nominating it for a hot new Pantone color. We suggest calling it “Exuma Blue”. Pantone are you listening?
Sand. More accurately powder sugar light and fluffy sand. Seriously. Some of the best sand our toes have had the pleasure of meeting.
Swimming pigs. We kid you not. You have not swam until you’ve swum with shipwrecked pigs. Check it out at Island Routes-Exuma

Fishing. This is a fisherman’s paradise…bone fishing, rock fishing, tackle fishing. Kick back with your rod and a cold Kalik and life is as it should be.
Private island romance. There are so many little private uninhabited island in the Exumas that you can actually spend a day at one picnicking, relaxing and channeling your inner Ginger and Professor.

Here is our short list of what makes Sandals Emerald Bay our favorite Exuma all inclusive resort …

All rooms are either club level or butler level at this resort. This means every room has elevated service, room service, in room bar replenished daily and either Sandals great Club Level, or Butler Level, amenities.
Most rooms here have views of the beach or water. A few have garden views. You can’t go wrong whatever view you have though!
Beachfront Butler Villas. Roll out of bed in the mornings and on to the beach. Where your butler can have breakfast waiting…on the beach.
H.U.G.E spa. The largest of any Sandals for years, until Sandals Royal Barbados recently opened with their 15,000 square foot spa. It is impossible not to relax in this spa.
There is a marina onsite! Yachters can dock and enjoy land for a few days before sailing off to the next adventure. Since Sandals is an Exuma all-inclusive resort that offers motorized and non-motorized water sports the marina is also utilized for the snorkeling and diving excursions that are included at Sandals Emerald Bay.
Golf… PGA championship golf in fact. For more details on the Greg Norman golf course at Sandals Emerald Bay you can view the course fact sheet here. Oh and by the way…the back 9 of the golf course is a super gorg wedding location at Sandals Emerald Bay. Imagine expansive greens with a fabulous ocean back drop and the perfect breeze for your special day!
Diving. Sandals INCLUDES diving! And the Exumas are a diver’s dream. You can enjoy the included diving at Sandals every day or you can upgrade your experience and purchase wreck dives, night dives, shark dives. The Exumas offer it all.
Not your average all inclusive, Sandals includes premium liquor (think Jack, Cuervo, Absolute, Appletons and even better in butler accommodations). Wines are Mondavi. Non-motorized AND motorized water sports (Snorkeling off a dive boat at a reef? Included!). All your dining. Daily and nightly entertainment. Basically Sandals offers all of what inclusive resorts offer, and then they add on things you are going to add anyway, but would pay for at other resorts. Check out all of Sandals inclusions here.
The Drunken Duck. We may have done some guest bartending here, we might have enjoyed a little karaoke…or maybe there wasn’t karaoke and we were just singing…because that is what you do in a pub right? We digress. The Drunken Duck is Sandals’ authentic British Pub offering pub food, pub vibes and pub games. Jolly fun!
Firepits in the pool. We love firepits no matter where they are, but IN the pool is uber romantic.
11 restaurants with French, Asian, Indian, Italian, even gourmet hot dogs. You need a week here just to experience all the great (INCLUDED) dining options! We have tried to narrow it down to one favorite, but so far La Parissiene (French), Bombay Club (Indian) and Soy (sushi) are all tied.

Emerald Bay is a sprawling resort with something for everyone and the pricing is pretty incredible considering how much is included in your resort package. Not to mention that there are some really great deals to this resort right now. You can check pricing out on this post here. To get an idea of the size and layout of Sandal Emerald Bay we’ve included a resort map here for you.

We could go on and on, but this gives you a pretty good idea of why Sandals Emerald Bay is our favorite Exuma all inclusive resort and why we love memories of Exuma on cold days, days that are too hot, days that we would like to golf by the water, days that our toes just need sand, days that… you get the picture.

Special shout out to Sandals for the amazing resort photos they let us use here! For readers who want to see our personal Sandals Emerald Bay photos check out our Facebook album here.

If you want more details on Sandals Emerald Bay, need help selecting the perfect room category, arranging a split stay between Sandals Emerald Bay and Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, or if you have any questions regarding Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean feel free to contact us!

Photo credit to Sandals Resorts and Dreams and Destinations Travel. Some links contain affiliate information.