Grand Isle Resort & Residences: Exuma’s Luxury Villa Paradise
Nestled along the pristine shores of Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Grand Isle Resort & Residences offers an exclusive villa resort experience that combines residential luxury with world-class resort amenities. This intimate property provides discerning travelers with spacious accommodations, personalized service, and access to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, creating an ideal retreat for families, groups, and couples seeking privacy within a resort setting.
Exclusive Villa Living in Paradise
Grand Isle Resort distinguishes itself through its collection of luxury villas, each offering the space and amenities of a private home with the services and facilities of a premium resort. The property’s intimate scale – just 78 villas – ensures exclusivity and personalized attention that larger resorts cannot match. This approach appeals to travelers who value privacy and space without sacrificing resort conveniences.
The resort’s location on Emerald Bay places guests within walking distance of the Greg Norman-designed golf course and provides easy access to Exuma’s famous attractions. The property’s design maximizes beachfront exposure, with villas positioned to capture ocean views and cooling trade winds. Manicured grounds transition seamlessly to native vegetation and pristine beach, maintaining the natural beauty that makes Exuma special.
Spacious Villas with Resort Amenities
Grand Isle’s villas range from junior one-bedrooms to expansive four-bedroom penthouses, each featuring full kitchens, separate living and dining areas, and private terraces or balconies with ocean or garden views. The residential design includes washers and dryers, multiple bathrooms, and ample storage, making extended stays comfortable and convenient. This home-like environment particularly appeals to families and groups traveling together.
Interior designs reflect casual Caribbean elegance with high-end finishes including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and custom tropical furnishings. Master suites feature king beds with premium linens, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and separate showers, and private balcony access. The combination of residential comfort and resort luxury creates accommodations that feel like vacation homes with hotel services.
Culinary Options and In-Villa Dining
Grand Isle’s signature restaurant, 23 North, showcases fresh seafood and international cuisine with stunning ocean views from both indoor and outdoor seating areas. The menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, with daily specials featuring just-caught fish and seasonal produce. The beachside Tiki Bar offers casual dining throughout the day, serving everything from breakfast sandwiches to sunset cocktails.
The resort’s grocery delivery service allows guests to stock their villa kitchens with provisions, enabling comfortable in-villa dining with ocean views. Many guests enjoy preparing some meals using local ingredients like fresh conch and grouper from nearby markets. The resort also offers private chef services for those wanting professional meal preparation in their villa, combining the privacy of home dining with restaurant quality.
Beach Club and Water Activities
Grand Isle’s Beach Club serves as the resort’s activity hub, offering complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling equipment for exploring the calm, clear waters of Emerald Bay. The beach’s gradual slope and protective reef create ideal conditions for swimming and water sports, while the extensive shoreline provides plenty of space for beachcombing and relaxation.
The resort’s activities coordinator arranges various water excursions, from bone fishing in nearby flats to deep-sea fishing charters targeting marlin and mahi-mahi. Snorkeling and diving trips explore Exuma’s spectacular reefs and blue holes, while boat excursions visit the famous swimming pigs and other Exuma Cays attractions. The resort’s location provides quick access to these experiences while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.
Spa and Wellness Experiences
The Palms Spa at Grand Isle offers a comprehensive menu of treatments designed to rejuvenate body and spirit. Treatment rooms with ocean views provide tranquil settings for massages, facials, and body treatments utilizing natural ingredients. The spa emphasizes personalized wellness experiences, with therapists tailoring treatments to individual needs and preferences.
In-villa spa services bring relaxation directly to guests, allowing couples or groups to enjoy treatments on their private terraces. The fitness center provides modern equipment with ocean views, while yoga classes on the beach offer mindful movement in paradise. The resort’s walking paths through tropical gardens provide opportunities for peaceful strolls and meditation.
Family-Friendly Luxury
Grand Isle excels as a family destination, with villa accommodations providing space for multi-generational groups to vacation together comfortably. The resort’s kids’ club offers supervised activities including treasure hunts, crafts, and marine education programs. The gentle beach conditions allow parents to relax while children play safely in shallow waters.
Family amenities include children’s menus at restaurants, babysitting services, and equipment rentals like cribs and high chairs. The resort organizes family-friendly excursions such as swimming with nurse sharks and feeding stingrays, creating educational adventures that appeal to all ages. Many villas feature bunk bed configurations perfect for children, while multiple bathrooms reduce morning congestion.
Golf and Island Exploration
Grand Isle guests enjoy privileges at the adjacent Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course, one of the Caribbean’s premier championship layouts. The Greg Norman design offers challenging play with spectacular ocean views, particularly on the six oceanfront holes. Golf packages include preferred tee times and transportation, making it easy for enthusiasts to enjoy world-class golf.
Beyond golf, the resort’s concierge arranges island explorations including visits to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, swimming with dolphins, and day trips to Stocking Island. Cultural experiences include tours of George Town, the Exuma capital, where guests can explore local markets, historic sites, and authentic Bahamian restaurants. These excursions provide insights into island life beyond the resort.
Events and Celebrations
Grand Isle’s intimate scale and flexible villa accommodations make it ideal for group events, from family reunions to corporate retreats. The resort’s event spaces include beachfront locations for ceremonies and indoor venues for meetings or receptions. The exclusive nature of the property allows for customized events that feel more like private parties than hotel functions.
Wedding celebrations benefit from the resort’s stunning beach setting and experienced event planning team. Couples can choose from beach ceremonies with turquoise water backdrops to garden settings surrounded by tropical blooms. The villas accommodate wedding parties comfortably, creating a house-party atmosphere for multi-day celebrations. Many couples book multiple villas for guests, essentially creating a private resort experience.
Your Private Paradise in Exuma
Grand Isle Resort & Residences offers a unique accommodation experience in Great Exuma, combining the privacy and space of villa living with resort amenities and services. This approach particularly appeals to travelers who find traditional hotel rooms confining but still want access to restaurants, activities, and concierge services during their vacation.
The resort’s location in Emerald Bay provides easy access to Exuma’s attractions while maintaining a peaceful, exclusive atmosphere. For families, groups, or couples seeking spacious accommodations in one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful settings, Grand Isle delivers an exceptional experience. The combination of residential comfort, personalized service, and Exuma’s natural wonders creates vacations that feel less like hotel stays and more like private escapes to paradise, where the biggest decision each day is whether to explore the island’s wonders or simply relax in your own piece of tropical heaven.