We spent 8 of the most relaxing days ever at the Grand Isle. We are picky travelers, especially when it comes to accommodations and Grand Isle did not disappoint! The villas are luxurious and beautifully appointed, equal to or better than a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons. Pictures do not do it justice. We chose an ocean-view villa for $100 less per night than the ocean-front villa and would definitely do this again as the view was expansive and lovely. The furniture is comfy, nice big-screen TV's, very large and bright bathroom. Lots of windows and high ceilings throughout. There was also a small washer and dryer which, for me, was a really nice perk. There is free wi-fi in the rooms and it's reliable and fast. My husband loved having our own golf cart which is available to use not only on the resort grounds, but also for jaunts to the market or the marina restaurant. The staff was great--welcoming, warm, and professional. The grounds of the Grand Isle are gorgeous. The pool area is very nice and overlooks the beach and ocean which is just a short walk down. It's important to note that if you sit near the foliage you'll need to bring your bug spray! The beach is beautiful and very private, with cushy cabana-style lounge chairs. You can use the resort kayaks at no charge. There are some high quality snorkeling spots right there. We rented a car for our entire stay and were glad we did. The Grand Isle is at northern part of the island, about a 20 minute drive from Georgetown, so you'll need a car to get around if you stay there.
About Exuma: We got exactly what we were looking for in a vacation--beautiful water, great snorkeling, and a non-touristy laid back atmosphere. If you are looking for activities, shopping, and restaurants--go to Nassau, not Exuma. There is a reason they call it 'The Real Bahamas'--it's all about the beauty of the island and water. If you are planning on bringing your teenagers, they'll be bored. We rented a boat from Minn's Marina in Georgetown and spent two full days on the water in Elizabeth's Harbour. Next time, we plan to spend even more time boating, as we barely scratched the surface of snorkeling spots. We saw a huge variety of beautiful fish including a 4 ft. stingray, lobster, lion fish, parrot fish, queen angels, french angels, squirrel fish, blue tangs, barracuda, needle fish, and too many more to mention! You can also have a tour-guide take you out on the water for the day, but we were glad we rented our own boat, so we could explore the harbour on our own. We had lunch at Chat 'n Chills both days we spent boating. GO THERE. It's just down-right fun. Chat 'n Chill is also the only restaurant on Exuma that doesn't charge a 'mandatory gratuity'.
I can't say enough good things about the local people of Exuma. They are kind, friendly and welcome you to their island. We went to the 'fish fry' one Friday night which is a group of hut-like bars grouped together near Georgetown. Funny thing is, there is no fish frying! But if you want to meet and mingle with the locals definitely check it out!
Okay, so now for a few things you need to know about Exuma--first, it's an out island and there is minimal medical care. If something other than a minor cut were to happen to you, you would need to get a flight to Nassau. There is no hospital on Exuma. There is also no fire department. The food at the restaurants is limited and expensive. We spent an average of $60 on lunch and $120 for dinner which included the 'mandatory gratuity' (this was with 1-2 cocktails at $10-$15 each) and the food is so-so at best. We definitely did not gain weight on this vacation (which is not a bad thing!). We discovered a great market, Smitty's, located about 5 minutes north of Georgetown and they have a good variety of food and munchies. When we go back, we plan to pre-ship food down and have more meals in our villa.