We recently spent 5 nights there—our first visit, and for avoidable reasons, probably our last. PROS: Beautiful setting with very low “guest density,” i.e. secluded and uncrowded. Miles of deserted beach and picturesque tidal flats. Good food, albeit with a stagnant menu. They deliver a continental breakfast basket each morning, which is quite tasty. There’s an espresso machine and a sometimes-stocked mini refrigerator in the cottages. Beach cottages are comfortable and are located very close to the beach. Outdoor showers are good, AC works fine, bedding is nice. Not much in the way of curtains, so the sun comes in early. Great kiteboarding/swimming right in front of the cottage. (We took our own kiting gear.) Good place to disconnect and “get away from it all,” as there is no WiFi in the cottages. The overwater spa is a truly unique and wonderful place to have a massage. Other guests are generally friendly and interesting people. CONS: Property is very spread-out. It’s over a mile from the main facilities to the beach cottages, which takes about 10 minutes at full speed in a golf cart. Consequently, service is slow. It sometimes took over an hour to get ice delivered to the cottage, and 5 hours to get the sheets changed. They do give you a golf cart for your personal use, but make sure to always take the key with you, so inebriated guests or staff don’t “borrow” it. As mentioned above, there is no Wifi in the cottages, but there is good cell service if you have an international plan. NO scuba diving if it’s windy. This was a major disappointment for us—we were unable to dive at all during our stay, however, Joey at the dive shop was great, and felt our pain. Tennis court is unplayable. Described in their literature as “a clay court,” it’s actually decayed asphalt with a makeshift net, partially covered by sand drifts. At checkout, there were over $350 of erroneous charges on our bill. Staff did remove them, but only after a few eye-rolls. They did not apologize and offered no explanation. It’s all about attitude. Our biggest disappointment with Kamalame was that a majority of the staff seemed to resent us as visitors to the island, even when we gave them tips and verbally expressed our appreciation for their efforts. A few of the staff were helpful and cheerful, but most were either apathetic or surly. When you’re paying over $1,000 per day, you expect a more positive attitude. This fundamental problem will unfortunately cause us to have significant reservations about returning to this beautiful place.…
This resort is a beautiful paradise there is no doubt about that, however it is isolated by nature and the restaurants are the only way to feed yourself. My 8 year old is coeliac and can’t have gluten, and unfortunately the choices at each meal we’re very poor. It doesn’t take much to keep some gluten free flour in the kitchen to knock up a pancake at breakfast or provide a few more options on the kids menu. Hopefully this feedback will help guests enjoy their stay more in the future.
We stayed as a couple and had a beautiful vacation in one of the bungalows. I will start with the positives... 1) Amazing food. Best we have had at a resort and we have done a lot of traveling to some amazing spaces. We did the Guest of House all-inclusive plan and HIGHLY recommend it (doing the math, it comes out about similar to just purchasing a la carte but with the freedom to get what you want without worrying about cost). 2) Beautiful grounds. The beach, the water - all perfect. I did some long runs on the beach while we were there and it felt like paradise. So much seclusion and privacy. Our own little beach outside of our bungalow with two little chairs. 3) The local travel. Everyone is in contact with one another - the little plane we took in from Nassau (Ed Hanna is amazing), the taxi company waiting at the airport, the ferry boat at the taxi dock. All very smooth. Negatives: 1) I had asked for a few items to be delivered ahead of time (since I had read prior reviews saying it was hard to get water, etc.) - some bottled water and alcoholic beverages. They weren't there upon arrival. They finally came the next day. 2) Bikes broke down/didn't work. This is the only way to get around without the golf cart from the bungalows (restaurant etc. was about ~2 miles away). When the bikes broke down and my husband had the golf cart, I eventually just started walking. 3) They give you phones to make requests but the phone quickly died after a few hours. 4) Showers were not well-functioning (heard this from other guests as well). Takes 10 minutes to heat up, but the drains don't drain very well so the water spills into the bathroom by the time it is heated. We chose to just do a few very cold and quick showers, which wasn't ideal for this price point. The outdoor shower was beautiful but very limited water pressure and also very cold. 5) Many (not all) of the employees seemed irritated when we made a request (more coffee, more water, etc.) 6) Charges for many unanticipated things ($100 for COVID tests - would've thought this was included in the all-inclusive plan-, $40 each for fishing licenses for our guided trip (this is not required if you are on a guided fishing boat in the Bahamas, and an attempt to charge for the room-stocking that was later removed thankfully). 7) Activities were not well-organized. Kayaks and paddleboard location was not really explained to us, so we just walked around the island until we found some abandoned kayaks to use (that was great, but wished it would've been communicated on where these "live"). All in all, we had an amazing trip. For the $1200/night we paid (with the GOH plan), I feel some of these issues could be avoidable. We are fine being "on our own" with limited service on vacation, but it is harder to swallow at this price point. If the showers and cruisers could be fixed/service and organization improved, this would be a perfect spot. OR, if that isn't doable with the secluded nature of the island, I would think the price point could be lowered. The reason for writing this review is because I am hoping these things could be improved so we could come back one day.…
One of the best vacations we’ve taken. From the moment you arrive you are treated like family. From the owners to the team running the island. Guest services. Beach excursions. Pool and tiki bar. Dining and bungalow teammates. Everyone is five stars. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Kamalame for the “Bohemian Bahamian” minded. It’s heaven.
My husband and I and our toddler visited the island with some friends for a long weekend! It was love at first site for us! The staff was so welcoming and accommodating, the food was fresh and delicious and there were activities our whole family could enjoy. The sunsets and sunrises were heaven on earth! The best kept secret in the Bahamas, best word to describe it is, magical!
We have just returned from a week at Kamalame Cay and had a wonderfully relaxing stay. We'd seen a few comments about the transfer from Nassau but actually found it very easy and the arrangements that the resort made for us were perfect. We went for the all inclusive option and would definitely do the same again. The quality of the food was very high, the best we have experienced from similar properties in the Caribbean. There were none of the issues that you sometimes get with what is included and what isn't. We particularly appreciated the breakfast basket that is delivered with coffee every morning. The beach is truly amazing. The closest you can get to having a private beach without actually owning one. You get your own private stretch and often won't see another soul for hours. If it's privacy, peace and relaxation you want then this is the place to go. We had a minor issue with our room but Keith and the guest services team took care of it and provided excellent service throughout the week. Nothing is too much trouble and everything is delivered with a smile. The hotel is very honest about wifi access and it's not the best, but actually better than we were expecting. If you are after always on fast internet then that's not what they offer, but its fine for occasionally logging in and checking messages and social media. But that's kind of the point of the place, it takes you away from daily interruptions and distractions and we welcomed the digital detox. All in all a wonderful place that we will always be happy to return to.…
I just got back from our annual family trip, and had yet another magical experience. I have been visiting with my family for the last 5 years , so its like our paradise home away from home. Every time we go there is some new activity or added detail to enjoy besides the pristine beaches and water activities, there is now a movie night where you can enjoy a fun film in comfy loungers under the stars. The sunset beach is also a new fun hang out and perfect place to paddle board or enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying a beautiful Sunset. The new Monkey Bar is a cool hang out for cocktails and socializing. The entire staff is vaccinated and they make the requisite Covid testing for re entry to the US a snap with nurses that come right to you before departure. That was a bonus for us Cant wait til our next trip back!…
Just booked my anual Easter trip to my favorite place on the planet #thrilled!!! Every trip to the Cay has been so special, beautiful ocean, beaches, weather, food, drink, accommodation and of course fellow guests! A little slice of bliss to restore my joy after a long cold winter. Can't wait!!
Magical, beautiful, charming are just some of the few words I would use to describe this slice of heaven on earth the perfect combination of luxury and nature! Every time I come to this island I have a new experience from the food to the people you meet. It’s like home. The beach bungalow’s and cottages are wonderful to stay in from the breakfast baskets to the fact you open your door and your feet are in the sand! The food is on par to anything you find in London and New York, using fresh local produce I’ve never had a bad meal and with a wine and cocktail list to match, with a cute music vibe let’s not forget the wonderful staff Shannon make the best frozen Paloma & daiquiri! This is my perfect holiday destination!
Recently went to Kamalame and can't rave enough about this gem that feels like a hidden paradise. The staff and family of Kamalame are incredibly gracious and friendly, and catered to our every need, and included personal touches throughout our stay. The food and menu were excellent. Loved the variety of cuisine (oxtail, lobster, conch, etc), and the cocktails were delicious. The fresh watermelon margaritas are to kill for. Also, the special delivery of fresh juices and bread and pastry basket left at your door every morning were the perfect treat. Felt like a home away from home. That's all icing on the cake, because the ocean, the privacy, the views are absolutely stunning. My kids loved every minute of it, and didn't want to leave. We even saw a couple of dolphins by the dock, which was real treat. It's honestly one of the most dreamy, relaxing places I've ever stayed.…
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