Paradise Bay Bahamas

Owned by a French family hailing from Paris, the Paradise Bay Resort has a humble Franco-Bahamian vibe throughout. With stand-alone cottages spread out on the beach and wooden walkways connecting the cottages to the common areas, Paradise Bay has an open and relaxed atmosphere. Most of the common areas have a similar relaxed island ambience, with thatched roofs on the restaurant and cabanas. The pool area has sleek, contemporary lounge chairs with partial views of the ocean, making it a fine place to kick back in the sunshine. Cottages come in three sizes -- one-room, two-room, and four-bedroom -- so families and independent travelers mix equally as guests. Most of the cottages are far enough away from the restaurant, La Fourchette, and pool to ensure quiet, and the bulk of the low-key socializing happens at the bar in the restaurant. With only 15 wooden tables in La Fourchette and a handful of bar stools, the restaurant is rarely overrun but can be bustling during meal times, as locals or tourists from other hotels join hotel guests. Open windows at La Fourchette look out over spectacular views of the beach and garden.

The hotel is located off the main road that runs the length of Great Exuma, Queen’s Highway. Its beachfront location ensures stunning views of the water, though with only other resorts for neighbors, some kind of transportation will be helpful for those looking to explore the island. The hotel’s proximity to Queen’s Highway allows for easy access to Great Exuma International Airport, a 15-minute drive away. The Exuma's capital, George Town, is located a 20-minute drive from the property and has gift shops, a grocery store, crafts stores, and a bank, as well as a few restaurants and bars overlooking the water. The well-known beach bar and grill, Chat ’N’ Chill, is a 25-minute drive away from Paradise Bay.

Named after islands in the Bahamas, rooms have a contemporary, modern charm across all categories. Inside and out, colors tend towards blues, yellows, purples, and corals -- some bright and some softer. There are only 10 stand-alone units at the Paradise Bay Resort and the majority fall into the one-room cottage category, though there are two two-room cottages, and one four-bedroom villa. All rooms are located on the beach, with wooden decks and plenty of outdoor sitting space.The highlight of all the rooms is the close proximity to the white sand beach. The seven one-room cottages have restrained, contemporary decor with peaked wooden ceilings, octagonally-sided walls, and blue molding throughout. Guests can expect to see white walls with blues, yellows, and corals as trim in the cottages and possibly one accent wall. Outfitted with dark wood furniture, the room is spacious and has an open layout, with the king-size bed in the center of the room. The flat-screen TV is attached to the wall above the door as a space saver. Funky artwork hangs throughout the rooms, adding a little character. The sleek, moderately sized bathrooms are set up at the back of the cottage with the shower and toilet separated by a wall. The major drawback to the set-up is that the vanities and sinks are next to the shower, requiring a walk through the cottages to reach the sink from the toilet. The open floor plan means there are no doors on the sink/shower area, though the toilet has a sliding door for privacy. Both the villa and the two-room cottages have a traditional rectangular layout. There's a rustic charm to the main rooms, with wicker furniture, beige cabinets, and high wooden ceilings. The living rooms have a few eye-catching details, with glass top tables, Asian rice lamps, and decorative screens. These units have full kitchens, and the villa includes a toaster and wine cooler. The huge wooden deck with glass table top, grill, and wood lounge chairs is a nice bonus in the villa. The bedrooms in the villa are spacious and painted in purples, blues, corals, and greens with queen-size beds. Each room has an en-suite moderately sized bathroom with plenty of vanity space and shower/tub combinations. 

As a boutique property, Paradise Bay Resort is small but has a good number of features to keep everyone happy. The resort sits directly on a white sand beach, which stretches a mile and is protected by a natural coral reef that helps make for calmer waters. A handful of small thatched sunshades dot the beach, accompanied by blue and white lounge chairs, and a few small wooden blue and yellow side tables. With only 10 rooms, the beach is generally not crowded. La Fourchette is a thatched, open-air restaurant serving a complimentary breakfast -- eggs, toast, cereal, and omelets -- to hotel guests. It opens to the public for lunch and dinner, with an eclectic spread with a French flair. Guests can expect a few typical Bahamian dishes like cracked conch, but also some French-inspired dinners with fresh seafood and crepes, as well as American classics in the form of banana splits and burgers. The contemporary restaurant has a handful of outdoor seating plus indoor seating with wooden tables, wicker chairs, and a few stools at the tiled bar. Those familiar with Exuma can expect the same laid-back and relaxed vibe found throughout the rest of the Bahama Out Islands. Adjacent to the restaurant is the small pool, with plenty of modern and contemporary lounge chairs dotting the perimeter. Overlooking the beach, there are partial views of the ocean available while swimming or sunbathing. Kayaks and other water sports are available at for guests to use at no extra fee. The concierge service on offer at Paradise Bay Resort is a particularly nice extra. Day tours around Exuma and the beaches can be arranged at Paradise Bay Resort, as well as spa services and restaurant reservations. With not much in walking distance of the hotel, renting a car is recommended. Guests can make car reservations through the concierge with the rented car being brought to the hotel, where there is plenty of free parking. There is free Wi-Fi at the hotel, but it can be spotty and inconsistent.