staniel
The Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
News

Small Caribbean Hotel of the Week: A Bucket-List Bahamas Retreat 

By: Alexander Britell - January 23, 2023

If you’ve been to the waters of Exuma in The Bahamas, you know it’s about as close you can get to heaven on earth. 

There’s something otherworldly about the color of the water, a hue that’s been called everything from electric blue to Windex, an enchanting place of swimming pigs and sprawling private islands, sandbars and beach bars. 

That’s all helped make the Exuma archipelago one of the world’s greatest boating destinations for decades, a maritime Mecca: and at the far north of the Exuma chain there is a destination that has taken on an almost mythical status: the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. 

This tiny, 14-room hotel on the little island of Staniel Cay is a pilgrimage spot for boaters, travelers and beach lovers, as close as the Exuma Cays have to a town square. 

dock

There’s a terrific dining offering, anchored by the always-bustling, world-famous Captain’s Lounge, which has been serving visitors since 1956. 

But the best part is this: every bungalow at the hotel comes with a fully-fueled, 17-foot skiff tailor-made for exploring these ethereal waters. 

They all add up to a bucket-list kind of retreat in The Bahamas. 

staniel cay
Staniel Cay, from above, including the island’s airport.

Where is it? The Staniel Cay Yacht Club is just under 50 miles from Exuma’s “mainland” of Great Exuma. The best way to get here though, is on Makers Air, which operates regularly-scheduled service between Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and Staniel Cay.

boats in the marina

Dining options include the aforementioned Captain’s Lounge, the Sea View restaurant, the al-fresco Deck and a fantastic bar. (The sandwiches here are out of this world, including a Conch Po’Boy and a magnificent tempura-fried chicken sandwich, among other offerings). 

As for the bar, all Bahamian classics are on the menu (including, of course, the Goombay Smash), along with local favorites like the Staniel Cay Yacht Club Rum Punch and the popular, perilous “Roger-Rita.”

captains lounge dining table
The Captain’s Lounge.

What to Know? The 14 units are a mix of waterfront bungalows, waterfront suites, waterview suites and, for larger groups, a home called the Coral Villa (it comes with a pool and three bedrooms). The rooms are are all colorful and comfortable, all with great views of Exuma blue. 

bahamas caribbean hotel
The Key Lime waterfront suite.

Which room to choose? Coral Villa is a great option for a larger family; while you really can’t go wrong with any of the bungalows, we’re rather fond of the waterfront suites like Key Lime and Ocean Blue and Coco Plum. 

The interiors are all beachy, bright and comfortable, and all the rooms have water views.

bahamas hotel caribbean retreat

What do we like best? It should be no surprise that the hotel’s party piece is our favorite thing: the fully-fueled boat that comes with every room on the Package Plan.

Because Exuma really is all about the water. Whether you want to visit the “original” island of swimming pigs right near Staniel Cay or take a turquoise adventure through sandbars and secluded beaches, this is just an extraordinary amenity. 

For more, visit the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Popular Posts caribbean island united dominica

United Airlines Has a New Nonstop Flight to an Adventure-Filled Caribbean Island With a Different Kind of Vibe

There’s a different kind of energy on this Caribbean island. Maybe it’s the waterfalls, or the geothermal energy pulsing beneath your feet. Perhaps it’s the serenity of the rainforest; or the allure of a far-off waterfall, the daunt of an […]


Hyatt Is Closing This Riviera Maya Resort, With Plans for a Rebranding

riviera maya resort closing

Hyatt is closing one of its top luxury resorts in the Mexican Caribbean in a few months, with plans for a rebranding, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, one of a trio of properties in the […]


Frontier Airlines Is Adding Another New Nonstop Flight to the Dominican Republic’s Most Popular Destination: Punta Cana

punta cana golf dominican republic

The beaches, the all-inclusives, the nightclubs, the beach bars. Punta Cana is the spot when it comes to Dominican Republic travel, and now it’s getting another nonstop route from one of the fastest-growing airlines in the Caribbean.  Low-cost carrier Frontier […]


Related Posts cancun nonstop pool at hotel

Caribbean Hotel Rooms Are Filling Up, Following a Strong Finish to 2024

After five months of decline, Caribbean hotel occupancy finished strong at the end of 2024, according to new data from analytics firm STR.  The region’s hotels were 69.3 percent full in December, a 1.9 percent jump over the same period […]


Atlantis Paradise Island Has a New GM for the Reef Residences

walking on the beach in nassau

Atlantis Paradise Island has named a new general manager for its Reef Residences residential resort, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Paradise Island resort has named Richie Kavanagh to the role; he had been serving as assistant general manager for both […]


Cartagena Is Getting Its First-Ever Four Seasons Resort, With Plans for a Midyear Opening  

four seasons cartagena

The Four Seasons Cartagena, a project which was first announced back in 2019, is expected to have its long-awaited opening this year, Caribbean Journal  The new Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena will be the newest addition to arguably Colombia’s […]