Sandals Emerald Bay; An Honest Honeymoon Review

We recently visited Sandals Emerald Bay and had a great time. It is one of the best Sandals Resorts with an amazing beach, a great variety of restaurants, and a perfect location.

Seriously, we recommend this resort for anyone looking to relax and experience the Bahamas.

Another benefit of going to Sandals Emerald Bay is that you can do the most iconic thing to do in the Bahamas, go swim with the pigs!

Here is all you need to know about this luxurious Sandals resort in the Bahamas.

First, a bit of history about Sandals Emerald Bay

The resort was actually built first as a Four Seasons resort. The original investors put $300 million into the resort in 2003, but they had financial issues during the recession and Sandals purchased the property in 2009.

The resort was still fairly new, but they still invested $12 million into the resort to create some of the features Sandals is known for, mostly in the pools.

So now you get to enjoy a Sandals Resort with the build quality and features of a Four Seasons Resort.

How Much Does Sandals Emerald Bay Cost?

Rooms at Sandals Emerald start at around $441 per night per person. You can check for last-minute deals and current promotions here.

How far is Sandals Emerald Bay from the airport?

Sandals Emerald Bay is very close to the airport, so you won’t have to wait long to get started on your relaxing vacation. After landing at George Town Exuma International Airport, your complimentary airport transfer will take just about fifteen minutes.

Sandals Emerald Bay Rooms and Suites

The oversized rooms, villas, and suites here are a mix of Bahamian style and elegance, designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings. Each has thoughtful amenities and incredible views, perfect for honeymoons.

Sandals Emerald Bay offers a range of luxurious Love Nest™ Luxury Suites, like the two-level Royal Estate Beachfront Villa with butler service. This swanky sanctuary has direct beach access, a private pool, full living, and dining rooms, an opulent master suite with a balcony overlooking the Caribbean, and a marble bathroom with a soaking tub. The Butler Elite level means you get 24-hour private butler service.

Club Level Junior Suites and oversized rooms offer stunning ocean views, elegant furnishings, bathrooms with soaking tubs, and private patios and balconies. These include access to Club Level amenities, including dedicated concierge service, a stylish private lounge that’s available 24 hours a day, and special activities.

Activities at Sandals Emerald Bay

You can do as much or as little as you want here during your honeymoon. The stunning white sand beach beckons, with sparkling waters just beyond. For an intimate experience, lounge in a private curtained cabana for two (or by the pool or in a serene garden) and enjoy the services of a Cabana Butler, who will deliver cold towels and delicious fresh food and drinks!

You can also choose from three swimming pools at Sandals Emerald Bay, including a half-acre zero-entry pool. One thing we liked was that the cabanas around the pools come at no extra cost, you just need to claim them early.

You can also enjoy world-class golf in the Bahamas on the award-winning Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman and known as one of the most beautiful ocean-side 18-hole golf courses in the Caribbean. Greens fees here are included in your stay.

Explore the crystal clear waters and vibrant coral reefs around Sandals Emerald Bay with complimentary snorkeling equipment. Sandals Emerald Bay scuba diving is also complimentary, including instruction. You can also participate in all types of water sports, from kayaking to windsurfing to paddleboarding to sailing.

Unlimited land sports are included, such as beach volleyball, horseshoes, croquet, bocce ball, day and night tennis, pool tables, board games, and more. There’s also a state-of-the-art fitness center available.

Enjoy daily and nightly entertainment at Sandals Emerald Bay. You can sample delicious cocktails at 6 bars (including a swim-up bar and a piano bar), and from theme nights to live bands to karaoke, there’s always something fun going on.

Sandals Emerald Bay also has a 17-acre marina if you want to bring your boat!

If you are staying elsewhere but want access to the facilities here, you can get a Sandals Emerald Bay day pass for $200, an evening pass for $200, or a full-day pass for $350.

Spa at Sandals Emerald Bay

During your honeymoon, you can Indulge at the tranquil Red Lane Spa, which offers 17 treatment rooms, a beauty salon, a studio for yoga and Pilates classes, a steam room, plunge pools, and secluded relaxation areas in tropical gardens.

Excursions at Sandals Emerald Bay

Have you ever gone swimming with pigs in the Bahamas? You can here! The Exuma Cays Swimming Pigs Adventure takes you aboard a custom catamaran on a tour through the beautiful Out Islands, where you can snorkel and beach comb as well as see the endangered rock iguana and swim through a colorful reef teeming with life. And yes, you can swim with pigs—and feed them too!—on Big Major Cay, where they roam freely and love to get visitors.

Swimming with pigs is just one of the fun local adventures you can add to your stay at Emerald Bay. You can also go on an ATV sightseeing tour, visit the famous Moriah Harbor Cay National Park, and more.

Dining at Sandals Emerald Bay

With 11 exceptional restaurants to choose from, you never have to worry about going hungry! There is a huge variety of gourmet cuisine available. Of course, each restaurant is included with your stay, so you can try someplace new every day or revisit your favorites over and over. Plus, every meal is perfectly paired with your choice of six varietals of Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks Wines. You can also enjoy in-room dining.

They have my favorite Sandals restaurant, the Soy Sushi Bar. They also have a Kimonos hibachi grill which was really good for dinners. For lunch, we loved Jerk Shack and Barefood by the Sea.

We also enjoyed stoping by the Cafe do Paris for milk shakes and lattes whenever we wanted.

Other restaurants include Il Cielo (Italian), La Parisienne French Cuisine, an authentic English Pub, Bahama Bay (local dishes), Dino’s Pizzeria Italiano, Café de Paris, and Bombay Club (Indian).

What is included at Sandals Emerald Bay?

At Sandals resorts, when they say all-inclusive, they really mean it. You can arrive at the resort without having to worry about what is included and what is not. Here is what is included at Sandals Emerald Bay:

Unlimited Fine Dining

You can feast at any of the restaurants or in your room; all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and beverages are included in your stay.

Unlimited Alcoholic Drinks

As part of the 5-Star Luxury Included® experience, Sandals only serves premium brand liquors. You can order whatever you would like, including specialties you would expect at a tropical resort, like a Pina Colada, Margarita, Blue Lagoon, or a Bahama Mama.

In all rooms, there is a mini-fridge stocked with water, juice, soda, Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks Wine, and local beer. Additionally, every room includes a coffeemaker with Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend coffee.

Tips

At Sandals Resorts, even tips, taxes, and gratuities are included for most services you would usually tip for! There is no need to worry about tipping the bartender, the bellman, or your server at one of the specialty restaurants.

Your butler can and will accept tips. We recommend tipping a butler $20 a day, depending on how much you use their services.

Spa therapists and airport transport drivers should also be tipped.

Roundtrip Airport Transfers

Sandals provides complimentary transportation to and from the airport.

Included Activities

You have access to unlimited water sports, and scuba diving is included! For certified divers, you can dive up to twice a day with two tanks a day. Scuba courses are not included but start at $120.

If golf is your thing, your greens fees are included at the onsite golf course designed by Greg Norman.

Enjoy many other land-based activities including beach volleyball, croquet, and more.

If you are looking for a workout, the Red Lane Spa has complimentary classes and a full fitness center.

Entertainment

Along with these amazing activities, there are plenty of entertainment options including an onsite piano bar, theme nights like talent night and Caribbean night, live bands, and karaoke.

A Free Wedding at Sandals

Stay 3 nights or longer at any Sandals resort and your wedding is free!

Room Service

If you book a room that includes butler service, room service is available 24 hours a day. For Club Sandals accommodations, room service is available between 7am-10pm.

What to Pack for Sandals Emerald Bay

You can pack light when you stay at a Sandals Resort since so much is provided for you. For example, you don’t need to pack a hairdryer. A gift shop is available onsite in case you forget any necessities.

In terms of clothes, the dress code is casual during the day and resort elegant at night, which means a mix of shorts, t-shirts and tanks, sundresses, casual slacks, and swimsuits, plus dressier outfits for dining in the nicer restaurants.

Is Sandals Emerald Bay Safe?

Yes, Sandals Emerald Bay is safe. The Exumas are a laidback, uncrowded area with very low crime rates, especially crime against tourists, so you can visit here without any concerns for safety.

Choosing Between Sandals Emerald Bay vs. Sandals Royal Bahamian

While both resorts provide the luxury all-inclusive experience that Sandals is known for, there are some differences.

Sandals Royal Bahamian is located in Nassau on the main island in the Bahamas, close to many attractions there. Next to beautiful Cable Beach, it is also close to the airport. This sophisticated resort has a British influence, with billiard rooms and daily high tea. A unique offering at Sandals Royal Bahamian is the private offshore island with a restaurant and cabanas.

Sandals Emerald Bay feels more private, with a larger beach and resort area. Great Exuma is a more laidback location, also fostering a sense of seclusion, but there is still plenty to do.

Both resorts offer a wide range of delicious dining options, fun activities, and luxurious accommodations, so you really can’t go wrong with either choice.  You can even enjoy both in one trip.

But we prefer Sandals Emerald Bay over many other Sandals Resorts. The only other thing worth noting is Sandals Exumas seems to have an issue getting adequate staff to the resort.