Hideaways Exuma

First the name, because it changed: the property is now called Hideaways Exuma. The form « Hideaways at Palm Bay Beach Club » still circulates among wholesalers and on social media, and refers to the same place.

It is the liveliest address on Great Exuma. Studios, cottages and one to three bedroom villas, beachfront and on the hillside, five minutes by road from George Town with a free shuttle. The flow of reviews is the densest and freshest on the island, with comments from August 2026, which is the best sign of health a property can give.

Three things deserve to be known before booking, and we say them plainly.

The beach in front is rocky

First thing. The beach immediately in front of the property is rocky, and guests unanimously recommend bringing water shoes. This is not a nuance: it is a feature of the ground.

The good news is a five to ten minute walk away. Jolly Hall Beach, next door, is described as superb, white sand, with calm leeward water. Regulars make the walk daily without thinking about it.

On site, the small pool overlooking the ocean is well kept and appreciated. Kayaks and paddleboards are free, along with pedal boats and windsurfing.

The restaurant is the weak point, and it needs saying

Second thing, and it is travellers' central complaint. There is only one dining outlet on site, Splash Bar and Grill, serving all three meals: pizzas, wings, burgers, seafood and Bahamian cooking, with pool tables and shows.

Recent reviews are severe: food judged frankly disappointing, very slow service, poor management. Some 2026 comments also mention indifferent staff, sometimes outright rude.

It can be worked around. George Town is five minutes away by free shuttle, and the village has real tables. The villas have full kitchens and the cottages a kitchenette: a grocery run on arrival settles the question for the week. Ask your advisor how supply works on the island at 1 866 628-6241.

The road is not made for walking at night

Third thing, and it concerns safety. Queen's Highway, which runs past the property, has neither sidewalk nor shoulder. Travellers advise against walking it after dark.

The free shuttle to George Town solves the problem during the day and early evening. For a late return, plan a taxi or a rental car. It is the kind of detail you would rather read here than discover at nine at night.

The units, and which to choose

Sources differ on the count: twenty-five units according to travel platforms, around forty according to a professional inspection. The gap probably comes from the hillside villas, managed as vacation rentals.

Here is the distinction that matters: the cottages have a kitchenette, with a small fridge and microwave. The villas have a genuine full kitchen, with a full-size fridge, stove, toaster oven and coffee maker.

Given what we just said about the restaurant, that is no small detail: if you are staying a week, the villa changes the nature of your stay. Floor areas are not published, so have them specified when booking.

What is included

A free continental breakfast is served every morning: pastries, cereal, fruit and coffee, with a paid upgrade available. Packed meals are prepared for early departures, which is valuable when an excursion leaves at dawn.

The free shuttle to George Town and non-motorized watersports are included. Wi-Fi is provided everywhere, but guests describe it as spotty in several areas.

Mandatory fee amounts are not published by the property: your advisor will have them confirmed before booking. Bahamian tax applies.

Exuma, and why people come

George Town airport is about ten kilometres away, roughly ten minutes. Excursions leave from the village: the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, the iguanas of Bitter Guana Cay, the nurse sharks of Compass Cay, the caves and the sandbars that surface at low tide. All of it costs extra, through local operators.

A nonstop service exists from Toronto in season, November through April. From Montreal a connection is required, through Toronto in season, through South Florida or through Nassau.

On the island, Grand Isle Resort offers larger villas in an upscale register, though more isolated. Augusta Bay is a small oceanfront inn. Sandals Emerald Bay, meanwhile, has been closed since August 2024.

Who this address suits

It suits families, groups sharing a villa, travellers who like a lively spot, people who cook, and those who want George Town within reach without sleeping in town.

It suits less well anyone counting on eating every meal on site, anyone who wants fine sand outside the door without walking, and anyone planning to walk home late at night. The island overview sits on Great Exuma travel, and the archipelago on Bahamas travel.