Hurricane Dorian in September was the worst storm to ever hit this archipelago. However, many people don’t know that while Grand Bahama and the Abacos will take years to rebuild, most of the archipelago’s 700 islands were not affected. Tourist dollars help the northern islands recover a lot, and now is a great time to visit the Bahamas because of a group of new and recently remodeled independent hotels that show the owners’ satisfaction.
1. Eleuthera
When you think of an island vacation, “solar-powered safari camp” might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Other Side, located on one of the country’s least developed “out islands,” is not your typical beach hotel. A stay here is the epitome of barefoot luxury, with outdoor baths, in-room massages, and use of the 30-foot Hinckley yacht. Soon, three new houses with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea will join the three tented suites and three hilltop cottages (they call them “shacks”).
2. New Providence
The 30-room Island House is more intimate than Nassau’s bigger beach resorts. It looks like a Zen temple, makes its own wine, and has an art-house movie theater. Guests can use a nearby private beach club, but if it’s too busy, they can spend the night on Highbourne Cay, their private island in the Exumas.
3. North Andros
After Dorian, the people who run family-run Kamalame Cay raised more than $30,000 for the communities that were affected. They bought food and supplies and found jobs for people who had to leave their homes. Even though there was a storm, David and Michael King-Hew kept making changes. They opened two new villas in 2019 and are working on 10 more for later this year.
4. South Andros
Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, who are known for their work on HGTV Canada, bought a lodge from the 1960s in 2016 and began to turn it into the 24-room Caerula Mar, which opened last month. It’s the first new hotel on the island in almost 20 years. It’s on ten acres of beachfront land, and the owners have already seen how it’s bringing new life to this once-quiet area by bringing new companies like conch shacks and bone-fishing charters.
