Sponsored by Embrace Resort, Staniel Cay
How will you beat a Bahama Island resort expertise that begins with a shocking scenic flight over the Exuma Cays and an airport switch in a golf cart? For sure, our getaway to Staniel Cay was off to a flying begin (pun meant).
Staniel Cay was all the things a tropical Caribbean trip must be. No improvement. No frantic tempo. Hardly any automobiles. I felt the stress unwinding as every minute ticked down. For the 4 days we spent within the Exumas, the remainder of the world didn’t exist.
Our residence away from residence was Embrace Resort, Staniel Cay’s first Bahamian-owned lodge, from the primary feminine entrepreneurs in its 100-year historical past!
Our days have been spent swimming with pigs and sharks, sunning with iguanas, and witnessing among the most stunning seashores and sunsets we’ve seen on the earth.
On this information, we’ll disclose to you all the things it’s essential find out about staying on the Embrace Resort in addition to all of the the reason why we beloved it.
Earlier than we share extra concerning the resort and Flyin’ Pig Cafe, let me first let you know precisely the place on the earth Staniel Cay is!
The place are Staniel Cay and The Exuma Islands?
The Exuma Cays are an oasis of 365 distant islands stretching throughout the Tropic of Most cancers within the southern half of The Bahamas.
They’re positioned about 250-miles southeast of Florida and 75-miles south of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. The Bahama Islands are literally within the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea, however the nation is a part of CARICOM, the Caribbean Neighborhood.
The Exumas are recognized for being extra distant and unique than the northern islands of the Bahamas, and so you may typically discover celebrities hiding out right here of their tremendous yachts and personal islands.
Staniel Cay is without doubt one of the bigger islands and is positioned on the coronary heart of the Exuma Cays. Because it has one of many solely touchdown airport strips it has turn into the gateway to the Exuma archipelago.
Many vacationers come out and in every day for a swimming with pigs’ tour from Nassau, and this small island neighborhood is residence to round 100 residents, and the Embrace Resort is positioned close to to the superb Thunderball Grotto and Pig Seashore.
About Embrace Resort in Staniel Cay
Embrace Resort was opened in 2014 by an area Bahamian lady, Nicole (Nikki) who has been working within the tourism trade for 30 years.
The resort goals to embrace the true essence of Bahamian tradition – leisure and a spot the place households can come collectively.
We love that Embrace Resort is a family-owned enterprise that’s the product of affection and expertise.
Verify-In Expertise at Embrace Resort
Our check-in expertise was as easy as to be anticipated. Our host, Natajia, greeted us in a golf cart with a beaming smile and an exuberant wave like we have been long-lost buddies, and a welcome I’ve come to know from my international journey experiences.
You understand how simple it’s for strangers to turn into buddies should you break down preliminary boundaries with a heat and genuine greeting that claims, “I’m so joyful to fulfill you! As a result of I do know you’ll have a distinction that may intrigue me and a similarity that helps me really feel related.”
“Need a tour of the island earlier than you test in?” she requested. Natajia whizzed round within the golf cart the handful of small streets that made up the tiny village of Staniel Cay.
The island is just half a mile by two miles, so the introduction was quick, however sufficient for me to know I used to be in the suitable place!
We drove previous spectacular seashores because the solar was setting, roosters working freely, teams of males sitting round enjoying dominoes, and loads of smiling faces.
After that, we met the welcoming entrance desk workers who checked our reservations and confirmed us to our villa. All it’s essential check-in right here is your reserving affirmation and the bank card you paid with (it’s essential full a web based registration beforehand the place you pay by way of a safe hyperlink).
It’s possible you’ll must pay a deposit on arrival for incidental expenses, and the reception is open every day from 8.00am – 5:00pm.
Causes to Keep at Embrace Resort
Now you may have been launched, let’s take a look at the numerous the reason why you’ll love staying on the Embrace Resort in your trip!
1. An Inspiring All-Feminine Owned Native Enterprise
The factor to like most about Embrace Resort is that it’s an all-woman and regionally owned enterprise by a mother-daughter group who have been each born and raised in Staniel Cay.
Actually, it was their descendants who first settled Staniel Cay (and performed a task in settling the wild pigs on close by Pig Island.)
Embrace Resort didn’t seem with developer funding or financial institution loans. It was constructed on a dream and lifelong dedication to creating a real Bahamian trip expertise for vacationers.
Mom (and founder), Nicole Ferguson constructed the villas one after the other utilizing the earnings created from her golf cart rental enterprise. That’s all she may do as banks saved shutting her down for loans as they didn’t assume a lodge close to an airport would achieve success (extra on that within the evaluate under.)
As we all know, by no means say no to a girl with a dream and a fierce dedication. As a result of now it’s a thriving 7-villa resort property that displays the tropical magnificence, heat, and friendliness of the Bahamian tradition.
Whereas it’s referred to as a resort, the Embrace Resort is just not a kind of all-inclusive, massive, and touristy sorts of locations to remain.
It’s heat, pleasant, quiet, peaceable, and small. It had a stunning communal really feel just like hostels – you could possibly simply discover time and areas to talk together with your fellow vacationers.
That’s largely attributed to daughter, Natijia who has used her expertise as a world traveler and dealing in hospitality in Dubai and China to create distinctive customer support for all types of tourists.
It’s not simply at Embrace Resort the place this dedication to creating the most effective trip begins and ends. The Mom Daughter group additionally personal 3N’s Exuma Holidays, which was the primary journey company on Staniel Cay, and is rated #1 on TripAdvisor and holds a Badge of Excellence.
Their premium Swimming with Pigs tour is the most well-liked for the area and caters to vacationers flying in from Nassau for the day or becoming a member of the tour from Embrace Resort.
3Ns is an acronym for the 3 generations of girls, Nellie (the grandmother and inspiration), Nikki, (the mom and basis), and Natajia (the daughter and continuation).
Late Grandmother Nellie all the time inspired Nikki to begin a journey company due to her in-depth data of the Exumas Cays and fervour for service.
2. It’s A Sustainable Eco-Resort
Embrace Resort is dedicated to sustainability and eco-tourism. It was constructed with recommendation from OBMI’s Environmental Guide, Denaye Hinds. They supply nearly all of regionally produced and/or recycled objects as a lot as potential and make use of native individuals.
They’ve a towel reuse program and encourage company to show off electrical energy and cut back water utilization throughout their keep, and their plant irrigation system has been very profitable in reusing water whereas conserving their gardens flourishing.
EMBRACE plans to accomplice with organizations like Cans for Children, Go Inexperienced Bahamas, the Bahamas Nationwide Belief and the neighboring Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park sooner or later to assist create an eco-friendlier neighborhood.
I really feel secure in saying all of Staniel Cay is an ecotourism dream vacation spot. Other than a few small, native eating places, grocery shops and a yacht membership, it’s all pristine pure magnificence. There aren’t any high-rises, no chains, and minimal autos!
Bear in mind to do your half as a traveler who cares about leaving gentler footprints and help native (simple to do right here).
Reuse your towels, cut back every day housekeeping, and switch off your AC. Let the followers flow into the air and luxuriate in that cool Bahamian breeze.
3. It has Bahamian Villas to Swimsuit all Journey Types
How these villas are named, designed, and created, are testomony to the care the Fergusons have utilized to make a keep right here all about experiencing Bahamian tradition.
EMBRACE is an acronym for the names of all of the villas, that are named after among the Bahama islands.
The inside design is aimed to match the character of the island it’s named after. For instance, Bimini may have a lot of blues because it’s an island recognized for deep-sea fishing.
- Exuma (2 bed room) – named after the attractive Exuma Islands. This villa is ideal for households (the place we stayed)
- Mayaguana (1 bed room) – is without doubt one of the solely islands to carry onto its Lucayan title (individuals of the islands) and was the primary of the Embrace Villas constructed. You’ll be able to select to have a king mattress or two twin beds with this room.
- Bimini (2 bedrooms) – named after the fishing capital of the Bahamas
- Ragged Island – is about romance and seclusion. This honeymoon villa is outfitted with an in-room jacuzzi jetted tub, temper lighting, and a walk-in bathe.
- Andros (3 bed room) this villa matches the title of the most important island within the nation. Comes with a eating room and kitchen.
- Cat Island (1 bed room) The orange and pink hues of this cottage take you again to the times of conventional Bahamian open-fire cooking.
- Eleuthera (1 bed room) is understood for its pure magnificence and juicy pineapples!
Not solely are the villas reflective of Bahamian tradition, however they type a circle across the central swimming space. So, just like the Embrace title, it’s giving everybody a large hug and serving to all company really feel like a part of the household.
All villas may have views over the small pool and with the plush gardens surrounding the property, it feels very tropical. In addition they have a residing space with couch mattress and a kitchenette with microwaves.
As you may see, they’ve villas to swimsuit all sorts of vacationers. All guestrooms include the facilities you’ll anticipate from a resort, similar to security options like smoke detectors and fireplace extinguishers within the room, a flat display television with cable channels, free toiletries within the toilet, and naturally, free wifi.
On the time of writing (January 2023) room costs begin at $250 for one bed room, $550 for two bed room and $600 for 3 bedrooms. You can even put in particular requests for cribs and rollaway toddler beds, however there aren’t any additional beds for adults.
Embrace additionally gives trip residence leases on the island, which might sleep from 2 to 10 individuals relying on which property you select.
When you’re touring with a big group of 10 to 25 company, you may even guide out the whole Embrace Resort – excellent for these wanting a vacation spot wedding ceremony!
4. Exuma Villas Are Nice for Households
We stayed within the Exuma villa, which is ideal for households, with two bedrooms downstairs and a residing space and kitchen upstairs.
We beloved the additional area the villa gave us all, particularly now we’ve a teen and tween. We had a stunning balcony we may sit on to benefit from the views and Bahama Breezes, and we may see fairly a little bit of the island from right here.
As Staniel Cay is a quiet island – no actual nightlife – we loved enjoyable on the sofa for a night watching Netflix, studying books, or crocheting (Savanna’s new passion). Maybe pack a deck of playing cards or different small video games your loved ones likes to play collectively!
The self-contained kitchen is ideal for households and company wanting to cut back their prices of consuming out, and there are three grocery shops on the island the place you may get provides:
- Pink Pearl Groceries – most cost-effective.
- Burke’s Comfort Retailer – the costliest.
- Isles Common A-Z Retailer – closest to Embrace Resort.
There’s additionally a liquor retailer for extra inexpensive alcohol choices. Don’t neglect obligation free in your method to The Bahamas.
As provides are restricted on the island, Embrace Resort has a provisioning service the place they’ll have groceries from Nassau prepared for you whenever you arrive.
When you don’t need to fear about cooking and have a price range that enables for it, Embrace Resort has an inexpensive on-site café – the Flying Pig.
5. Reasonably priced Upscale Eating on the Flying Pig Café
I had just a few individuals warn me about how costly The Bahamas could be for meals, so I used to be pleasantly stunned that the meals on the Flying Pig Café was fairly on par with what you’d pay within the States.
Some meals have been slightly costlier however keep in mind meals must be imported from Nassau or the USA so prices will likely be larger. Meals will likely be slightly smaller than you get within the USA too, which isn’t a nasty factor in any respect.
It additionally means some menu objects is probably not obtainable every day in the event that they run out earlier than the subsequent provide run. So be versatile and affected person. All meals are created from scratch with contemporary substances every day.
All of the meals objects we had have been scrumptious with fairly just a few upscale objects, like shrimp ceviche. Besides they have been out of shrimp, so I had lobster ceviche as a substitute. YUM!
The flying Pig is a brand new addition to the Embrace Resort and opened in the summertime of 2022.
We ate on the Flying Pig virtually daily – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – throughout our four-night keep and beloved the freshness of the meals. I used to be very joyful to see fairly just a few gluten-free choices on the menu too. Vegans and vegetarians may have choices as effectively, like a coconut chickpea curry.
Breakfast on the Flying Pig
Count on to pay $6-12 for breakfast. Our ladies beloved the chocolate chip waffles. They have been massive and fluffy and oozing with chocolate goodness. They have been most likely among the finest I’ve ever seen and solely $6.
They produce other pastry objects obtainable like croissants and cinnamon rolls, in addition to parfait, French toast and acai bowls.
Craig and I loved a western omelet most mornings, which got here with toast, and breakfast potatoes. This was $12 and really filling.
And right here’s a GREAT factor: The Flying Pig café is a espresso store that makes GOOD espresso! It’s the one place on the island to get a correct cup of espresso, made to order.
M Tip. Have your morning latte with coconut milk. It tasted approach completely different to the USA – creamy and with out added sugar.
Lunch and Dinner on the Flying Pig Cafe
For lunch and dinner (similar menu) anticipate to pay round. $12 – $35
Our teen stated the hen bacon soften was the most effective she’s ever had and ordered it a number of instances. The wings have been scrumptious – we beloved the candy guava sauce ($12)
The grilled mahi mahi fish was so contemporary and scrumptious ($30+) and I beloved placing it on my Greek Salad and Savannah beloved stealing half my fish, if she wasn’t having it within the type of fish fingers ($15).
Craig and I beloved the flank steak with charred asparagus and potato wedges ($28). All the pieces was cooked completely and superbly seasoned. It was exhausting NOT to order this each night time.
Children meals have been your typical pasta, hen nuggets and grilled cheese and price $8-10. In contrast with the Staniel Cay Yacht Membership the place they have been $15.
For a style of the Bahamas, be sure you order some conch. It is available in numerous kinds: chowder, fritters, and bites.
Whereas we didn’t have any dessert, they do have it on the menu: coconut mousse, guava cheesecake, and flourless chocolate cake ($7-$12).
The café additionally has snacks like chips, muffins, fruit, chocolate, and muesli bars. And, they’ve a full bar and signature cocktails – made with the Bahama’s favourite liquor – rum.
I loved my “Getting Piggy With it” and “Bahama Mama”. Once more, each have been $12 which I feel is sort of affordable compared to US costs and for a resort on a distant island.
As all the things is made to order and may get busy, anticipate a wait on your meals. Sit within the solar – or at shaded tables – order a rum punch and luxuriate in enjoyable into Bahama time.
We’d order our meals after which both prepare for the day or attend to different duties whereas ready. You should definitely permit time earlier than your excursions for the day to order and eat. We’d permit for an hour.
Additionally, you may all the time take meals from the café again to your villa or out in your day journey.
We had this beautiful picnic on the unbelievable Pirate Seashore with meals and actually good drinks we packed into our cooler (which comes with every villa).
The Flying Pig Café has a stunning outside seating space with shaded tables. Inside are extra tables and a stunning fashionable design inside with pig paraphernalia, pink partitions, vibrant work, and floral preparations.
Sure, you may eat on the Flying Pig Café even should you aren’t staying on the resort. It’s an inexpensive place to eat and we noticed many individuals strolling in or using in on their golf carts to dine there.
NOTE: The 3N’s Exuma Trip Swimming with Pigs tour stops right here for lunch after the tour.
Because it’s subsequent door to the airport, it’s an amazing place to eat whilst you’re ready on your airplane – approach higher than sitting spherical on the airport. You’ll be able to even hear your airplane arrive, so you recognize when to stroll over.
- Hours: Monday – Saturday 7:30AM – 9:00PM; Sunday – Closed
6. The Swimming Pool is Wonderful
Whereas we beloved spending time on the beautiful seashores daily, we additionally loved time to calm down across the outside pool.
As this space can be recognized for swimming with nurse sharks (particularly round Compass Cay marina), I preferred the addition of the shark mosaic tiles on the backside of the pool, slightly unnerving however a enjoyable contact!
There’s a shaded cabana-style deck space above the pool with outsized couches including to the lux really feel.
All villas embody seaside towels and a cooler so that you can take with you to the seaside.
7. Customized, Pleasant Service
With its small measurement, and family-style environment, personalised service is straightforward to get at Embrace.
Workers was all the time available to reply questions and assist us. Tajia helped make our trip expertise higher by sharing a lot of tales concerning the island and ideas like Pirate Seashore, which hardly anybody goes to, and turned out to be one in all our favourite seashores on the earth!
All company get a complimentary airport and marina transfers – get pleasure from that golf cart trip!
She additionally helped manage a therapeutic massage therapist for us with Khori from Illusions by the Sea. Khori got here to our villa for an unbelievable deep-tissue therapeutic massage, which helped me really feel like a brand new individual. My knots have been BAD!
You understand you’re in good palms when your therapeutic massage therapist is the masseuse to the celebrities. Yep, we have been one diploma of separation from many well-known stars together with Michael Jordan, Paris Hilton, Johnny Depp and Pooh Bear.
8. Easy & Excessive-High quality Swimming with Pigs’ Tour
Becoming a member of a Swimming with Pigs tour is easy whenever you keep at Embrace Resort. As talked about, they personal and run the primary rated tour within the Exumas for this.
You’ll be taken to the boat dock when the tour is able to go and dropped again off for lunch on the Flying Pig Cafe. Company of the resort get a 30% low cost off their swimming pigs’ excursions.
9. Handy Location
Bear in mind when the banks denied Nikki funding due to her location subsequent door to the airport and never on the beachfront? Now, often, should you have been anyplace else, notably an enormous metropolis, this may be a destructive, however on Staniel Cay it’s not.
As a result of measurement of the island, in every single place is close to the airport. And a two-minute golf cart trip will get you to the attractive Public Seashore, which is nice for sundown. And simply down from there are the grocery shops, and the Staniel Cay Yacht Membership, additionally well-liked for sundown drinks.
And our favourite seaside, Pirate Seashore, was solely a five-minute drive away! You can even stroll to all of those locations, with Pirate Cove being the furthest at twenty minutes!
Being close to the airport actually makes your airport transfers simple. Actually, you may sit on the patio of the Flying Pig café till you hear the airplane land, after which it’s a 2 min stroll to the airport to board – no extra ready round with the crowds.
And there are no noise air pollution points both because the runway and planes are small and the flights don’t begin going till round 8am and end at nightfall!
Golf Cart Leases
I discussed it was enjoyable getting picked up from the airport in a golf cart, what’s even higher is zipping across the island in your individual rental.
You may get anyplace on the island inside 5-10 minutes. You actually gained’t be complaining concerning the spectacular open-air views and funky breezes.
This was the very first thing the women needed to do after we arrived, and so they requested for it typically throughout our keep. They beloved sitting within the again watching Staniel Cay village go by with the wind whipping their hair.
Our 15-year-old was disenchanted she couldn’t drive it, however you have to be 18 with a legitimate license. They’re strict with it on the Cay and can dish out fines!
You’ll be able to lease 2, 4 and 6-seater golf carts, and company of the resort get 25% off.
Spa Companies
The Spa for Embrace Resort is just not but open, however you may nonetheless order some spa remedies similar to therapeutic massage providers to your room. A health middle can be attributable to be added to the resort very quickly.
Easy methods to Get to Staniel Cay
Until you’re crusing in, the one method to get to Staniel Cay is by small airplane. It’s simply one more reason to go to this stunning island within the Exumas because the 30-minute flight is a scenic one.
It was overcast and at nightfall after we flew into Staniel Cay from Nassau, so didn’t see an excessive amount of under however had entrance row seats to a gorgeous sundown.
However, on the way in which again to Nassau, our morning flight with vibrant sunny skies unveiled a shocking vista under of the Exuma Islands, which we flew over virtually the whole approach.
These coming into Staniel Cay for a day journey to see the swimming pigs may also fly in from Nassau.
You’ll be able to both fly in from Nassau (Bahamas) by way of Flamingo Air or Titan Air or fly in from Ft. Lauderdale (Florida, US) by way of Makers Air or Staniel Air. Flamingo Air, Titan Air, and Maker’s Air have flights twice every day.
Continuously Requested Questions
Right here’s what individuals often ask us about visiting the Exuma and staying in Staniel Cay.
How will the climate be?
The Exumas have a tropical savanna local weather with dry winters. The yearly common most temperature in Exumas is 81°F (starting from 76°F in march to 85°F in august). Annual rainfall is 64.3 inches, with a minimal of two.1 inches in March and a most of 11.7 inches in October.
We visited within the first week of January and had beautiful heat climate (80F) daily with just a few sudden, however fast rain showers. Perceive that climate is all the time unpredictable and can’t be managed. Learn to dance within the rain!
Is there an ATM on the island / are playing cards accepted?
There isn’t a ATM on the island, so carry money.
You should utilize USD or Bahamian {dollars}. It’s a 1:1 foreign money trade. You might obtain Bahamian change should you use USD, or vice versa. Credit score Playing cards are additionally accepted.
Is Staniel Cay Protected?
As with every place you journey to, it’s essential to make use of frequent sense and pay attention to your environment. We discovered Staniel Cay to be very secure and didn’t really feel nervous or afraid as soon as.
Theft or crime is just not actually an issue, locals even go away the keys of their golf carts and sleep with doorways unlocked.
The island is small and everybody is aware of everybody, so there’s not loads that may go by undiscovered. However once more, that doesn’t imply issues can’t occur so be cautious.
In Abstract
It’s supporting and experiencing regionally owned companies and tales like this that all the time make my travels so a lot better. I journey to grasp the locals extra, to feed my curiosity and sense of awe, and develop empathy.
Embrace Resort will likely be a lot greater than only a mattress to sleep in and can improve these treasured recollections you make within the beautiful Exuma Islands.
Don’t neglect to pack sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a contented disposition, and buy journey insurance coverage!
Supply: Breaking Travel News