T+L’s Resort Assessment of Coral Sands Inn & Cottages within the Bahamas

Folks throw across the time period “barefoot luxurious” lots. It may imply toes-in-the-sand leisure, attentive and pleasant service from employees, and deluxe facilities. However most significantly, to me, it means zero pretension. If I don’t need to costume up for dinner, and I’m too lazy to blow dry my frizzy hair into submission, nobody will give me a second look. If I order French fries and rum punch for lunch by the pool, that is heartily cosigned by the poolside employees. And if I need to sleep in after which spend all day on the seashore as a substitute of strolling to city or taking the advisable boat journey, I don’t really feel any FOMO or guilt for not getting the total expertise of a vacation spot.

And that is actually the essence of what makes Coral Sands Inn & Cottages so fantastic. The second you step foot on Harbour Island, a small, slender Bahamas island that’s simply 3.5 miles lengthy and 1.5 miles broad, the remainder of the world melts away. How will you fear when the solar is brilliant, the powdery sand is pale pink (sure, actually), and the aquamarine water is the right temperature? If you arrive at Coral Sands, two large white seahorses set on a pink-and-white checkered flooring, with shell-clad lighting fixtures overhead, beckon you inside. An indication above says, “Briland,” which I quickly realized is how the locals discuss with the island (say “Harbour Island” thrice quick and also you’ll get it).

Coral Sands Inn & Cottages has been round since 1968, based by former Hollywood actor and fighter pilot Brett King, who was an additional in additional than 300 movies of the ‘40s and ‘50s, and his spouse Sharon. It was lately bought to AJ Capital Companions, an actual property funding agency who additionally based Graduate Accommodations. It underwent a serious redesign and renovation that touched all of the cottages (inn rooms to come back), eating places, bars, foyer, retail store, and pool. The coral and turquoise colour palette is carried all through, as are sure mascots of the resort, together with a mermaid, rooster (you’ll perceive this shortly because it’s inconceivable to overlook the proliferation of chickens on Harbour Island), and seahorse. Total, the redesign is fashionable but lighthearted, which is a microcosm for the resort, and even Harbour Island itself. There’s no pretension or judgment right here, however almost all the things is agreeable to the attention.

Here is my evaluate of Coral Sands Inn & Cottages.

The Rooms

My pal and I had been staying in one of many 14 cute, flora-and-fauna-named cottages — ours was known as Flame Tree — that lined the slope up from the seashore. Our semi-attached backyard cottage wasn’t waterfront, however we had a furnished again porch with a view of tropical vegetation and different pink-and-white cottages.

Once we opened the cobalt-blue door with our key, we had been greeted by pale pink partitions, a luxurious mattress with rattan-wrapped posters, and one of many coolest shell-covered pendant lighting fixtures I’d ever seen. The whole lot within the rooms match into the coral and turquoise colour palette of the resort, and the beachy accents had been cute however not overbearing — like that shell-covered gentle fixture. Within the entrance a part of the one-room cottage was a hallway with ample closet area and a big lavatory with double shell-shaped sinks, shell-framed mirrors, and a shocking turquoise-tile-covered rain bathe with an arch-shaped entry. Customized coral, turquoise, navy, and white striped cotton robes held on the wall, and light-blue and gold Ortigia tub merchandise with their signature leopard match the design completely.

There at the moment are 41 lodging in complete on the property, together with six backyard cottages and eight one- and two-bedroom oceanfront cottages, all with related design and layouts like ours. For friends needing much more area, there are two personal residences, Brett’s Dwelling and Sharon’s Dwelling, named after the unique house owners. Set away from the opposite lodging at the back of the property, these every characteristic three bedrooms with king-size beds and ensuite loos, and a front room, eating room, and totally outfitted kitchen. There’s additionally a one-bedroom visitor cottage, a landscaped personal patio, and plunge pool. A brief stroll from the primary property is the much more unique Villa Botanica, set on one-acre with three bedrooms, visitor cottage, and a full-size personal pool.

The Inn a part of the “Inn & Cottages” is inside the primary constructing the place the Pink Mermaid restaurant and bar is, providing 12 rooms, some with balconies. These rooms haven’t been redesigned but, but it surely’s on the docket for 2025. Nonetheless, they at present have a seahorse-themed design that doesn’t really feel too misplaced with the remainder of the beachy cottages. The ultimate lodging choice is the Briland Home, which presents 12 suites with a separate residing space and balconies or terraces in every room.

Meals and Drink

The resort has two eating places. The primary is the Pink Mermaid, and there are many the namesake creatures adorning the regionally made paintings that hangs on the partitions, gallery-style. The coral and seafoam inexperienced colour palette is accented by a hand-painted ceiling that includes vegetation and coral reefs and shell-encrusted chandeliers. The columns by the rattan bar and close to the home windows have rows of completely positioned seashells set in a definite sample, performed by an artist from Miami. Lamps with rattan roosters at their base painting one other of the resort’s icons and palm-bladed ceiling followers spin lazily above. The indoor-outdoor restaurant identifies as an Italian bistro with Bahamian influences. Virtually, this implies dishes like tuna crudo with candy drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, an area beer.

The Coral Sands Seashore Bar is an open-air restaurant overlooking the pink sand and clear-blue ocean. Right here’s the place you’ll discover lighter fare, that includes contemporary seafood and snacky objects like fish tacos with the catch of the day fried or grilled, lemongrass purple curry shrimp and jerk hen skewers, crab muffins, and Kalik-battered conch fritters, a Bahamian traditional, served right here with a creamy scotch bonnet pepper sauce that I discovered addictively good.

Cocktails are principally of the tropical and tiki selection, and so they’re all scrumptious. The signature Pink Mermaid, with grapefruit and ginger, which we had been welcomed with on arrival, was a favourite. Different standard cocktails embrace a rum punch, mango and fervour fruit mojitos, frozen pomegranate margaritas, and the Sandy Shandy, made with Sands Beer (one other native favourite). There are additionally a number of mocktail choices, together with a vodka-free model of the Pink Mermaid and a rum-free fruit punch.

Actions and Experiences

The principle exercise right here is lounging on Pink Sands Seashore. The title of the resort is a reference to the pale pink-sand seashore right here, which additionally has the consistency of child powder. If merely mendacity on the pink-umbrella-shaded loungers isn’t sufficient, friends also can borrow kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling tools.

There’s additionally the two-level tiled infinity pool to take pleasure in, however if you would like extra motion, try the tennis and pickleball courts, open-air gymnasium, nine-hole out of doors golf placing course, and indoor golf simulator. You can too lease bikes or golf carts (what most individuals use to get across the island) to discover. On any given evening there could be a Bahamian cooking class or cocktail-making workshop, in addition to native rum tastings. The concierge also can organize a boating tour to snorkel with sea turtles and see the well-known swimming pigs at Eleuthera, amongst different issues.

The Spa

There isn’t a spa at present, however a brand new wellness heart is within the works, so as to add to the brand new open-air gymnasium. For now, you’ll be able to e-book a therapeutic massage therapy in your room or on the seashore. There are additionally often yoga, Pilates, and different health courses.

Household-friendly Choices

There’s not a lot particularly provided for households, however there are babysitting providers out there and children are welcome. The 2-bedroom cottages or residences are perfect for households and the laid-back ambiance makes it simple for youths to really feel comfy. You can too request board video games and seashore toys.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Coral Sands Inn & Cottages characteristic villas which might be ADA-equipped. Golf carts might be organized for friends to make use of on and off the property.

When it comes to sustainability, the employees clear the seashore a number of instances a day to scale back the possibility of air pollution making its method into the ocean. The property’s meals and beverage crew use native and seasonal elements wherever doable and takeout is served with sustainable cutlery and packing containers.

Location

The resort is situated on the jap coast of the tiny Harbour Island, which itself is northeast of the bigger island of Eleuthera, one of many out islands of the Bahamas archipelago. Eleuthera can also be the place the airport is, and from the North Eleuthera Airport, guests will take a brief drive and a 15-minute boat journey to Harbour Island. The resort can organize for each, and as soon as the boat docks on Harbour Island, it is one other 10-minute drive to the resort.

Coral Sands is strolling distance to Dunmore City, the place you’ll discover boutique outlets, cafes, and eating places, in addition to some fairly giant homes, particularly as you get near the water.