Dreaming of the ultimate Caribbean getaway? The Abaco Club on Winding Bay provides the perfect idyllic combination of relaxed luxury and privacy for members and guests.
Situated approximately 170 miles off the Florida coast, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay located on Abaco in the Out Islands of the Bahamas, is an international private member’s club that opened on December 23, 2004. In mid-December 2005, Edward F. Nesta and I decided to take a pre-holiday break and enjoy a tropical getaway. Easily accessible from United States, we boarded The Abaco Club on Winding Bay’s private plane in Fort Lauderdale, and less than 1-hour later we were soaking up the sun and getting ready for our afternoon golf tee time.
This spectacular 520-acre playground designed by the legendary Peter de Savary (St. James Clubs, Stapleford Park, the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, Carnegie Abbey, Cherokee Plantation, Bovey Castle, and The London Outpost of Bovey Castle) has much to recommend it, from having the first Scottish-style tropical links championship golf course designed by golf architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, crystalline waters of the Bahamas, water sports, fishing, sailing, tennis, a Fitness Center and Elemis Spa, infinity swimming pool, as well as a Clubhouse, and sure to enchant equestrians, riding quarter horses along the surf.
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay is a little hidden gem in the Caribbean that welcomes all to come for a one-time visit, before considering membership. There are 20 guest cabanas, as well as two, three and four-bedroom cottages, which members can rent or they can purchase their own homes. We stayed in one of their 650 sq. foot octagonal cabanas, painted a tropical shade of lilac. Inside, the cabana had bamboo floors and a cool and refreshing backdrop with a white cypress ceiling, white walls and white wood plantation shutters, which was dramatically enhanced with splashes of color. The king bed had an artsy bamboo headboard, and the bed was draped with a white bedspread decorated with circles in varying hues of pink and green. The sofa was covered with white, pink and lime green striped fabric, a coffee table held a glass bowl filled with seashells and an inviting welcome basket of exotic fruit, and was set on a round pink rug; two white rattan chairs featured lime green with small pink polka dot cushions. Josephine Baker prints by the artist, Paul Colin, as well as a Soroya botanical painting, enlivened the walls.
Amenities abounded with a walk-in cedar closet with large safe, 42” plasma screen television, Timex clock radio with a choice of four “sleep to” modes: brook, ocean, wind and chimes settings, a Bose sound system, 2 ceiling fans as well as air conditioning, and a well-stocked wet bar with coffee maker, tea maker, mini bar, mini refrigerator and Villeroy and Boch china. The white wicker desk had a white lamp and a locally made straw folder, and the white desk bench was covered with bright pink fabric. In the nightstand drawer, I discovered a delightful little surprise – a small pink fish “ice pack” or “hot water” bottle, perhaps for guests to use after drinking too many Bahama Mamas.
There was a large deck, reached by opening large glass doors and walking through a breeze of flowing white fabric, where we had a perfect view of the 1st fairway. Every detail of The Abaco Club on Winding Bay was carefully planned and executed to ensure guests’ satisfaction, including what I found to be truly remarkable: a remote controlled 100% organic mosquito mister on the porch, which uses a substance made from a daisy that grows in Africa that naturally repels mosquitoes!
The bathroom was covered with small tiles in the varying shades of the ocean; beige marble surrounded a combination deep-soaking tub and shower with a large rainshower head, and the marble vanity had an art glass sink. Thoughtful extras included waffle weave robes, Elemis amenities, a shaving/make-up mirror, and luxe towels embroidered with The Abaco Club on Winding Bay logo.
The hotel has a plethora of activities to fill your days: golf, tennis, water sports, including the use of Hobie cats, glass bottom kayaks and paddle boats, guests can go sailing, deep sea fishing or scuba diving, ride quarter horses along the surf at sunrise or sunset, be pampered at their Elemis Spa, work out in their Fitness Center, simply relax in a colorful chair on the beach or on a dock, or dream your day away from the comfort of a hammock in the shade of a palm tree.
The restaurant, headed by Executive Chef Samuel Favella, offers a true sampling of the Caribbean, Barman Archie Symonette always has a ready smile and makes some of the best island drinks, and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Stone McEwan keeps the guests on their feet dancing to the island beat. With vehicle use limited to driving a golf cart, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay truly offers an unforgettable Bahamian experience.
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay
P.O. Box AB20571
Marsh Harbor, Abaco, Bahamas
Telephone: (US toll-free) 1-866-605-8681
Telephone: (Worldwide) 1-843-278-0196
Telephone: (Bahamas) 1-242-367-0077 ext. 3846
Fax: (Bahamas) 1-242-367-2930
Email: info@theabacoclub.com
www.theabacoclub.com
Please read our article on The Abaco Club in the Destinations, Hotels & Resorts, Chefs’ Recipes, Restaurants, Music Scene, Spas and Events sections.
© March 2006. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
