Even the drinks are hushed at this pool
GREAT EXUMA, THE BAHAMAS— Sorry, but accomplished mixologist Vanrea Hanna simply cannot make you a Chi-Chi. Or a Jack Daniels slushie. Or a Rock Lobster. Or a Bushwacker. Or even a frozen margarita. You see, Hanna runs the poolside bar at what’s formally called the Quiet Pool here at Sandals Emerald Bay.
And the rules — which further promote a heavenly peace among the resort’s already tranquil 202 hectares — apply to bartenders, too. No blenders, and no blender drinks. Hanna’s signature drink is a faux strawberry mojito with “quiet” (intact) ice. Hallelujah to that. For me and my wife, it was love at first snooze at the “Quiet Pool.” It’s buffered from the resort’s other two central pools by the lovely Zen gardens — where as many as eight on-site weddings take place each day during the high season — and strategic landscaping that further gives guests privacy.
At the wedding we witnessed, the bride and groom were much more interested in each other than in disturbing our peace.
But they’d have a hard time finding us, even if they wanted to. The pool’s outstanding feature is its dozen vanilla-coloured canvas cabanas, offering almost all the privacy you’d need outside your room.
The three metre-square poolside cabanas are open in the front, and enclosed on the sides and back. Screened, roll-up windows allow the ocean breeze to circulate, with the help of an electric overhead fan.
Inside, two loungers gave us a clear view of the action in the pool — mostly consisting of couples floating silently beside each other on rubber mats — or comfortable seating for a day of reading (or writing) in solitude.
The pool opens at 10 a.m. We were there promptly each day to lay claim to a cabana, but never had to jockey for position or ask our butler to put a book or towel on it for us.
Other features make this resort stand out, too.
For example, the mile-long, wide white sand beach invites walks at night and swimming during the day. The beach vista is free from imposing highrises and monster homes. All you see is blue and green ocean. Gorgeous.
And the food is fantastic. Our favourite was a surf-and-turf dinner we shared at the Barefoot by the Sea beachfront restaurant with newlyweds from Idaho. We met them in the airport, before we arrived, where they wondered if they’d made the right choice in picking a high-end property for their honeymoon. Three days in, they were convinced the many features made it worth the money.
Like all Sandals, the service is impeccable. Our butler, Samson, had a knack for unexpectedly showing up with snacks and drinks at just the right time, then disappearing until we didn’t know we needed him again . . . but always did. Owen Roberts travelled as a guest of Sandals Emerald Bay, which didn’t review or approve this story.