In short… A 1960s Briland mainstay, recently refreshed with shell-strewn interiors so playful that it’s the rare beach hotel where you may want to spend your time indoors.

Often dubbed the “Nantucket of the Caribbean,” the island is known for its pastel cottages with gingerbread trim and well-heeled—yet often barefoot—crowd. On the far ends of the island, you could probably throw a cowrie shell in any direction and hit a billionaire, but the whole place still feels incredibly laid back. Chickens, roosters, potcakes (Bahamian street dogs) and children roam freely, horses gallop along the beach, and most everyone gets around by golf cart.

Set on eight acres of beachfront along the island’s famous Pink Sands beach, Coral Sands’ low-slung, cottage-style layout feels residential and not overbuilt, even though with 41 guest accommodations, it is the largest property on the island. It sits on the Atlantic side, where things feel a touch quieter—if you set off from the beach here, the next landmass is Africa. That said, you can still zip down Chapel Street and be in the middle of things in two minutes, or never leave the grounds of the hotel except for maybe a walk along the sand.

The hotel changed hands in the ‘90s, and most recently was acquired by AJ Capital Partners, who have since undertaken a brilliant, multi-phase renovation. I had visited Coral Sands before it closed for renovations, and loved how distinctly Bahamian it felt—completely welcoming and unfussy, with brightly colored Junkanoo costumes on the walls. They’ve not only preserved that feeling, but have turned the volume up.

Read the full story here