Kamalame Cay

Flying home from our 2nd annual Kamalame Easter - what an amazing experience. The staff are so warm and lovely, and being there to celebrate a special holiday - felt like we were all a part of the kamalame family. Stayed in a cottage with two boys (1 King and they added a twin bed which was great) and had invited two other families next door for their first time - all boys 8 - 10, they loved exploring the island with kyaks, golf cards, snorkeling around and seeing turtles, stingray and lots of fish! All the boys had a blast and it was great knowing they were safe to run around! Everyone agreed to come back next year - maybe rent one of the beautiful homes.

This is a hidden gem. My husband and I recently returned with two other couples to share this slice of paradise after we had an amazing stay 4 years ago! This visit didn't disappoint. Every accommodation has a view of the pristine blue waters. Definitely participate in the meal and drinks plans.

Hotel Review: Disappointing Experience with Poor Accommodations & Service I had high expectations for this hotel, but unfortunately, my stay was plagued by numerous issues that made it far from a luxury experience. Accommodations & Cleanliness Despite changing rooms, the conditions remained subpar. There were ants in the cabinets and near the front door, which became less noticeable in my second room only because of the darker flooring, not because the issue was resolved. I have stayed in other beach cottages before and never experienced this, making it unacceptable at this price point. The towels provided were visibly stained with self-tanner and makeup, while the bedding was too small for the bed, constantly shifting and exposing minor stains on the mattress pad—not what I expected from a hotel of this caliber. The mattress itself was extremely uncomfortable and overly springy, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Additionally, the toilet scrubber in my room was disgustingly unkempt. Food & Dining Experience Every dinner I had left me feeling sick and inflamed, raising serious concerns about food quality. Room service deliveries arrived on plates wrapped in foil, with no designated disposal system, meaning I couldn’t keep food in my room. Even after multiple requests for pickup, dirty dishes often sat for hours or even overnight, attracting ants and flies. Basic kitchen supplies ran out without warning—such as breakfast syrup—which resulted in unannounced and unwanted substitutions. The quality of alcoholic beverages was poor and overpriced, and, surprisingly, fish—one of the most common menu items in the Caribbean—was unavailable at times. Guest Services & Amenities Upon check-in, I was given a QR code for contact information, but it lacked essential details such as meal service hours, activity schedules, and resort facilities like pool hours. A printed or digital guide should have been provided. I encountered issues with both the Bluetooth speaker and the safe deposit box in two different rooms, yet my requests for assistance were ignored. At dinner, I requested water and received a ziplock bag of ice water—a baffling and disappointing service choice. Additionally, I requested beach towels, which were never delivered to my room, forcing me to search for one at the pool bar. When I asked for basic toiletries like a toothbrush and toothpaste, I was directed to the on-site shop to purchase them—an unacceptable practice for a hotel at this price point. Infrastructure & Maintenance The resort’s upkeep left much to be desired. The overwhelming sewage smell along the paths significantly detracted from the island’s natural beauty. The sheer number of flies swarming the resort was excessive and made dining outdoors unpleasant. Rooms had no phones, requiring all requests to be made through WhatsApp, which often resulted in delays or no response until the next day. The hotel promotes a “WiFi-free environment” as a wellness feature, but when inclement weather prevents outdoor activities, there should be alternative indoor entertainment—especially for solo travelers. The spa was extremely outdated, with rust buildup, old products, and stained towels—none of which justified the high price of treatments. After touring the facilities, I canceled my appointment. Perhaps most concerning was the lack of security. There was no room key system, which poses a significant security risk, especially given past reports of theft at the property. Additionally, there were no ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs, leaving guests with no control over their privacy. Lastly, the golf carts—one of the primary means of transportation around the resort—were unreliable, frequently breaking down, running out of battery, or malfunctioning. One of mine was stuck in reverse upon arrival and could not be driven forward. Lack of Proper Management & Training Throughout my stay, it was evident that the hotel suffers from a severe lack of management oversight and proper staff training. Service requests were often ignored, amenities were poorly maintained, and overall organization was lacking.

My husband and I were at Kamalame Cay for ten days. I was so nervous based on the reviews....some excellent, and some very cautionary. For us, the experience was idyllic if occasionally uneven. First, I think we were clear about what we were looking for. We wanted a relaxing place to rest where we didn't have to make too many decisions or be surrounded by hordes of people. My husband had dreamed of catching a bonefish on a fly rod and I just wanted to take quiet walks, look at blue water and have a nice drink at the end of the day. We wanted clean and pretty but not lavish. This is what we got. Truly "barefoot luxury." We traveled through Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Maker's Air. This was seamless and highly recommend. (If I little nerve-racking if you haven't done a small prop plane before.) We were greeted promptly at airport as promised and taxied to the dock for the quick boat crossing. Everything went as promised. Mario greeted us and gave us a quick orientation. We received our golf cart which absolutely needed to be charged at every opportunity as they do not hold a charge and are a necessity. The resort itself is a feast for the eyes. Every spot is carefully curated but it is so subtle that it doesn't look overly thought out...it just works and feels welcoming and lovely at the same time. Not overdone or underdone. We stayed in the Bungalows and felt like it was perfect. The photos don't do this place justice. The water views are everywhere and they are exquisite. The water was warm and the sand was soft. Gentle island breezes most days. The sunrise from your white fluffy bed is so restorative....and then follow it up with the sunset on the other Side of the island later. Good for your soul. Spent many hours on my private palapa behind my bungalow. Read a lot of books but honestly just stared at the changing hues of Azul for much of the time as well. This was the brain break I needed. When it was windy, I sat at the beautiful pool. Drink and food service brought to my very comfy lounger. Plenty of sun or shade depending on your desire. My husband fished for hours every day. There was always someplace on the island where he could catch fish. He finally achieved his dream of catching bonefish and even caught baby barracuda on his fly. He used his spinner to catch snapper and bigger barracuda. We loved going up to the North end and fishing and wading without another soul in sight. My husband also used Keith for the charter to the Joulters and found his expertise and teaching invaluable. When a big bone ran and broke my husband's line, Keith was able to provide him with another one so that he wasn't done fishing for the week! (Lesson: bring an extra line!) Our continental breakfast was usually not sufficient for us as my husband needs more protein for breakfast, but it was still fun to receive our basket of goodies and coffee each morning. (Pro-tip: If you get a carafe of cream, put it in your frig to use for multiple days. I didn't understand that and then was charged for more.) Bring your basket in quickly, because if the owner's dogs are there they will treat themselves!! We received warm cookies every day and felt like little kids as we raced back to our bungalow to see if they had arrived like the tooth fairy magically depositing something under your pillow! The food: good enough. We were there for 10 days and I don't know of a restaurant that I wouldn't feel a little tired of after eating there daily. We had some meals that were very good and some that were just fine. However, I have never found the Caribbean to be a foodie destination with supply issues and limited agriculture, so that being said, it was consistently the best food I have in the Bahamas or Caribbean. Lunch was our favorite at the Tiki Hut. Homemade ice cream at dinner was outstanding. Excellent drinks every time. Best Pina colada I have ever had. We happened to be there for the "the Luncheon" and opted to participate in that. Best food we had during our stay, but not amazing for the price. Still, after being reclusive for most of our stay, it was a fun way to meet other guests and local Bahamians who boat in. Very festive with unlimited wine pouring. The DJ was very good. Dancing for those who like that, but also ok to sit in the shade and chat with new friends. Everyone was SO kind and friendly. The STAFF: Our experience was wonderful with the exception of one dinner when we came on the later end and the resort was full. Even then, the service was kind if very slow. Everyone is congenial and helpful. I tend to think you get what you give. If you are reasonable and pleasant with the staff, they will return the same. We started to get to know the staff and they were lovely and made us feel like true guests in their home. The guests who were the most unhappy were the ones who were a little crabby themselves. Don't expect perfection, but understand the staff is doing their best to provide services on an island. They don't have every item every day. This is a trip where you will need to be a little flexible. Concierge quickly remedied situation when our hot water went out. Inside Shower pressure is low as mentioned in other reviews but our outside shower worked better. Spa was lovely. Stacey gave me a wonderfully relaxing 90 minute Swedish massage. A downside: we asked for bikes every day for four days and never received them. Since my husband and I had different daily agendas, it would have been nice for one of us to have a bike so the other one didn't have to make the 1.8 mile walk from the bungalow to the pool/tiki hut. They told us they would send them down every time we asked, but they never came. It wasn't that big of a deal, so we stopped asking. And it was probably good for me to walk off the coconut ice cream and cookies!

I need to start that we have been to Kamalame 5 times in the last 21 years and I have to say it has gone downhill. I booked last sept and used Coco seaplanes from their website to get there. (sidebar the owner had a stake in the airline.) We arrived in Nassau and were told we had no reservation. When they called from the airport they were told coco was out of business. We spend a large amount of money on this flight. I contacted Kamalame and wondered why no one told us this. They had send numerous emails for pre-arrival. Reservations is offsite in Jamaica. 2 hours later we had a flight to the land based airport where I was told a taxi would be waiting and then the short ferry ride to the resort. No taxi and when we got to the resort had to call 2x to get the ferry. Dave(whom my husband tipped)said he would take care of the way back. Dave did nothing. While the grounds are lovely and the food quite good the rooms are in need of repair along with the golf carts. Ours died and we had to be pushed back to our room. Supposed to be juice and fruit basket each morning. No juice. Only one day of cookies No ironing board or iron. No hair dryer and they couldnt find one. Left with 1 towel between us Faucets were a dribble and you needed brut force to work the tub. Missing curtains with rusty curtain rods, wooden beach loungers with no cushions. We booked bonefishing and is was so windy we couldn't go. No refund. The way home also no flight for us after being promised it was taken care of. Charged my credit card 2x for the same amount. I can go on, but you get the picture. The plus is the staff are very nice. For the price of this resort and all the added fees it needs to either lower the prices or overhaul the resort. It is 3 star at best. Sorry we won't be returning after being there so many times.