Exceptional Beach, Reef, and Home on Private South End of Great Guana Cay
5.0
Outstanding(38 Reviews)House in Central Abaco
6 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this house rental
Located on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas, with the 3rd longest barrier reef in the world off the back deck, our lovely home features high end amenities, an open plan living area and kitchen, and extensive wraparound decking - covered and uncovered - for the perfect island vacation experience. Expansive landscaping adds to the overall serenity and character of the house.
The living space is open and welcoming, with a relaxed great room filled with a super comfortable, cozy sofa, chaise and chairs, a dining table for six, an island bar with bar stools, and a gourmet kitchen. Vaulted ceilings paneled in Cypress wood ensure the house is airy and filled with light.
The gourmet kitchen is equipped with just about everything you could need, including a Thermador gas range, a Kitchenaid fridge and freezer, two Kitchenaid ovens, a Kitchenaid dishwasher, and a microwave. You’ll also find plenty of pots and pans for cooking, an excellent array of knives and serving dishes, and loads of plates, bowls, cups and glasses (including all kinds of beach plasticware to take outside).
Just next door to the kitchen there’s a utility room with a washer and drier, along with a cupboard filled with beach towels.
There are two bedrooms downstairs. The master bedroom has a king size bed, ceiling fan, side tables, chaise for relaxing, and french doors that open on to the deck, along with a large master bathroom complete with a double shower, double sinks, and a large walk-in closet.
The downstairs guest bedroom has a king size bed, ceiling fan and side tables, with its own outdoor covered deck. The downstairs bathroom is right outside the door with a tub/shower combo.
The third bedroom is upstairs, with a deck looking out on to the front lawn, side tables, a ceiling fan, and a reading nook with an inviting double chaise.
Outside, you’ll find large deck spaces with a gas grill, two dining tables, dining chairs, and loungers for napping in the shade or sunbathing.
The beach is just off the back deck, and offers some of the softest sand in the world. There are only a few other homes on the beach, guaranteeing peace and privacy. The water is crystal clear, sloping gradually to the reef, where you'll find wonderful marine life featuring turtles, rays, groupers and angel fish.
Should the spirit move you, you can take a leisurely stroll along the water's edge to the legendary bar, Nipper's, and there's a good chance you won't see another soul until you get there.
With a golf cart rental (a must on the island, as it's the only mode of transportation; we'll send you a packet of information about the island when you book, including golf cart rental companies), you'll have the exceptional island of Great Guana Cay - all 7 miles of it! - at your disposal. From exploring deserted beaches to body surfing, beach combing to sipping a cocktail and watching the sunset at a beach front bar...
You'll also be able to stock up on provisions for cooking a meal at home and enjoying it on the deck overlooking the water at your own island oasis.
And if you rent a boat, or take advantage of a charter company excursion, you can explore the Abacos myriad of bays, coves and protected harbors, deep sea fish, scuba dive, or island hop to Marsh Harbour, Hopetown, Man O War, Treasure Cay or Green Turtle Cay (perhaps a restaurant and beach bar crawl?).
The lagoon between Great Guana Cay and Scotland Cay - a stone's throw away by boat - is an incredible place to spend the day, and the underwater scenery at Fowl Cay Marine Reserve - just a little bit further by boat - is some of the best in the Caribbean.
For a good feel for our home and location, please check out our video, which can be seen at the end of the photo gallery.
If you haven't been to Great Guana Cay and are contemplating a trip, we'd love to have the opportunity to correspond via email or chat on the phone to talk you through what a trip to the island looks like - booking flights to Marsh Harbour (our closest airport), taking the ferry to Guana, getting provisions, and all the things you can do once on the island.
In the meantime, the essentials are as follows: from the Marsh Harbour airport you take a 7 or 8 minute taxi ride to the Conch Inn Marina, where you jump on a 30 minute ferry to Guana (ferries run about every two hours during the day). Once on Guana, our property manager will greet you at the dock, help you collect your golf cart, and lead you to the house.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NOTE
The utility infrastructure in the Abacos (and in the Bahamas in general) is continually striving forward, but based on equipment issue and the number of tourists visiting the islands during peak times, you may experience power outages during your stay. These are usually short in duration (less than 90 minutes). Occasionally they can last several hours. Should this happen, our caretaker will come and start the generator for you.
There are no medical doctors or clinics on the island. There is a Guana fire and rescue operation that can provide assistance in case of serious emergency. There is a hospital and several medical clinics in Marsh Harbour.
On another note, we are committed to helping our guests avoid potential scams, which are, unfortunately, all too prevalent. No vacation rental website - Homeaway, VRBO, Vacationrentals.com - nor us will ever ask you to pay via wire transfer, check or money order. If you receive an email asking you to pay via one of these methods (emails can be hijacked by fraudsters), it is a scam. Only make payments through the official Homeaway, VRBO or Vacationrentals.com websites with a credit card.
Lastly, we have an outdoor security camera for times when the house is unoccupied.
The living space is open and welcoming, with a relaxed great room filled with a super comfortable, cozy sofa, chaise and chairs, a dining table for six, an island bar with bar stools, and a gourmet kitchen. Vaulted ceilings paneled in Cypress wood ensure the house is airy and filled with light.
The gourmet kitchen is equipped with just about everything you could need, including a Thermador gas range, a Kitchenaid fridge and freezer, two Kitchenaid ovens, a Kitchenaid dishwasher, and a microwave. You’ll also find plenty of pots and pans for cooking, an excellent array of knives and serving dishes, and loads of plates, bowls, cups and glasses (including all kinds of beach plasticware to take outside).
Just next door to the kitchen there’s a utility room with a washer and drier, along with a cupboard filled with beach towels.
There are two bedrooms downstairs. The master bedroom has a king size bed, ceiling fan, side tables, chaise for relaxing, and french doors that open on to the deck, along with a large master bathroom complete with a double shower, double sinks, and a large walk-in closet.
The downstairs guest bedroom has a king size bed, ceiling fan and side tables, with its own outdoor covered deck. The downstairs bathroom is right outside the door with a tub/shower combo.
The third bedroom is upstairs, with a deck looking out on to the front lawn, side tables, a ceiling fan, and a reading nook with an inviting double chaise.
Outside, you’ll find large deck spaces with a gas grill, two dining tables, dining chairs, and loungers for napping in the shade or sunbathing.
The beach is just off the back deck, and offers some of the softest sand in the world. There are only a few other homes on the beach, guaranteeing peace and privacy. The water is crystal clear, sloping gradually to the reef, where you'll find wonderful marine life featuring turtles, rays, groupers and angel fish.
Should the spirit move you, you can take a leisurely stroll along the water's edge to the legendary bar, Nipper's, and there's a good chance you won't see another soul until you get there.
With a golf cart rental (a must on the island, as it's the only mode of transportation; we'll send you a packet of information about the island when you book, including golf cart rental companies), you'll have the exceptional island of Great Guana Cay - all 7 miles of it! - at your disposal. From exploring deserted beaches to body surfing, beach combing to sipping a cocktail and watching the sunset at a beach front bar...
You'll also be able to stock up on provisions for cooking a meal at home and enjoying it on the deck overlooking the water at your own island oasis.
And if you rent a boat, or take advantage of a charter company excursion, you can explore the Abacos myriad of bays, coves and protected harbors, deep sea fish, scuba dive, or island hop to Marsh Harbour, Hopetown, Man O War, Treasure Cay or Green Turtle Cay (perhaps a restaurant and beach bar crawl?).
The lagoon between Great Guana Cay and Scotland Cay - a stone's throw away by boat - is an incredible place to spend the day, and the underwater scenery at Fowl Cay Marine Reserve - just a little bit further by boat - is some of the best in the Caribbean.
For a good feel for our home and location, please check out our video, which can be seen at the end of the photo gallery.
If you haven't been to Great Guana Cay and are contemplating a trip, we'd love to have the opportunity to correspond via email or chat on the phone to talk you through what a trip to the island looks like - booking flights to Marsh Harbour (our closest airport), taking the ferry to Guana, getting provisions, and all the things you can do once on the island.
In the meantime, the essentials are as follows: from the Marsh Harbour airport you take a 7 or 8 minute taxi ride to the Conch Inn Marina, where you jump on a 30 minute ferry to Guana (ferries run about every two hours during the day). Once on Guana, our property manager will greet you at the dock, help you collect your golf cart, and lead you to the house.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NOTE
The utility infrastructure in the Abacos (and in the Bahamas in general) is continually striving forward, but based on equipment issue and the number of tourists visiting the islands during peak times, you may experience power outages during your stay. These are usually short in duration (less than 90 minutes). Occasionally they can last several hours. Should this happen, our caretaker will come and start the generator for you.
There are no medical doctors or clinics on the island. There is a Guana fire and rescue operation that can provide assistance in case of serious emergency. There is a hospital and several medical clinics in Marsh Harbour.
On another note, we are committed to helping our guests avoid potential scams, which are, unfortunately, all too prevalent. No vacation rental website - Homeaway, VRBO, Vacationrentals.com - nor us will ever ask you to pay via wire transfer, check or money order. If you receive an email asking you to pay via one of these methods (emails can be hijacked by fraudsters), it is a scam. Only make payments through the official Homeaway, VRBO or Vacationrentals.com websites with a credit card.
Lastly, we have an outdoor security camera for times when the house is unoccupied.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Central Abaco
Reviews
5.0
Outstanding(38 Reviews)5.0
Molly and her house were nothing but incredible!
This had been my dream to finally rent this one of a kind beach home and I finally got a chance and I can say I was in heaven the whole time.
The property is a huge, well manicured yard with beautiful flowers and trees.
The deck over the beach was my favorite spot with views of the almost private beach and reef! My boys and I snorkeled all day.
Molly was beyond helpful and more than accommodating from beginning to end. She’s the nicest person/host I’ve ever experienced.
The home is situated off the beaten path which we love - yet the most gorgeous golf cart ride to the main town. You won’t regret staying here.
We are grateful Molly and her husband have shared their slice of paradise with our family!! Memories for a lifetime 💙
5.0
House clean. Molly & Gina very informative and helpful. Remote location, bring bug spray!
5.0
Home is a distance from town but that is exactly what we wanted needed. Hosts were very helpful and knowledgeable. The property itself is stunning… right out front door side doors is pure bliss views. Interior is island chic everything was clean and functional. Overall an outstanding visit.
5.0
Enjoyed a 3-night stay in Guana Cay! Couldn’t have asked for more accommodating hosts who provided helpful info throughout the rental process and our stay. Will definitely rent again.
5.0
Beautiful tropical property and very well equipped home, private beach front house. The property owners were available at any time to answer questions.
5.0
The setting of this 5+ star home can not be beat. The sunrises are magnificent from every room in the house. Outstanding communications with the owner/hosts made our trip back to Guana perfect in every way. The kitchen was fully stocked, the beds were very comfortable and the walk ways around the home and down to the beach were lined with flowers and stunning greenery. We had such a rewarding time at Keep Smiling. We are ready to make plans to come back again. This property and the owner/hosts are a gem.
5.0
Felt like home
We loved this classic Bahamian home tucked in beautiful landscaping with a gorgeous Atlantic Ocean Beach. The remoteness and required self-sufficiency was exactly up our alley but it was also a treat to be able to go out to dinner to the newly rebuilt post-Dorian restaurant. The local grocery store also upgraded since Dorian. Was so easy to correspond with the owners; they have become our friends.
5.0
Truly amazing Best Host Ever and House was PERFECT!!!
When you drive up to this homes words can not describ how beautiful the setting is! The gardens were magnificiant the color of the Ocean was glowing along the sugar white sands! I have been going to the Bahamas for a while and this is by far the nicest place I have ever stayed! No hidden faults here! Incredible!!!
5.0
Great property and location.
5.0
Keep Smiling
Great property and location.
5.0
Having stayed in Guana many times, this property exceeded our expectations by far. We brought a large group who had never seen the island before. The house was impeccably clean and generously stocked with everything you might need (except food, of course). From the beach in your backyard to the porch views, gorgeous landscaping, and the accommodating house manager/staff, you cannot go wrong with choosing this property. Everything was first class. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Molly and Melonie, thank you for making our stay so effortless!!! Hope to see you all very soon!!
5.0
Guana Gem
Having stayed in Guana many times, this property exceeded our expectations by far. We brought a large group who had never seen the island before. The house was impeccably clean and generously stocked with everything you might need (except food, of course). From the beach in your backyard to the porch views, gorgeous landscaping, and the accommodating house manager/staff, you cannot go wrong with choosing this property. Everything was first class. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Molly and Melonie, thank you for making our stay so effortless!!! Hope to see you all very soon!!
5.0
Second stay at this home
We love this location and the island for its "away from it all" location. Property owner and manager are wonderful!! You wont find a better beach at your doorstep and all to yourself.
One complaint, AC unit needs upgraded to larger BTU unit. It had a hard time cooling in the summer when its hot.
5.0
Beautiful Beachfront in gated community
We love staying in Great Guana Cay, especially in Orchid Bay. The property “Keep Smiling” has a beautiful beach that’s protected nicely by a small reef. We love that it’s in a gated community. The marina is a short golf cart drive away and has a great restaurant if you don’t want to cook at home. The house has everything you need to make your own meals if you choose that route. We have stayed at Orchid Bay many times and Keep Smiling will be our “go to” option next year.
Molly the property owner was in constant communication before our arrival and answered one question during our stay immediately. The property manager “Melonie” arranged for getting our luggage from our boat and also from the ferry to the house and back during our departure.
All-in-all a great time and great experience.
5.0
We loved our stay at Keep Smiling! Molly helped us with every step of the planning process. The beach was perfect. The sunrises were amazing. Our family loved the snorkeling. We cannot wait to go back to Keep Smiling!
5.0
Family Adventure in Paradise
We loved our stay at Keep Smiling! Molly helped us with every step of the planning process. The beach was perfect. The sunrises were amazing. Our family loved the snorkeling. We cannot wait to go back to Keep Smiling!
5.0
The place to chillax!
You will leave your cares behind when you arrive here! Location is quiet and secluded but a short golf cart ride to restaurants and grocery store. The owner Molly was awesome! Very responsive and helpful with ideas on what we should do and where to go while there. The house had all we needed for our long, relaxing, weekend and was very clean. We loved hanging out on the porch and patio lounge chairs when we were there. The house and island were amazing! Side note- Kidd’s Cove Bar & Grill is a must! It doesn’t look like much but those were some of the best stone crab claws we’ve ever had!
5.0
This property exceeded expectations in a big way. The combination of privacy, comfort and relaxation guarantees I will return for my next beach vacation. I couldn’t recommend it more
5.0
Amazing!
This property exceeded expectations in a big way. The combination of privacy, comfort and relaxation guarantees I will return for my next beach vacation. I couldn’t recommend it more
5.0
Everything about Keep Smiling is wonderful!
Our experience at Keep Smiling was absolutely wonderful. From before booking through the end of our stay, everything about Keep Smiling was amazing. This was our first time to the Abacos, so we had many questions and need for recommendations. Molly happily answered all questions and provided recommendations for everything: transportation, restaurants, rental information, etc. Once we arrived on Great Guana Cay, we were greeted by the Property Manager who had picked up our golf cart for the week and lead us into gated Orchid Bay, down several paths to Keep Smiling. The house was tucked back in the development, steps away from the most beautiful, and very private beach. We can’t wait to plan another trip back to Guana Cay and Keep Smiling!
5.0
Extraordinary!
We are already planning our return visit.
I simply don’t have the words to describe this home. The beach is amazing and you can see it from almost anywhere in this beautiful house and the wrap around porch. Previous reviewers are correct, the pictures are accurate, if possible it is even more beautiful than shown.
Clean, spacious, beautiful, and private; we loved every minute. And bonus - if you like to cook the kitchen is the best equipped of any place we have stayed. Most days we could walk and snorkel the 1/4 mile beach out front all by ourselves, occasionally we saw another couple. Amazing!
GREAT hosts, they were extremely helpful and quickly responsive to my every question. Thanks so much to Molly and Melonie for helping make this a perfect getaway!
5.0
We are already planning our return visit.I simply don’t have the words to describe this home. The beach is amazing and you can see it from almost anywhere in this beautiful house and the wrap around porch. Previous reviewers are correct, the pictures are accurate, if possible it is even more beautiful than shown.Clean, spacious, beautiful, and private; we loved every minute. And bonus - if you like to cook the kitchen is the best equipped of any place we have stayed. Most days we could walk and snorkel the 1/4 mile beach out front all by ourselves, occasionally we saw another couple. Amazing!GREAT hosts, they were extremely helpful and quickly responsive to my every question. Thanks so much to Molly and Melonie for helping make this a perfect getaway!
5.0
One of our best vacations ....
Exceeded our expectations! The house, the beach, the owners, the location - made our vacation so relaxing and easy and fun and memorable! Couldn’t have been any better! Pure paradise.
5.0
We LOVED our stay!!
We had an absolutely amazing time at Keep Smiling and on Great Guana Cay. Molly is such a pleasure to work with and so helpful with ideas on making your trip a wonderful experience. I could not say enough nice things about how hospitable she is. The house is fully stocked with anything you could need and we could not have had better experience. We highly recommend Keep Smiling and hope all future travelers have as good of a time as we did. Cheers!
Some of our favorite things:
-Renting Boats/Golf Carts from Dive Guana
-Nippers Sunday
-Nights at Kidd's Cove
-The lagoon between Scotland Cay and Guana Cay
-Walks around Hope Town (Lighthouse/Firefly/Sea Spray)
-Sunsetters (We went for rib night here and had pizza one night and both were wonderful!)
5.0
Outstanding!!
An amazing get away... Pristine private beach with an amazing reef just off the walkway in front of the house. Bring bug spray, but wonderful quite spot for a relaxing vacation.
5.0
Wonderful
The house and the place was wonderful and the owner Molly spared no enffort to answer any question. And the manager Melonie was also very helpful. In a few words it was all beatiful, very good and wonderful.
Thank you Molly and Melonie.
5.0
Beautiful and secluded
We will never forget the wonderful time we had at Keep Smiling. The VRBO pictures do not lie; the beach and house are gorgeous. The beach and water are too pretty to describe with words! It felt like our personal island. We never had to share the beach with others. We only saw 6 people on the beach during our stay- and those were from a distance. If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to go.
Great Guana Cay is fun little island. You will need to rent a golf cart (there are no cars on the island). We had fun at the two bars - Grabbers and Nippers. Nippers has a pig roast on Sunday afternoons where boaters from all the surrounding islands show up for food, drinks, music, and story swapping. Be sure to eat at the Orchid Bay Marina restaurant called Sun Setters on Thursday for fried chicken night.
The owners of Keep Smiling are great to work with. They replied to every email and text in minutes and provided answers to all our questions before and during our stay.
5.0
Perfect House on Guana
This house was the best. The location is far enough away for some quite time but close enough to go have some fun at the bars at night! Molly was so sweet and helpful! We had a blast. We will definitely be renting from her again!!
5.0
A Week that kept us all smiling!!
We had three adult couples which spent an entire week at Keep Smiling. The accommodations were perfect! The kitchen and living areas were more than adequate for the six of us. The big surprise was the reef only 50 yards off our private beach. The reef was some of the best snorkeling we've ever done and we are no first timers. The island is low key so if you are looking for glitzy nightlife then visit another island. Great vacation at a great house.
5.0
Absolutely Perfect
We recently returned from a stay at Keep Smiling on Great Guana Cay and it surpassed all of my expectations. If you are looking for peace, quiet, privacy and your main goal is to relax, well this is your place. The house is truly set on an amazing piece of Bahamian paradise. The wrap around deck created the perfect setting for enjoying meals outdoors. Molly has the house in perfect order with all the amenities you could need.
I am struggling to find the words for how incredible the beach is.....the pictures are accurate, it is incredible! The beach is natural so if you are looking for a "Destin Florida manicured beach" this isn't that. This is naturally manicured, so manage your expectations. Peace and quiet is the name of the game. We saw a grand total of 6 people on the beach (beach is huge so you will not be close to anyone), with 4 simply enjoying a walk and one other couple seated about 200 yards away. We took our Bose speaker, streamed Sirius XM Chanel 25, Radio Margaritaville, a cooler full of beverages and sat on the beach every day we were there.
We will be back! Thanks Molly and Melonie for creating and maintaining a beautiful piece of paradise!!
5.0
Beautiful, quiet beach
Open, airy beach house with plenty of outdoor space. Nice yard with tropical landscaping and stunning white sandy beach!
The island is pretty sleepy and we weren't impressed with the few restaurants, but the house has a great kitchen and we enjoyed cooking our own meals, and eating on the covered porch while listening to the waves crashing. Owner, Molly, was helpful and organized. Would love to go back!
5.0
Amazingly beautiful !!!!!
We took our annual dive trip to the Abacos and decided to stay out on guana cay this year. Keep smiling could not have been a more perfect house. Its private and beautiful with all the amenities you need in the bahamas. From having a beautiful beach , reef to snorkel and fish , large porch , grill , modern kitchen , den with big screen tv , hot water , AC and beautiful landscaped grounds - what more is there to say. The pictures do not do this place justice. Also Molly the owner is awesome and tends to all your needs ands questions. Southern hospitality at its best!!!! All I know is we will be back :))) !!!!!!!!
5.0
Paradise!
We had a wonderful week stay at Keep Smiliing. The house was immaculate - beds are comfortable, furniture is comfortable, plenty of space for entertaining, well stocked kitchen. It doesn't get much better! The house is situated on an amazing and very private beach, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There is also a perfect trail for running around the neighborhood and south end.
Molly could not have been more accommodating as a hostess. We had a couple of island quirks - power outages are common - but Molly was right on top of it and super fast to respond! She will give advice about the island, make recommendations and left a very thorough list of things to do/instructions on how to get around. It was much appreciated!
Definitely rent a big wheel golf cart since the house is at a very remote end of the island and plan meals ahead of time (aka use Molly's fabulous kitchen!).
We had a wonderful stay. We will definitely go back and I highly recommend this property on Guana!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Central Abaco?
The average price for a rental in Central Abaco is $794 per night. This rental is $357 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Exceptional Beach, Reef, and Home on Private South End of Great Guana Cay. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Exceptional Beach, Reef, and Home on Private South End of Great Guana Cay pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Exceptional Beach, Reef, and Home on Private South End of Great Guana Cay?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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