2 bedroom · sleeps 5
Ocean Aria
Somerset 1A
Ocean Aria at The Somerset Resort, Grace Bay. A split-level two-bedroom residence in the gardens of The Somerset, with full resort access and Grace Bay through the palmettos.
What we tell our guests
Local Guide
We have lived on these islands long enough to know which beach reads best at which hour, which restaurant to send you to on a Tuesday, and which dive operator we would put our own family with.
The list below is short on purpose. We would rather give you three places we stand behind than thirty that we do not.
Where we eat
The islands are small enough that the dining circle is short. We send guests to a handful of addresses we trust and write the introductions where it helps. There is honest fish cooked simply, an Italian table on the south coast that has been a fixture for years, and a quieter set of places that locals tend to keep to themselves on a busy week. We pass on the rest.
Photography slot
A plate of conch on a beach-bar table, sea soft-blurred behind
Daylight; honest framing; not posed
Where we dive
Two operators we use repeatedly, both running from the north of the island, both respected by the dive community and known to take their time on the water rather than rushing groups through. One is set up for entry-level certifications and family dives; the other leans toward more experienced divers and the deeper wall sites. We are happy to call ahead.
Photography slot
A dive boat at the dock at first light, lines being prepared
Beaches we love
Grace Bay is the headline and rightly so, but the islands reward a little wandering. Long Bay on the south coast is where we go when the wind is up and the kitesurfers are out; the spectacle alone is worth the drive. Leeward Beach, at the far eastern tip, is calmer and quieter and has the better walking. Sapodilla Bay is the cove for a child who is just learning to swim. We can tell you which beach reads best at which hour.
On the water
For a private day on a boat, we have a captain we have used for years; he knows where the water sits clearest, which cay is empty on a given day, and how to handle a picnic stop without it becoming a production. For kitesurfing, we point guests at the school on Long Bay where the instruction is patient and the rental gear is current. Bonefishing guides we know by name; ask, and we will make the introduction.
Photography slot
A kitesurfer on Long Bay, mid-arc, low against the lagoon
Backlight if possible; figure small in frame; horizon held flat
On land, for the active
For guests who want to keep moving, the island is small but not without options. There is a padel court on the north side that has come up in the last year and is busier than people expect. The fitness centre at Ocean Club West is current and well kept. A handful of the smaller resorts have tennis. The roads are quieter early; runners and cyclists tend to be out before eight. Ask, and we can point you to what is in season.
Photography slot
Two players mid-rally on a padel court, late afternoon light
Side-on; movement implied; the court enclosure visible
Quiet days, family days
Not every day on the islands needs a plan. We keep a short list of the places that work for an unscheduled morning: the beach with the easy snorkel, the cafe that does a good breakfast without a queue, the patch of road with the iguanas. For a family with young children, the Caribbean Diamond pool is gentle and the lagoon at the back of Leeward is shallow and warm. For an older couple after a quieter pace, the eastern coast and the cays are where to go.
A note on what we do not list
There are places on the island that are good but not for everyone, and places that have changed hands or changed character that we no longer send guests to. We would rather a short list we stand behind than a long one that hedges. If you want a recommendation we have not written here, the answer is in an email and we are quick to reply.
Ask us anything
The introductions, the bookings, the small questions before a stay. Begin with an email.