Club La Shante is a locally owned beachfront property with a restaurant/bar and seven units, ranging from 1-2 bed hotel style rooms to one and two bedroom apartments with kitchens. It is located in a beautiful, private little cove in Forbes Hill on Little Exuma Island, about twenty minutes south of George Town. We stayed in one of the two bed hotel rooms, which was plain but clean and inexpensive (see picture). The apartments are very nice and more fully furnished, though more expensive. The beach is a beautiful crescent cove, very private, with several small keys a few hundred feet offshore (see picture). The keys are easy to reach by kayak, and have beaches with a great "desert island" feel. The island closest to shore also has a small reef on the ocean side that is excellent for snorkeling. The waterways between Little and Great Exuma are another great place for kayaking.

The restaurant serves simple, tasty meals like hamburgers and cracked conch at reasonable prices. Local owner Dwight Brice is friendly and accommodating. He reserved us a taxi for the trip down to Little Exuma and drove us back himself in return for some gas money; both trips were less expensive than taxi fare (~$45) for the rather long trip down from the airport. A rental car is definitely a must if you want to explore Great Exuma or head into George Town for supplies without racking up the taxi charges. We had no trouble walking around Little Exuma however, and frankly never felt the need to wander far, since the beaches at and near La Shante are so perfect.

If you are looking for a laid back, relaxing vacation in the Exumas without all the expensive frills of resorts like the Four Seasons, then La Shante is the place for you. The location is the best we saw on either island, the lodgings are comfortable and clean, and the restaurant is good. The only downside we could find is that all the TVs in the rooms can only show the channel that is on the main TV in the restaurant. If TV is a high priority for you, you might want to stick to Nassau and Freeport or head to the Four Seasons. For a great out- islands vacation, however, Club La Shante can't be beat.