Paradise is within reach at The Abaco Club on Windy Bay, Bahamas

The tropics are always my favorite get-a-way spots. The warm weather, palm trees, turquoise water and of course, tropical concoctions, are always enticing. I tend to favor the more exclusive, less touristy destinations as well. These are truly the hidden gems where you’re treated like royalty and can forget about life for a little while.

About an hour east of Ft. Lauderdale, past Grand Bahama, lies Abaco Island. Here, hidden in Marsh Harbor on Windy Bay, is The Abaco Club. What makes this destination unique is that there is no hotel in the traditional sense; instead, visitors get a far more intimate and tranquil experience at one of the world’s greatest international sporting clubs and residential communities. Accommodations range from pastel-dipped cabanas to plantation-style cottage villas to luxurious oceanfront estate homes, each as unique as the next with all the amenities of home. Guests also receive their own golf cart upon check-in to travel and explore the 435-acre property.