Bahamas / Andros
Outpost's Outpost


Island Outpost, Chris Blackwell's stylish hotel group, has added the ultimate laid-back getaway to its repertoire. Kamalame Cay is a little island unto itself. A quick hop away from Staniard Creek on Andros. An "absolutely standin' still" place, according to Lyndon, our taxi driver.

And so is it is. Unless of course, you care to enjoy the rigors of the best bone fishing in the world. Or try your hand at duck hunting in season. Other than that, Jennifer & Brian Hew's resort offers the beauty of a 3-mile stretch of isolated beach, breathtakingly beautiful Bahamian water, stylishly comfortable surroundings & all the hospitality you could ask for.

We've checked into other Island Outposts. It's difficult to compare any of them to what you'll find at the Hew's island escape. The Kamalame has an upscale ambience you expect from the Pink Sands or Strawberry Hill. But it's more Robinson Crusoe-luxe than hotel-luxe.

The feeling you get in the 7 roomy, beachfront cottages is so tied to the natural surroundings & so private, that you could be on a castaway island. But nearby at the Great House, the hub of it all, guests gather for cocktails, meals & a few fish stories. No dress code here. We met other island travelers who look for stylish places to stay with unpretentious environments. The Kamalame seemed to "fit the bill" perfectly for those we talked with.

Inside the cottages you're surrounded by Jennifer's dÈcor of relaxed home style. With a British Colonial bent. Indigenous chalky limestone floors. Simple muslin drapes, billowing in the wind. Dark wood antiques here & there. Daybeds, bright pillows & French doors everywhere. To catch the breeze & the view.

It will be interesting to see how the Kamalame will fit into Blackwell's picture of the upscale
traveler who likes comfort & a small, trendy hotel atmosphere. This is definitely Island Outpost's Outpost. We hope it stays that way.

We think it will, since Jennifer & Brian are hardly the type of hoteliers to let their hard-worked vision become just another hip place "to see & be seen." They want to keep their island the outpost it's meant to be. In the true sense of the word.