What Critics Really Think Of Renovation Island's Caerula Mar Club

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, stars of HGTV's Renovation Island, finally opened their luxurious Bahamian getaway, the Caerula Mar Club, in early 2020. Boasting 18 stunning clubhouse suites and six gorgeous private villas, with three dining concepts to choose from, the resort's official site promises, "Breezy outdoor living spaces that encourage guests to immerse themselves in nature and feel at one with their surroundings," in an atmosphere that evokes a, "Sense of barefoot luxury." 

It certainly all looks very impressive, from the bicycles guests can use to explore the idyllic island of South Andros, to the oceanfront views and plethora of water sports available. Bryan gushed to People that Caerula Mar Club was envisioned as a, "Boutique resort where guests can retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. ...A place to renew and restore." Are the critics just as taken with the place as the Baeumlers, and those of us watching it being built from scratch at home, clearly are?

First and foremost, Caerula Mar Club was named one of the best new hotels of 2020 by Conde Nast Traveler, which is no small feat, with the site noting, "Here it's easy to have the best time possible, even when you're doing nothing at all." The resort was lovingly described as, "A crisply smart island hideout in a refreshingly go-slow corner of the Caribbean." Likewise, a second piece by CN Traveler notes the resort is the first of its kind to open on the neglected island in close to 20 years.

Describing it as a "workup of an abandoned mid-century retreat," the publication even suggests the Baeumlers' must-visit location might have put South Andros on the map as the place to visit this year. Likewise, the Robb Report listed Caerula Mar Club as one of its top picks for a Caribbean vacation, positing a stay there is a, "Lesson in relaxation, with outdoor living spaces, meditation paths and hammocks aplenty."

Reviews from guests have been equally glowing, too, with one reviewer describing the resort on Trip Advisor as "a week in paradise" while another enthused, "Simply Awesome 5 stars all around!!! Can't wait to go back." Yet another encouraged everybody reading to book their trip to South Andros immediately, if not sooner.

Part of the pull for viewers of the show will, naturally, be the possibility of seeing the Baeumlers in their natural habitat, which is something the couple has leaned into. As Bryan acknowledged to the Edmonton Journal, theirs is, "The first project on HGTV where viewers will actually be able to come down and see the final result, and hang out with us." Certainly, the positive reviews from travelers suggest the massive amount the Renovation Island couple invested in the renovation wasn't just worth it, but evident in every corner of their resort.