My husband and I took our three kids (ages 17, 10, 7) to Guana Seaside Village primarily to expose them to great snorkeling. We too wanted a hotel with a pool where you could walk right into the ocean to the reef from the beach. Guana Seaside is situated on the "Sea of Abaco" (bay) side of the island, and there is very limited, calm water snorkeling there, but no reef, no coral and limited marine life.

Unfortunately, the Ocean beach near Guana Seaside is rocky and has rough surf (a break in the reef, we were told); you would not want to take your your children snorkeling there unless they were quite experienced.

If you rent a boat, you can go to the north end of the island for great snorkeling. The beach off Nippers has good snorkeling. We also took our boat to Foal Cay preserve for great snorkeling. But don't expect to walk into the ocean from the beach near Guana Seaside to experience great snorkeling; you will be disappointed. If you go during the summer, you will also experience unbelievable heat walking to the beach, and be eaten alive by bugs.

Guana Seaside has many great features, the best of which was the wonderfully friendly folks who work there and treat you like family. But I do think their Internet ad and brochure are misleading regarding the "Beach" claims. Their ocean-side beach leaves much to be desired. There must be other resorts with a pool in Abaco on a good snorkeling beach. If you do choose Guana Seaside, count on renting some form of transportation; either a golf cart or boat. Both options are expensive, but you don't realize how remote this resort is until you get there.

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