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Promise not to tell? One of
the best kept secrets of the Bahamas is Harbour Island.
This romantic little island, known as "Briland"
by its inhabitants, is a short hop from the States. A one
hour flight from Florida to North Eleuthera followed by a
brief cab and water taxi ride gets you to this Bahamas gem
in a hurry.
Harbour Island is less than
4 miles long and a 1/2 mile wide. Its long wide beach is
famous for its hard-packed pale pink sand. The likes of
Fodors and Conde Nast rate it as one of the "best
Bahamas beaches." The beach, combined with some great
restaurants, hotels and vacation home rentals, makes
Harbour Island a destination of choice amongst Bahamas
enthusiasts. It's no surprise to find a few "rich and
famous" there -- they know they won't be hounded.
Central to Harbour island
is Dunmore Town. This quaint and friendly community
features old Victorian structures adorned with Bahama's
colorful pastel paint schemes. No high rise hotels, fast
food or traffic jams on this island!
Golf cart rentals are the
transportation of choice. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba
diving, fishing, and just plain walking the beach are some
of the popular activities. To be sure, Harbour Island is
not known for its shopping and night life nor is there any
gambling. If you seek large crowds, wild parties or theme
park rides, this is not your destination.
Harbour Island's weather is
delightful; especially during late Winter and Spring when
there is little chance of rain. Ocean breezes take any
edge off of moderately warm temperatures ranging from the
70s to 80s during the day and late 60s at night. Air
conditioning during season is unnecessary -- ceiling fans
are adequate. Nothing beats falling asleep to the sounds
of the ocean through an open window.
Dining out is casual. The
better restaurants include Pink Sands Hotel, Coral Sands,
The Landing, Rock House, Romora Bay Club and Harbour
Lounge. For local fare, Ma Ruby's should not be missed.
And there are more... Part of the pleasure of exploring
the island is checking out the restaurants. When compared
to other Bahamian islands, Harbour Island has one of the
best selections of restaurants -- all within close
proximity to any place you stay.
On the ocean side, hotels
include Pink Sands Hotel, Coral Sands Hotel and Dunmore
Beach Club. On the bay side, it's The Landing Inn and the
Rock House. On a budget? There are other hotels to choose
from. Visiting Harbour Island is not cheap, but if it was,
then everybody would be there, right?
Harbour Island's vacation
home rentals and villas are numerous. Location and size
come at a price. If you desire "beachfront", the
better locations are usually on the north and south along
the east coast. If you want to save a little, there are
some nice rentals in Dunmore Town and others located in
the interior of the island. The beach is always minutes
away.
Look for home rentals on
the internet offering more than a few photos so you know
what to expect. A number of rentals are handled by rental
or real estate agents who may not provide much in the way
of details, descriptions, map locations or photos. Owners
who care about promoting their home rental typically have
independent web sites and accept e-mail inquiries
directly.
The better house rentals on
Harbour Island are booked nearly a year in advance of
prime season. Those who want the best make early
reservations -- many are repeat customers. You can also
take a "standby" position on a number of rentals
in hopes someone cancels. Ask for referrals and double
check policies for deposits and refunds.
If you seek a memorable and
relaxed Bahamas vacation coupled with sun, sea, great food
and a romantic beachfront that will knock your eyes out,
consider Harbour Island. See you on the beach!
Copyright © 2004 Perry
Joseph
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About
The Author
Perry
Joseph is a freelance writer, website
developer and frequent visitor to the
Bahamas. For more information on Harbour
Island, visit his website: Harbour
Island Bahamas |
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