Harbour Island Travel Guide

Come explore the beautiful island of Harbour in the Bahamas with us! This travel guide will give you all the information you need to plan your perfect trip.

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Even though we ended up not going the Bahamas destination wedding route (read that wedding twist here!), there’s still a special place in our hearts for Harbour Island.

We’ll actually be heading back later this year, and I thought it would be cool to put together a Harbour Island travel guide for you from our recent visit for pre-wedding planning.

We also included a little video snippet of our travels, mainly because Jared is addicted to his drone, but for memory’s sake too. We’ve got everything from what to pack, where to stay, where to eat, and how much you can plan to spend for each!

It’s quite the involved guide, but I had already put everything together for the wedding guest details, so I’m glad it’s going to good use for you all as well!

Why do we love it so much? — it has pale pink sand beaches, is super relaxed, crystal clear water, has a cool design, has the friendliest people of all time, and is only a 30-minute flight from Miami.

Did I mention it’s also SUPER colorful?…

harbour-island-bahamas-pre-wedding-80

We stayed at The Dunmore this trip, which is right on the pink sand beach. The hotel itself is also so beautiful, and the food is delicious.

If you’re used to all-inclusive vacations, Harbour Island is definitely not going to be your jam.

None of the main hotels offer an all-inclusive option, so plan to try many different restaurants and local stops.

To get around the island, we either walked or biked to most places, but on a rainy day, we rented a golf cart, which is how most people drive.

This is why bringing a hat is always a good idea.

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

YouTube video

A quick little video that Jared put together of our trip. Seriously you guys, sunsets there are so, so magical!

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Getting to the Island and Air Travel

Flying into Eleuthera, Bahamas (ELH) is the closest airport. It has daily nonstop flights from Nassau, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and several other U.S. cities.

The flight is super short and only takes 35 minutes from take-off to landing.

ELH is a 10-minute water taxi ride from Harbour Island. The ride is $5 USD per person cash via taxi to the ferry and $5 USD cash per person for the water taxi.

From there, you can either walk to your hotel/rental or pay another $5 per person for a taxi ride to drop you at your hotel.

The best flight options can be found on American Airlines, United/Silver Airways, Delta, and Bahamas Air.

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Accommodations

If you’re looking for accommodations on the island, HomeAway and hotels are your best options. Search for Harbour Island or Dunmore Town.

Look at Northern Eleuthera and/or Spanish Wells, which is a short $5 water taxi away, yet much less pricey options.

Note that prices vary based on high or low tourist season–

Best hotels to choose from on Harbour Island (in order of least expensive)

– Tingum Village: prices start at $150 per night (1 bedroom, mini fridge, free wifi, no pool)

– Valentine’s Resort & Marina: we have discount codes available, and prices start at $350 per night (1 + 2 bedrooms with kitchens, pool, restaurants, and free wifi)

– The Landing: prices started at $300 per night (1 bedroom, no kitchen or TV, pool, free wifi)

– Ocean View Club: prices start at $300 per night (1 bedroom, no kitchen or TV, beachfront, no pool, free wifi)

– The Cove: not on the island, it’s a water taxi and car taxi ride away on Eleuthera (1 bedroom, beachfront, pool, restaurant, mini fridge, free wifi)

-Bahamas House Inn: Stunning design right in the middle of town, starts at $750 a night

– The Dunmore: prices start at $650 per night (1 bedroom, beachfront, mini fridge, and coffee maker, free wifi)

harbour-island-bahamas-pre-wedding-74 harbour-island-bahamas-pre-wedding-72A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Where To Eat

Grocery Stores

— Piggly Wiggly – The cheapest place for stocking your HomeAway kitchen!

— 700 Liquor Store – Liquor on the island is pretty inexpensive. A full bottle of Bacardi will cost you $13. We stopped to get food, mixers and drinks the first night to save money for the rest of the week

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Most Budget-Friendly Options

— The Shack – on the main dock, only a few seats but also offers takeout. Under $15

— Wade’s Take-Away – Where the locals eat. Under $20

— Harry O’s – Where the locals eat. Under $20

— Arthur’s Bakery – really good food, only breakfast, and lunch. Great for cheap breakfast croissants and coffee. Under $15

— Bahamas Coffee Roasters – coffee, smoothies, etc. Under $15

— Cocoa Coffeehouse – coffee and fruit near Valentine’s. Under $10

— Tropic Hut – pizza! Under $20

— Sugar Rush – for breakfast and lunch. under $20

— Queen Conch – for sunset dinner on the water. Most under $30

— Sybil’s Bakery – for breakfast and lunch. under $20

— Bryan’s BBQ – is a local favorite. Most under $20

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

Nice Sit-Down Options But Pricier (they love dinner reservations on the island!)

— The Landing – An island favorite. $30+

— Valentine’s – on the marina. They have both a lunch/bar spot and a sit-down restaurant. $30+

— Angela’s Starfish – locals love this $25+

— Ma Ruby’s – locals love this $25+

— Sip Sip – Only serves lunch, but it’s on the beach! $30+

— Coral Sands – $40+

— Runaway Hill Inn – $

— The Rock House – $30+

— Acqua Pazza – $40+

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

What To Bring

1 — Cash 

Most everywhere on the island accepts cards, and there is one ATM at the island bank, but you’ll need cash to get from the airport to the island.

2 — Passport 

Not to worry, the airport has a 4×6 room that is “customs”, so it’s SUPER quick and easy to get through the airport once you land.

3 — Baby Oil & Bug Spray

The island has mosquitos, but not many (and no Zika there!), but they also have “no-see-ums” which are so tiny. you basically can’t see them, hence the name. They itch like crap, but they don’t bother everyone. 

Jared is totally fine, and they love me. If you rub a small amount of baby oil over your skin like lotion, they can’t bite through it, and you won’t have any trouble.

4 — Sweater 

It gets (a Houston version of) chilly in the evenings in the winter months, as low as 60 degrees or less if it’s rainy, so bring this abstract embroidered sweater that complements the colorful island so well.

5 — Chips & Snacks 

The most expensive things on the island are snacks because they have to import them, plus customs tax. For instance, Doritos are $5 at the grocery store. If you can squeeze in snacks to bring with you, that’s your best bet! Otherwise, the local Piggly Wiggly will have plenty for you to buy once you’re there.

6 — Cups/Flasks

We bought liquor at the liquor store to make our cocktails, which were cheaper than the restaurant cocktails, which are easy $12+.

 

A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth A Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and ClothA Colorful Harbour Island Travel Guide by top Houston lifestyle blogger, Ashley Rose of Sugar and Cloth

You can find an island map and even more details on this Harbour Island guide that we used before visiting.

Have any of you been to Harbour Island, or are planning a trip sometime soon? I’d love to hear your stories and add to the lists if I missed something good!

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31 Comments

  1. We used to prefer Harbour Island…until we visited Governor’s Harbour on the mainland of Eleuthera. French Leave Beach is the rival of Punk Sands but, less people. If you want even more of an off the beaten path feel w more laid back vibe than HI, consider a visit here one time, trying for a house or cottage rental off Banks Rd, on the beach.

  2. This is wonderful! Thank you for posting this. I am planning a second honeymoon after 31 years married with my husband on Harbour Island and am so excited. It looks so beautiful. Never heard of the baby oil trick I will try that, Bugs LOVE me! Beautiful blog.

  3. Headed there with two other couples for a long weekend next week! I’m so excited to visit and your post was so helpful. BEst beach bar For day drinking and music?

  4. I loved reading your post. My husband and i are planning on going to Harbour Island in February so your post will surely help us discover the best spots. How many days do you recommend going to Harbour Island?

  5. I grew up on Harbour Island (my grandfather built Coral Sands and parents ran it for 30 years until 1998) and I’ll be home in two days. I’d add Bahama House and Coral Sands as excellent hotels as well as Aquapazza at the marina for dinner. Romora Bay for music and sunset drinks on Sunday evenings. This is an awesome guide to the island. So glad you loved it!

  6. I grew up in Harbour Island and get to return home once a year. Your photos are amazing and the guide is great. So happy that you loved the island. I am going home this saturday and cannot wait to sink my toes into the pink soft sand…and have a Kalik !

  7. Oh my gosh, this all looks AMAZING. Harbor Island has officially been added to my “future vacations” list…I hope to put all your research to good use! :)

  8. Wow! what a wonderfull place, colours and pictures! great travel diary, I’ve get a strong will go go there now! ;)
    Thanks a lot

  9. A comprehensiVe, stunning pictureSque guide that lays out anything and everything one needs to knOw fOr A Wonderful getAway trip…superb video!!!

  10. These pictures are all so beautiful and colorful! Thank you for this really complete guide x

    Jessica — NinetyCo