Hello all,

It looks like we'll have an extra week sometime in the next 30 days to travel to the Caribbean.

We normally go for 2 to 3 weeks, and I had researched island hopping in the Bahamas in the past, but it seemed like a lot of time would be spent on the ferries or in the airport getting from place to place, so we have never been. (Other than Nassau and GB.)

I think we would really like the Out Islands, and I was hoping someone might be able to point me to which ONE of the islands they thought would be the best fit for a one week trip.

We like: nearly deserted beaches with white sand and clear water, local bars and food (and if possible, music), fewer kids, diving or snorkeling, laid back and non-commercial.

Please feel free to give me your thoughts.
I have been looking at Eleuthera, Exuma and Harbour Island. (Prefer to be able to fly direct from States, and I know you can to Exuma and Eleuthera.) I really don't want to have to spend more time than necessary getting there. Toes in the sand ASAP is important!

Thanks!

Based on your post, Harbour Island would probably be your best bet. Eleuthera though beautiful and miles of beaches is 110 miles long and to get anywhere you have to have a car. The settlements there are very spread out so it takes an hour to get almost anywhere from anywhere.

All that said, if you want a beautiful deserted beach, and a nice place to stay try www.cocodimama.com which is on Eleuthera, close to Govenours Harbour.

Harbour Island, is easier to get to, you can fly directly on USAir through Ft. Lauderdale and Continental also through Ft Lauderdale I think. They have flights daily. Delta also has codesharing flights as well.

Another option would be to fly directly in Nassau on Delta, Continental, American, JetBlue and either take Bahamas Air or the Fast Ferry over. It stops at Eleuther/Spanish Wells and Harbour Island.

You might want to look at some of these websites for more info

www.eleu.net
www.myharbourisland.com
www.rockhousebahamas.com
www.coralsands.com
www.pinksandsbahamas.com
www.briland.com
www.runawahill.com

Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions.

Probably any of the Out islands would qualify as laid back and non-commercial and you’ll certainly find nearly deserted beaches with white sand and clear water. There are flights available into Cat and the Abacos in addition to those that you mentioned without going through Nassau. You’ll have more choices for eating out on Eleuthera, the Exumas, Harbour Island, and the Abacos.

Go with the one that you feel more comfortable with. It’s the Bahamas unlike Nassau and Grand Bahama. You’ll probably try one of the others another trip.

Diana, lucky you!

I have experience with Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Elbow Cay off of Abaco. In my opinion, and it's just my opinion, you would enjoy Eleuthera over the other two. Harbour Island has become...shall we say, "exclusive" in that it's much smaller and more expensive than the other two. It has also been discovered by the rich and famous. Elbow Cay is adorable, with lighthouse and tiny town you'd love, but it's really a boaters vacation - you get around by rental boat, and days consist of motoring to different snorkeling spots. Eleuthera has 100 miles of deserted beaches, and the locals are really nice (of course they were nice to us on each of these places). There are jumpups on the weekends, just ask around, and there are impromptu conch salad stands set up in the towns. Our days here consist of driving our rented jalopy to a new beach, snorkeling, and finding a conch stand/restaurant for a few Kaliks before heading back to our villa for sunset and dinner under the stars. One one trip, we did not see another person on "our" beach for five days straight!

If you do go, I'd recommend renting an oceanfront villa (not sound front, too calm and less breezes) in the Governor's Harbor / Palmetto Point area instead of staying at a resort. Value and privacy, not to mention off-the-beach snorkeling make this a great choice.

Have fun deciding!

I've spent time on Abaco and the line of cays on Abaco's eastern shore, Eleuthera, Exuma, San Salvador, and Bimini. They all have isolated beaches with few people on them. It's easy to find a beach with no one on them in the out islands. You sound like the type who don't need a scheduled planned itinerary...the out islands are for you. Robert

Thank you ALL so much. I really appreciate the excellent info!

The more I look into this region, the more I think we will like it, and the more excited I get about going.

It's getting harder to find places that aren't becoming inundated with cruise ships or highrises these days.

Robert, my idea of an itinerary is deciding the night before to head back to the same conch shack we ate at the day before for lunch.

Diane,

Would you like to see the beaches of Eleuthera and print out directions to find them? Ok, try http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahama...s-beaches.html

I'm sure you'll like those photos.

Deetix

Diana; I can see it now. Sitting in the shade of a palmetto palm thatched roofed bar, with glass buoys and shells lining the walls and floor, all stuff they collected on the talcum-powdered beach. The waters off the beach are warm, with turqoise, lime-green waters over the shallow reefs, just 19 feet offshore in only 4 feet of water. The rest of the waters are gin-colored, for only a sandy bottom lies below. I'm sipping a freezing cold local island beer, with my mask, fins, and snorkel resting on the bar. I look down the beach and for several miles only a few people lie on the talcum-powdered sand, lined with thousands of coconut palm and sea grapes. Let's see, should I snorkel again and identify more reef fish? Should I do a little spin fishing...thought I saw a grey ghost out there? Should I order fries and make friends with the potcake dog lying down in the shade of the bar under my barstool? Maybe, I should lay under one of the coconut palms and finish the Jimmy Buffet book I'm reading? I hate these execuative decisions! Robert

Deetix - Thanks for the pics! That is EXACTLY what I am looking for. Shhh - let's keep this quiet.

Robert - You've got my number! Those are the kinds of choices I like to have to make. (Or to choose to postpone the choice and have another Kalik.)

Deetix, thanks for the link! I'm saving those directions for my next Eleuthera Vaca!

Diana, which island shall it be?????????

wow..I just checked out the website that Deetix mentioned and those beaches are amazing.

Robert, above, sounds like he is at www.chezpierrebahamas.com on Long Island, Bahamas, except there usually isn't anybody else on their three or so miles of beach. Curt