best bahama island for off beach snorkeling
 

i'd like to head to the bahamas in late oct or nov. main focus is to find a fairly inexpensive (1200-2000/wk) 2br house on a nice quiet beach with snorkeling right from our beach. we'll happily take a golf cart or car/jeep to other beaches as well. looking for very low key - a few dining options and a couple bars will be plenty as we would bring a cooler and do most of our meals at home. so which island? i've heard andros or abacos?? any info appreciated. we don't mind tiny airplanes or ferries to reach destination.

Hi Virginia!
I've been to: Abacos, Exumas, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Nassau, Paradise Island and San Salvador.

As for snorkeling, Out Islands are just okay, nothing like Provo or Caymans. Eleuthera had decent snorkeling in areas, I stayed at Pineapple Fields, which have 2 bedroom condos, and is located across from a pretty beach, and has Tippy's, the best/most fun restaurant in Eleuthera, and probably in your price range. You definitely need a car in Eleuthera to explore and get to the different beaches, it's a long island! (5 hours from one end to another) You can also day trip to Harbour Island, which doesn't have the best snorkeling, but has a gorgeous little town, stunning beach, and is fun to get around on a golf cart.

My opinion only, but Abacos are more sailing/boat trips kind of place, snorkeling was average for me (went to Elbow Cay, Great Guana Cay, Treasure Cay, Man-O-War Cay and Marsh Harbour) Exumas for snorkeling were just okay. (But Exumas I love! they are my favorite Out Island)

There is a house on vrbo.com in San Salvador, which is on the beach at Club Med-may meet your price range. OR you may want to consider actual Club Med there, they run specials for $1000 per person, (children less!) and it includes airfare from Ft. Lauderdale, amazing food, and boat snorkel trips (2 a day) Also includes kayaks, sails, only extra charges are for Scuba (which is better than Provo!) and spa treatments. The best part is the beach: it's stunning there-ranks up there with Grace Bay! 8-)

I'd suggest Harbour Island as meeting just about all of your wants. There is some great snorkling off some parts of the island, a reef about 50yds off the beach OR you can do a snorkle trip done by one of the dive outfits on island. There is one trip that is amazing, a civil war TRAIN, that sunk on a barge, it's only about 30ft down and makes for a surreal snorkle trip. You can also get one of the water taxis to take you to an offisland picnic for the day, and there are some good snorkle spots to explore that way too.

Try this website for house rentals www.myharbourisland.com run by one Arthur of Arthur's Cafe. You also might get intouch with Island Realty on island as well. They both rent houses on HI and the Northern End of Eleuthera.

Have a GREAT time.

thanks to both,
all the perks at club med sound wonderful but we're definetly looking for a stand alone house. eleuthera sounds interesting though - i like the idea of taking a long drive on one of our days. i'll look for houses there
several cute houses on harbour island - but did not find 'the one'
the search continues.
and other ideas???

If you are looking for a house on the beach with good snorkelling at reasonable rates, I think Eleuthera would be your best bet. Although we don't snorkell much we've been to Eleuthera twice (love it) and have heard that there is some good snorkelling off the atlantic coast. I would stick to central eleuthera around Gov harbour or North palmetto point. A1vacations.com is a good site for Eleuthera rentals.

You also might try www.eleu.net for more information on Eleuthera. Island Realty on Harbour Island also has homes in the northern end of Eleuthera as well.