Here's some succinct advice for your next visit to the Bahamas, and for travel to Harbour Island in particular. You also can view my slideshow, below. For even more detailed info, read on for Gail's and my uncut trip notes.

View my "conched-out" slideshow here.

Getting There: Making your way to Harbor Island is much like getting to any idyllic place away from the masses—a game of hopscotch. You fly from Nassau, Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale on some relatively small plane into Eleuthera’s tiny airport. The drill there is quick, simple, and well practiced. You get your luggage, someone accompanies you to the mini-bus run by a gentleman named “Fine Threads,” and you are whisked away to a boat landing in about three minutes, paying $5 per person for the privilege. Then, your luggage is grabbed by an attendant and loaded aboard a boat taxi, everyone jumps on board, and you’re off for a ten-minute ride across the sound to Harbour Island—another $5 per person. You and your luggage are deposited on the government dock, where you are met by another taxi (remember, taxi unions are really strong in the Bahamas) which will take you anywhere on the island for about $5. If you are going to a private dock on the sound—we were going to Valentines Resort & Marina^THC—you can skip the last step and pay a slightly higher boat fare.

July 2010