A Guide to Accommodations in Harbour Island, Bahamas 2023
Choose between a hotel or vacation home, and the best location to suit your needs and budget
Harbour Side vs. Beach Side
If you’re looking for the right place to stay in Harbour Island, you’ll likely be choosing between a place on the pink sand beach, on the harbour side, or in a neighborhood. Here are a few things to help you understand the pros and cons of each:
- Sunrise is on the pink sand beach, sunset is on the harbour side. If you enjoy watching the sunset from your front porch, the harbour side may be for you.
- There are many hotels on the pink sand beach (Pink Sands, The Dunmore, Coral Sands, Ocean View Club), but not many on the harbour side (Ramora Bay and Valentine’s, though the rooms at Valentine’s don’t necessarily provide the sunset view). If you prefer a hotel to a vacation home, the pink sand side may the most realistic.
- Hotels on the pink sand beach tend to be more expensive, so if you’re on a budget, you may want to try the harbour side, or check out a boutique hotel in town like Tingum Village Hotel or the Royal Palm).
- The wind tends to blow from the east to west more often than not. So if you’d prefer a consistent breeze, the pink sand beach is for you.
Golf cart rentals are highly recommended regardless of where you're staying to make the most of your time in Harbour Island.
Spending a day on the water is a truly special experience in Harbour Island. Snorkel, feed turtles, visit sand bars and over-water swings, go fishing, and so much more. Aundre's Rentals will customize a wonderful day for your group.
Choosing between a vacation home and a hotel can be difficult. Here are some considerations to help you make the right choice:
- Length of Stay: If you’re planning to stay for a week or more (which we recommend) you may be able to get a deal at a vacation home. Plus, you’ll have a kitchen, which can help with keeping costs (and diet) reasonable during your stay.
- Number in your party: There are plenty of beautiful vacation homes available in Harbour Island, but there are fewer options available for 2 people. If you’re travelling in a couple, book early, or you may have a hard time finding a vacation home. In this case, a hotel may be a better option.
- Beach Chair Service: You actually don’t need to worry about this, as there are 2 beach chair rentals on the Pink Sand Beach, both offering a full bar, food and chairs for rent. If you’re not at a beachside hotel, check out Ms. V’s Beach Chair Rentals or TeeJay’s Beach Chair Rentals for a wonderful day on the beach.
- Gym Access: It’s quite difficult to find regular exercise if you’re not at a hotel with a gym. If this is important to you, you are likely best off at a hotel. There are some yoga classes available at times, and of course walking or running the beach is great exercise, but access to exercise equipment can be limited. Some luxury homes like La Palmerie offer an in-house gym, so be sure to ask before making your decision. Alternatively, there are personal trainers that would be happy to come to your home for 1:1 training.
The great thing about Harbour Island is that you really don’t have to worry much about location. Just be sure to grab yourself a golf cart rental, and everything on the island is within reach in just a few minutes. Whether you’re staying in the town, on the harbour side, on the beach, or in a neighborhood on the north or south end of the island, you’re a quick golf cart ride away to every attraction. Harbour Island isn’t the type of destination where you don’t leave your hotel or resort, you’ll want to check out the amazing restaurants, check out the sunset from different harbour side bars, enjoy the beach, visit local shops, spend the day on the water, and so much more. So rest assured, anywhere on Harbour Island is a great location, and you won’t regret your decision to visit this wonderful island!