If you’re looking for a different kind of vacation this year, take a look at Eleuthera. Be advised, though, that Eleuthera is not for everyone. If you’re looking for nightlife and casinos, then Eleuthera is not for you. However, if you want to relax while surrounded by amazing tropical scenery then it this is the place.

Just Where is Eleuthera

Eleuthera, one of over 700 Bahamian islands, is located about 60 miles east of Nassau. When you look at a map of the Bahamas, it’s a long, thin island with a “whale tail” at the southern end. Although it is quite a long island – over 100 miles – it is extremely narrow and only measures about 2 miles wide at its widest point. Most of the island is much, much narrower and the narrowest part is at the Glass Window Bridge.

Ways To Get To Eleuthera

Amazingly enough, Eleuthera has THREE International airports – North Eleuthera (ELH), Governor’s Harbour (GHB) and Rock Sound (RSD).

From Florida you have several options to fly to Eleuthera. One choice is American Eagle. They fly from Miami to North Eleuthera. Continental Airlines flies from Fort Lauderdale to North Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour. A small private airline, TwinAir/Calypso, has flights from Fort Lauderdale to all three of the airports on Eleuthera.

You can also fly to Eleuthera on BahamasAir, but you’ll need to change planes in Nassau.

From Nassau there are other options. BahamasAir flies to all three airports SouthernAir also offers flights from Nassau to all of Eleuthera’s airports. You can also opt to take the Bo Hengy, a high-speed ferry, from Nassau to Spanish Wells, Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour.

It is always wise to check the most current schedules for any option you choose.

Accommodations in Eleuthera

There are no large hotels or resorts on Eleuthera and that’s one reason many people find it so appealing. Harbour Island has the more expensive hotels. It’s also a place where the rich-and-famous like to hang out or have second homes.

There are also a few upscale resorts on the main island of Eleuthera. These include The Cove, Pineapple Fields and Cape Eleuthera Resort. But most accommodations are small, family-run, comfortable and very welcoming. Such places include hotels like Surfers Manor, Rainbow Inn, Duck Inn and Unique Village. And there are many, many more.

For a more private, home-away-from-home experience, there are several vacation home rentals available. Many of these can be found by simple internet searches. It’s fairly easy to find something that’s just right.

The Fabulous Beaches of Eleuthera

With more than 50 amazing beaches, some of them very hard to find, you could miss some of the best ones when you visit Eleuthera.

Don’t worry, though. There is an amazing book available that can guide you to almost all of them. The book supplies ratings for each beach. That way you can decide which ones you want to visit. “The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera” is a must if you want to find many of the hidden beaches.

When is the Best Time to Visit Eleuthera

While you can visit Eleuthera any time of the year, you’ll find the best weather during the winter months – November to April. The season for tropical storms and hurricanes is from June to November. That doesn’t mean Eleuthera will get them, but summers are also hotter and more humid. The summer season also produces more thunderstorms. I actually really like a good tropical thunderstorm and the ones in Eleuthera can be pretty exciting.

This is a quick overview of what awaits you in Eleuthera. Although it may take a bit of an effort to get to Eleuthera, it’s well worth the effort.