Planning Your Trip

In winter, fly into Governor's Harbour if American's Miami or Charlotte service lines up with your dates. It is the shortest drive and the simplest arrival.

The rest of the year, North Eleuthera is usually the answer — American from Miami or Charlotte, Delta from Atlanta — and you accept the longer drive. Failing that, connect through Nassau and take the short hop to Governor's Harbour.

Connecting through Nassau always works and opens up far more US cities than the direct routes do. It is usually the slower way round, though — once you count the layover, a second check-in and the short hop across, a direct flight that lines up with your dates will almost always get you here sooner.

Schedules to the out islands change with the season and some routes run only a few days a week, so check current flights before you fix your dates rather than after. Bahamas Ferries also runs a boat from Nassau if you would rather not fly twice.

Private charter is worth a look if you are travelling as a group or the schedules simply will not cooperate. Several operators fly small aircraft into all three Eleuthera airports from Florida, and split between six or eight people it is less extravagant than it sounds.

What You Need

A valid passport. US citizens do not need a visa for a holiday stay, and you will fill in a short immigration form on the aircraft or at the airport.

The Bahamas began piloting a digital arrival card in 2026, but it runs on selected flights only and the paper form is still the norm. If your airline asks you to complete something online before you fly, do it — otherwise there is nothing to file in advance.

Customs

If you are bringing only personal belongings you can declare verbally. Anything beyond that needs a written declaration.

Bring prescriptions in their original labelled containers.

Leaving

There is a $15 departure tax for travelers aged six and over. On commercial tickets this is normally built into the fare rather than collected at the airport.

A Car

You will want one — there is no practical alternative. Our caretaker, Mercy, arranges rentals for guests and looks after people well. Rentals here run roughly $50 to $75 a day and the cars are older than you would get in the States. That is normal for the island.

You drive on the left. Most visitors adjust within a few miles. Roads are narrow, mostly without shoulders or painted lines, so plan on 35 to 45 mph rather than highway speeds, and slow right down through the settlements.

Money

The Bahamian dollar is fixed at one to one with the US dollar and both circulate freely. You do not need to change money.

Bring more cash than feels necessary. Plenty of places — small groceries, takeaways, roadside stands — take cash only, and cards where accepted often carry a few percent in fees. There are banks with ATMs on the island, but do not plan a day around finding one working.

Groceries

Island Farms is about ten minutes away and the best bet for produce. There are smaller groceries in Governor's Harbour.

Selection varies with the boat schedule. If there is something your family will not do without for a week, put it in your luggage.

Eating Out

Two we recommend without hesitation. Unique Village is four minutes away, overlooking the Atlantic, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Buccaneer Club is in Governor's Harbour, a block off the main intersection, for Bahamian and American breakfast and lunch. We think Buccaneers has the best grouper burger in Central Eleuthera.

Guests have also enjoyed Tippy's for live music at weekends, Sunset Inn, The Fig Tree, Twin Brothers, Fish Bones and 3 J's BBQ. Island hours shift with the season, so it is worth calling ahead.

Practical Details

The house has Starlink, so you will have proper internet throughout your stay.

Power is 110–120 volts on US plugs, so nothing needs an adapter. Electricity here is diesel-generated and expensive, which is why the house has a standby generator and why we ask guests to be thoughtful with the air conditioning.

Water comes from a 4,000-gallon cistern through a whole-house filtration system. In restaurants a service charge is often already added, so check the bill before tipping again.

The house does not accept pets.