The Bahamas is famous around the world as one of the top tourist destinations. It is comprised of many beautiful islands, each has its own way of attracting tourists. Not an exception to this is Harbour Island. Known as "Briland" by its inhabitants, this romantic island is less than 4 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. It is famous for its hard-packed pale pink sand. You have the chance of rubbing elbows with the rich and famous here, since this place is their ultimate hide-away.

Harbour Island is just a short hop from the States. A one hour flight from Florida to North Eleuthera, followed by a brief cab and water taxi ride gets you to this Bahamas gem in a hurry. The likes of Fodors and Conde Nast rate it as one of the "best Bahamas beaches." The beach, combined with some great restaurants, hotels and vacation home rentals, makes Harbour Island a destination of choice amongst Bahamas enthusiasts.

Central to Harbour Island is Dunmore Town. This quaint and friendly community features old Victorian structures adorned with Bahamas colorful pastel paint schemes. No high rise hotels, fast food, or traffic jams on this island! Golf cart rentals are the transportation of choice. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and just plain walking the beach, are some of the popular activities. To be sure, Harbour Island is not known for its shopping and night life, nor is there any gambling. If you seek large crowds, wild parties, or theme park rides, this is not your destination.

Harbour Island's weather is delightful; especially during late winter and spring, when there is little chance of rain. Ocean breezes take any edge off of moderately warm temperatures ranging from the 70s to 80s during the day and late 60s at night. Air conditioning during season is unnecessary -- ceiling fans are adequate. Nothing beats falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean through an open window.

Dining out is casual. The better restaurants include the Pink Sands Hotel, Coral Sands, The Landing, Rock House, Romora Bay Club and Harbour Lounge. For local fare, Ma Ruby's should not be missed. Don’t forget to check their restaurants. They have the best selection of restaurants, all within close proximity to any place you stay. On the ocean side, hotels include the Pink Sands Hotel, Coral Sands Hotel and Dunmore Beach Club. On the bay side, it's The Landing Inn and the Rock House. If your budget is tight, there are other hotels to choose from, like Harbour Island.

Harbour Island's vacation home rentals and villas are numerous. Location and size come at a price. If you desire "beachfront", the better locations are usually on the north and south, along the east coast. If you want to save a little, there are some nice rentals in Dunmore Town, and others located in the interior of the island. The beach is always minutes away.

Look for home rentals on the internet, offering more than a few photos, so you know what to expect. A number of rentals are handled by rental or real estate agents who may not provide much in the way of details, descriptions, map locations or photos. Owners who care about promoting their home rental typically have independent web sites, and accept e-mail inquiries directly.

Remember to book a year in advance if you want to get a reservation on Harbour Island. There are lots of repeat customers who are booking early, and you may end up getting a "standby" position on a number of rentals, if you don’t book early. So if what you’re looking for is a relaxed and enjoyable Bahamas vacation, Harbour Island is for you.