Before boarding, make sure the airline gives you the Bahamas Immigration paperwork. American Airlines leaves it on the counter at the gate (it’s long and white) and I believe Silver does too. Fill it out on the plane! The smaller jets that are flown over mean even if you have carry-on baggage, you will have to check the suitcases at the gate in FLL or MIA. There’s some overhead storage and under your seat on both Silver and AmericanEagle flights.
Your plane will land at the teensy North Eleuthera International Airport. The ground crew will wheel over stairs and if you gate-checked your bag it will be at the bottom of the steps on the tarmac.
You will cross about 15 yards to the ‘Immigration and Customs’ door (the beige/yellow path). They will stamp your passport and you pass through- they may or may not check your luggage. If you checked a bag, you will go back out onto the tarmac through the next door to your right where they will buggy over the suitcases. Grab yours and head back out onto the curb. If you had carried on, head outside!
On the curb you will find a collection of sweet taxi drivers ready to whisk you to “The Dock” or “Three Island Dock”… tell them you’re going to Harbour Island and they’ll take care of you! If there is more than one person it is $5 cash to the dock (for a 3-5 minute drive). Then they will guide you to a powerboat/water taxi. They will assume you are going to the Government Dock and that’s exactly where you want to be (others may head to Valentine’s dock). This will cost another $5 per person. Once you’re off the boat and on the dock, there should be taxis there to take you to Coral Sands. I’m not sure how much that is but should take less than 5 minutes to arrive.
For currency, US dollars work fine on Harbour Island! You may get cash back in a mix of Bahamian dollars and US dollars. Don’t worry about changing money! I usually bring some cash in USD and then take out some cash at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) ATM behind Valentine’s once I’m there as the exchange isn’t so bad. Credit cards are widely accepted though I have found AmEx is only taken at certain places- Visa and MasterCard are a give-in.
Tipping: I usually tip the boat and taxi drivers a dollar, but it’s not necessary. On the island ALMOST EVERY RESTAURANT INCLUDES GRATUITY IN THE BILL. Double check as I have left a double tip once or twice. It is normal to tip 15-20% though not sure if that’s the norm- that’s a good Lang question.
See you on the beach! 
July 14-16, 2017 