Even though Eleuthera, a Bahamian out-island, has a fairly sparse population (around 11,000 per the 2000 census), it's a pretty large island. It stretches out, North to South, for almost 110 miles. So, if your vacation plan calls for visiting a lot of the beaches and other attractions, a rental car is a must.

The Many Beaches of Eleuthera

With more than 200 miles of coastline, needless to say, there are a lot of Eleuthera beaches. If you'd like to visit several of these beaches, you're going to need a vehicle.

For instance, let's assume that you're in the Governor's Harbour area and you'd like to go to Lighthouse Beach (one of the best beaches on the island). It's located at the southern-most point in Eleuthera. The drive would be more than 45 miles. And it's a drive well worth making.

Many fabulous beaches are strewn across the length of Eleuthera's coast. And there are many of them that you're going to want to spend time at.

Ben Bay is a secluded tropical cove located at the northern end of the island. Once more starting from Governor's Harbour, Ben Bay is also a 45 mile drive - but the other way from Lighthouse Beach.

Other Places to See in Eleuthera

There are, of course, other places to visit while you're exploring the great beaches.

If you're at Ben Bay, it's an easy side trip to Preacher's Cave.

While traveling south to Lighthouse Beach you'll be able to stop a the Ocean Hole in the settlement of Rock Sound. Prepare a picnic for the outing and save some pieces of bread for the many fish at Ocean Hole.

Allowing for the Distances in Eleuthera

Given Eleuthera's length, the distances between settlements can actually be quite large.

Traveling between settlements can be very difficult without access to a vehicle. It's not uncommon to see hitchhikers along the road.

Taxi fares can also add up quite quickly if you choose to take cabs from place to place. If you just want to get from the airport to your hotel, then a cab is the way to go. However, if you want to do any exploring at all, you will need a rental car.

From Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB) to the settlement of Governor's Harbour is no more than ten miles. If you're just going to stay put there, then a taxi from the airport makes sense.

However, if you'd like to do some shopping on historic Harbour Island, the water taxi dock is almost 35 miles from Governor's Harbour. The cab fare for the return trip would add up really quickly.

That's just a fact of life on Eleuthera The beaches, the settlements, the restaurants, etc. just aren't very close together.

You'll need to weigh your need for a vehicle in conjunction with your plans for your vacation. If you don't plan to leave your hotel or resort, you might not need a car. If you plan to do even a little bit of exploring, you are going to need one.

Renting a Car in Eleuthera

An Eleuthera car rental is not like a regular car rental. There are no car rental chains here. Most likely you will be renting from and dealing directly with the owner of the car you rent.

Some use formal rental agreements, others don't. Your rental may come with a full tank of gas, or it may not.

Prices are dependent on a couple of factors - how long you plan to rent the car and the type of vehicle you want. For instance, you can get a much better daily rate if you rent for an entire week or more than you can if you only want a car for a day or two.

Odds are you'll want to explore this interesting island. Don't miss out when you visit.