With a timeless sense of style, tiny Harbour Island’s pink sands and pastel cottages have long charmed travelers who prefer elegance over excess. In this enviably laid-back corner of the Bahamas, vacations take on a slower pace. Whether you’re planning a family escape or a romantic weekend getaway, here’s what to know before you go.

Getting there: Harbour Island is a bit complicated to reach, but that’s one of the reasons it’s retained its character. The closest airport is North Eleuthera, which has year-round nonstop flights from Miami and Atlanta.

If you’re feeling resolutely independent, take a short taxi ride from North Eleuthera Airport to Three Island Dock, then board a public water taxi to Harbour Island. Water taxis operate continuously, with departures every 30 minutes or so. The transfer to Dunmore Town on Harbour Island takes around 10 minutes. At the Harbour Island dock, shared taxis are available to take you to your hotel or villa.

But we recommend booking a meet-and-greet service through the Travel Office to make the transfer as seamless as possible. Private boat and taxi transfers can also be arranged.

For maximum convenience, the Travel Office can organize private seaplane flights directly between South Florida and Harbour Island, eliminating the need to land at North Eleuthera.

When to go: Since Harbour Island is at about the same latitude as Miami, it can sometimes be too cool for beach weather in winter. Your best chance of sunny, warm conditions is from March to June (it’s an ideal spring break destination).

Despite iffy weather, the winter holidays are particularly festive, with Junkanoo — a lively street parade celebrating African and Bahamian heritage — taking place on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Hotel or villa: All of our recommended hotels on Harbour Island offer multibedroom accommodation options, combining the privacy of a standalone villa with the convenience and amenities of a resort. If you’re traveling with a large group, the Travel Office can also arrange for a stay at a spectacular private villa.

Getting around: Harbour Island is easily walkable — our recommended hotels are within a 10-minute stroll from town or the beach — but you’ll have much more fun with a golf cart rental. Rates are surprisingly affordable, though it’s wise to book in advance, since carts tend to sell out during the high season.

Dining: There are essentially two types of restaurants on the island: casual spots and polished resort dining rooms. The best options are located at our recommended hotels, though it’s also fun to eat at one of the fish shacks along the water in Dunmore Town. Queen Conch is a favorite, especially at sunset. (Read our full review here).

Even at Harbour Island’s top restaurants, there’s seemingly no such thing as being underdressed. While dress codes are more implied than enforced at most establishments, The Dunmore hotel explicitly requires collared shirts and pants for men at dinner.

Shopping: That said, this low-key island is surprisingly something of a fashion mecca, thanks in part to India Hicks, a British-born designer who owns the chic Sugar Mill boutique in town. Nearby, the tiny shop Shine bursts with colorful pieces, from jewelry and silk dresses to art (the auxiliary shop across the street has home goods).

Both The Dunmore and Coral Sands feature excellent gift shops, with surprisingly affordable finds mixed in among the exquisite caftans, gowns, jewelry and handbags. For local souvenirs and crafts, visit Dilly Dally Gift Shop or Bahamian Shells and Tings, where we scooped up handcrafted Christmas ornaments and homemade hot sauce.

Note that Sugar Mill and Shine have only women’s clothing and accessories. The Dunmore tosses men a few scraps, and Coral Sands has an actual selection for gents.

Tours and excursions: Harbour Island’s beach is so beautiful, we suspect you’ll rarely want to leave it. If you’re staying a week or longer, however, we recommend using the Travel Office to plan an excursion, such as a land-based tour of Eleuthera’s natural wonders or a day of fishing and island-hopping with a private boat charter.

Safety: Harbour Island is generally a safe destination. Tourists are extremely unlikely to be affected by violent crime. Petty theft is a possibility, so use common sense when traveling with valuables, and make use of the safe in your villa or hotel room.

The cost: Though Harbour Island is often considered a see-and-be-seen destination for a certain kind of East Coast preppy, it’s far from flashy or glitzy. As a result, the high cost of hotels and restaurants can feel jarring at first. Even a casual lunch of conch salad and fries for two can easily exceed $200. But when you consider the logistics involved in getting something as simple as a bottle of sparkling water from Nassau to your hotel room, prices begin to make more sense. Be prepared to pay a premium for accommodation, food and drinks (especially bottled water and soda).

Tipping: Resorts and restaurants typically add an automatic 18% gratuity to the bill, which is shared among the staff. If you receive truly exceptional service, you’re welcome to tip extra, either on your card or in cash. Be sure to have an abundance of small bills on hand to tip the multiple baggage handlers and taxi drivers you’ll encounter on your journey from the airport to your hotel. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in the Bahamas, and local ATMs can be unreliable, so it’s best to travel from home with cash.