Renter’s Guide

Hello and welcome to Sea Star! We’re happy to have you here on Harbour Island.

Here you will find our Renter’s Guide to help with any questions you may have about the house or island. If you still have questions or issues that aren’t answered in this guide, please never hesitate to reach out to us.

 

Property Management

Our Property Manager is Bob Saunders. He is available 24/7 for any questions or issues with the house, property, or island in general. He is unavailable in person after 3 PM, but will delegate tasks as necessary if there is a problem at the house. Bob’s number is (242) 551-3171 and he is available to text on WhatsApp.

If Bob is unresponsive, please call or text Jack Childress, with whom you’ve already worked, at (816) 814-4160.

 

Medical Clinic and Emergencies

Clinic Number: (242) 333-2227; After Hours: (242) 470-0175; Ambulance: (242) 333-2111 or (242) 553-6921; Fire: (242) 333-2111; Police: (242) 333-2111

The medical clinic is the pink building located on the corner of South Street and Colebrook.

In a medical emergency, the physician at the clinic may determine that more extensive or immediate medical attention is required. In this situation, the clinic will contact the hospital in Nassau for an order to send an air ambulance to the North Eluthera Airport. The patient will be taken to the airport via water taxi.

If you have access to a private plane, and prefer evacuation to a hospital in the United States (most likely in Miami, in the event of a life threatening emergency), the physician there has the authority to open the North Eluthera Airport, even after the airport has closed. However, some U.S. hospitals will require evidence of insurance and/or guaranteed payment before authorization is given for an emergency flight departure from North Eluthera.

A first aid kit and fire extinguisher are located in the kitchen on the bottom drawer of the kitchen island. Please familiarize yourself with the instructions on how to use the fire extinguisher.

 

The House

Getting To Sea Star

Assuming you are flying to The Bahamas, you will land at the North Eluthera International Airport. If arriving commercially, you will exit the plane and head straight into the small terminal building to go through customs. After customs, you will gather your luggage and speak with another customs officer if you need to declare any items. A good trick is to ask for help from one of the orange jacketed airport workers to grab your luggage and expedite your way through the customs declaration, as well as find you a taxi. A $10 tip is customary for the person helping with your luggage.

If arriving privately, the process is much the same once you get through the customs portion of your arrival into White Crown Aviation.

Taxis are $10 per person, and you will tell the driver that you are going to Harbour Island. The driver will take you down to the water taxi dock. Once out of the van, one of several dock workers will grab your bags and load them on a boat. Just follow their instructions and tip anyone who helps you along your way. The water taxi is $5 per person and takes about 5-10 minutes to get over to Harbour Island. Once off the water taxi, you will be dropped at the Government Dock in the center of Dunmore Town, tip anyone helping and pay the captain of the boat. Grab any taxi and tell them that you’re going to Sea Star, or that you need to go to your chosen golf cart rental location.

 

Check In & Check Out

Check In is at 3 PM. If you arrive before 3 PM, you will be allowed to drop off your luggage but our housekeeping staff may be on the property. They will be done cleaning before 3, if you arrive and they are not at the house, you can just go ahead and get settled in, even if it’s before 3PM.

Similarly, Check Out is at 11 AM. We only require that all luggage be removed from the house prior to 11 AM in order to accommodate our housekeeping staff. Guests will be able to remain on the property until 12 PM, but cannot interfere with the housekeeping staff or else you will face forfeiture of the Damage Deposit. If, for some reason, you need an extended Check Out, please ask us as far in advance as possible. We often have same-day turnarounds on rentals, but on days in which we do not have another renter, we can be more lenient with checking out, provided your schedule works with our housekeepers.

 

Internet

Most of the entire property is covered by Starlink high speed wireless internet. We provide QR codes around the house for quick and easy login to the WiFi but, if you’re more old school, then choose the SEA STARLINK network. The password is: coconuts

Sometimes the WiFi needs a reset, especially after power outages. To reset the router, go to the Owner’s Closet, first cabinet closest to the guest bedroom, and turn off the power strip mounted on the inside of the cabinet for 30 seconds. Then, turn it back on and you should have internet back within 2 minutes.

 

Crime & Valuables

There is very little crime on Harbour Island. However, it is highly recommended that you lock the property before leaving for an extended period of time (1+ hours). Generally, we keep the two gates locked if we are not actively going in and out of the property. When leaving for a while, we also lock the two houses. While the gates are unlocked, cash, jewelry, and other items of value should not be left in the open or unattended. For valuables, we provide two user-programmable safes. One is located in the Primary Bedroom of the Main House, and the other is located in the East Bedroom of the Guest Cottage.

 

Damage & Theft

While crime on the island is minimal, we do have renters who have taken items from the house. Sea Star is primarily a vacation home for our family, and we like to keep items in the house that make the house feel more like a home, or that have sentimental value. As such, given that several items have gone missing in the past, we will be deducting from the Damage Deposit the value of any items that have been taken from Sea Star. We keep an inventory of everything of value, or anything that is easily taken. If there’s something you really like in the house, rather than stealing it, just ask us where we got it! Sometimes, we’ll just let you have the item if it’s small and easily replaced. We appreciate disseminating this policy to all guests in your party.

Also, we understand that things break. If something of value breaks, please just let us know. Often, if you’re honest with us, we will forgive the damage. We would just like to be aware so we can replace the broken item before coming to the house and finding out for ourselves.

 

Housekeeping

Unless previously negotiated, daily housekeeping is included in your rent. Our housekeeping team will come to the house every day to pick up around the two houses, make beds, wipe surfaces, and sweep the floors. Every third day, they will change the sheets on the beds, unless requested not to. Resources are very scarce on the island, and as such, we please ask that you reuse towels as much as possible, and if you don’t necessarily need your beds to be changed, then please tell our team. Tipping is at your discretion, and not required or necessary. However, if you are delighted with their service, island convention is $50 per week, per person.

 

Smoking

Smoking is never allowed inside either of the houses, nor on the porch outside either house. Please smoke at least 15 meters from the house and please do not litter. We provide several ashtrays for your use. The best place to smoke is the rooftop deck located above the Guest Cottage. Violation of the smoking policy will result in forfeiture of the entire Damage Deposit.

 

Laundry

We provide access to a washer and dryer in the back Owner’s Closet. Two detergent pods will be provided by the house. Please use the energy saver settings, if possible. Also, our water filtration system purifies the laundry water so that your whites will stay white. If you need additional detergent, most stores on the island, including Pigly Wigly and Tip Top, sell detergent. If there’s a laundry emergency, then please let the Sea Star Team – either Bob or directly through our email – know and we can get an additional detergent pod provided from our stock.

 

Water & Ice

The local water supply is not safe for drinking. We provide our guests with a few water bottles in each of the refrigerators in the Main House and Guest Cottage. By no means do we provide a full week of water, additional water can be purchased at T&K right down the street, as well as at other grocery stores around the island.

We have also installed a reverse osmosis water system in the kitchen. The small tap to the left of the main faucet provides clean, drinkable water. This system is also connected to the refrigerator, which makes clean ice.

The water supply at the house is cistern-based and double filtered. As such, the normal tap water is perfectly fine for showering, brushing teeth (including rinsing your mouth), swimming, and laundry.

 

Air Conditioning

All four bedrooms, and the living space in the Main House, have air conditioning units. Remote controls can be found either mounted on the wall, or near the bed. All of the air conditioning units are in Celsius. Generally, 22 - 26C is a comfortable range and good starting point. Otherwise, there are plenty of temperature converters online. Our air conditioners are all new and should cool a room down in several minutes. As such, please keep the air conditioning off when you’re not in the room in order to save electricity and keep our expenses (and therefore your rates!) down.

 

Electricity

As mentioned, electricity on the island is both very limited and very expensive. While Sea Star is working toward energy independence, we currently use the somewhat unreliable power grid. Power outages are very common and may last a couple days, at their worst. To help with this, we have installed a 40KW diesel generator for the property which will come on automatically in the event of a power outage. Power outages may result in loss of internet access for a brief period of time while the Starlink system reboots. If, after 2 minutes, there is still no internet access, a hard reset might be necessary. Please refer to the Internet section above for instructions.

From time to time, running multiple appliances at once (like two hairdryers) can blow a fuse. The fusebox is located behind the bar cabinet in the kitchen, just flip the blown fuse and you’ll be back to normal.

 

Landscape Lighting

The landscape lights are operated optically and come on during the dark hours of the evening and night. Some lighting is motion activated. If the lighting is obtrusive, please let Bob know and he can turn them off using a master switch.

 

Garbage & Refuse

There is no garbage disposal in the sink, in order to keep our pipes working, please do your best to clean your dirty dishes off into the garbage bin before rinsing. Garbage pickup is on Wednesday morning, very early. Please have your garbage in sealed plastic bags and leave them by the back gate. Harbour Island does not recycle, and there is no limit on the number of bags you can dispose of. However, in the spirit of living on an island with limited resources, we ask that our guests do their best to be conscious of the environment, especially plastic waste given our proximity to the ocean.

 

The Pool

The pool is cleaned daily by Bob, who generally comes very early in the morning to clean the pool and maintain the chemicals. Please do not be alarmed if you see him walking around the property around 5 or 6 in the morning. The pool light is on a timer and will turn on around 6 or 7 PM, and turn back off at midnight. The pool may be heated by request, due to the expensive electricity we charge $100 per day to heat the pool. However, we ask that you try the water temperature first before requesting it to be heated, in order to save electricity, and costs for you. In the late-Spring and Summer months, the pool will naturally heat on its own but if it’s still too cold, we can always turn on the heater.

 

The Beach

Harbour Island’s famous pink sand beach is located directly across the street from Sea Star’s front gate. Beach chairs and umbrellas, beach toys, and pool toys are provided in the store room between the Dining Room and Owner’s Closet. We have also constructed a beach umbrella directly off the path, immediately to the right (south). While “legally” for the benefit of everyone, this umbrella is for our guests’ exclusive use. Please use the outdoor shower by the front gate to rinse off your body of sand. Also, please use the rack by the front gate to store your beach chairs during your stay. Please only use the striped towels for the pool and beach and please do not use the white bathroom towels!

 

Music

We have two miniature, portable, wireless, and water-resistant speakers for your use in the media area of the living room. Feel free to take these to the beach, or by the pool. Printed instructions for their operation are in the right cabinet under the bookcase.

 

Golf Carts

In accordance with Harbour Island laws, all golf carts should be parked off the curb. Golf cart parking is available along the east fence and is denoted by two signs. This parking area is privately owned by Sea Star. If you are trying to park in this area and there are carts from other people parked there, then please let Bob know. Please do not park near the front gate overnight, garbage trucks drive around in the early hours of the morning and may hit your cart if it is parked directly in front of the gate with the Sea Star sign.

 

Grill

A Weber propane grill is located by the back gate for your use. While we regularly clean the grill, please be aware that rust and corrosion are common, being so close to the ocean. Wipe down the grates before and after use, please. Also, keep the lid closed when not in use, and the tarp on if the grill has cooled down.

 

The Island

Groceries

  • Pigly Wigly: Located on King Street Pigly Wigly is the largest grocery store on the island. They’re open from 8 AM to 6 PM and they’re closed on Sunday.

  • Tip Top: Also located on King Street, Tip Top has a smaller selection of food, but a larger selection of home goods and pharmaceutical goods. They are open from 9 AM to 5 PM and are closed on Sunday.

  • Dunmore Deli: Located near Pigly Wigly on Princess Street, Dunmore Deli has delicious sandwiches, and an assortment of gourmet cheeses and charcuterie. Please note, Dunmore Deli is cash only.

  • Captain Bob’s Meats & Seafood: Located on Bay Street, up the hill. Captain Bob has frozen seafood and meats, as well as more specialty gourmet grocery items. They also have fresh produce.

 

Water & Ice

  • T&K: Located just down the road from Sea Star, in the big yellow building. While modest, T&K is the most convenient and economical place to get water and ice. They offer snacks, cold drinks, and frozen meat from time to time. T&K also delivers water and ice. They are closed on Sunday.

  • All of the other grocery stores offer water, and Pigly Wigly has ice, too. Also, all of the restaurants will sell you bottles of water, if you’re eating there and would like some to-go.

 

Liquor

  • Bristol Wine & Spirits: Upscale liquor store located next to Dunmore Deli and down the block from Pigly Wigly. Bristol has a delivery service available most of the time. It is recommended that you book your liquor delivery as far in advance as possible, to ensure driver availability. However, there is no service fee or minimum purchase requirement. Having Bristol deliver an order before you arrive at Sea Star would be a very smart move!

  • Mario On Da Spot: Located on Dunmore Street near the bank. Mario’s is smaller than Bristol, but closer to the house and still has all of the usual staples like beer, rum, and ice.

  • Da Vine Wine Merchants: While mainly a very excellent sushi restaurant, Da Vine also sells higher end wines and spirits. Located on Bay Street on the south end of town.

  • A&A Hidden Treasures: Known for their straw bags and other goods, the true hidden treasure at A&A are their frozen to-go cocktails. They offer Rum Punches and Goombay Smashes in convenient pouches, served frozen. Drinks are $8 and pack a serious punch.

 

Restaurants

While all of the food on Harbour Island is world class, especially the seafood, below is a short list of our favorites. Advance reservations are almost always necessary, especially during the peak season, some requiring a reservation deposit. Most restaurants take reservations by email or phone, but some have online capabilities.

  • The Landing: Known for their delicious seafood and cozy bar. Almost every table at The Landing is outdoors and a good portion of the tables have a sunset view of the harbor. Located in town on Bay Street.

  • Da Vine Sushi & Wine Bar: As mentioned above, Da Vine has amazing sushi and Japanese cuisine. Da Vine is extremely popular and a reservation is almost guaranteed to be necessary on any day of the week.

  • The Dunmore: One of the more upscale hotels on the island, The Dunmore Clubhouse serves excellent food for Lunch and Dinner. The lounge is also a great place for a cocktail. Please be aware of the dress code, and say hello to Bob while you’re there!

  • The Other Side: A “glamping” hotel, The Other Side serves lunch to the public. Located across the Harbor, The Other Side is the sister-hotel of The Ocean View Club. The lunch experience is an absolute must, and we don’t say that lightly. Call (242) 808-1336 for reservations. It’s only possible to get to The Other Side by boat. You can go to the Government Dock and negotiate a ride with one of the drivers there. If you hire your own boat, we recommend that you request pick up at Romora Bay, as it’s the closest dock to Sea Star and has more parking options than the Government Dock. If you have your own boat, you can go there yourself and dock.

  • More local cuisine is offered by Queen Conch, Ma Ruby’s, and Brian’s Grill.

 

Bars

While most island restaurants have dedicated bar or lounge areas, there are a few standalone bars worth mentioning. Reservations are not offered, and most of the bars are small, so get there early!

  • The Elbow Room: Teeny tiny, and located right in the heart of town, The Elbow Room has a decent list of cocktails. This is a great place to watch the sunset, or to grab a spicy rum punch before your dinner reservation.

  • Gusty’s Bar: Located on Bay Street, around the north bend from town. Gusty’s is famous for it’s spectacular harbor views, and sandy floor. Divey and rustic, Gusty’s is cash only.

  • Ms. V’s: Ms. Veronica’s beach bar and chair rental is right on the beach near Sip Sip. Her cocktails are famously strong, so watch out! Ms. V’s is cash only.

  • Sea Star: Maybe you want a bar right in the backyard! We can arrange for a bartender to come in and make drinks for you and your guests. Prices vary, but please get in contact with us to arrange well in advance.

 

Water Activities

Harbour Island has wonderful snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, horseback riding on the beach, and other water activities. We have partnered with Conch & Coconut for all of our concierge needs, including golf cart rentals and boat charters.