TRYING to find a pretty island escape without too many crowds may seem impossible these days.
But one small island is yet to be big with tourists – apart from a few famous celebs.
Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas, is found east of Nassau in the Caribbean.
The long, thin island is just two miles wide, so you can expect to find pretty sandy beaches on either side of you.
While thin, it is 110 miles long, so you’ll need to hire a car to get around.
It is known for its pink sand, with the most popular being the aptly named Pink Sands Beach as well as French Leave Beach.
Despite this, don’t expect many crowds with the island yet to attract the same number of tourists as other Caribbean islands.
Bahamian local Kaché Knowles told T+L: “Eleuthera is not for your average tourist.
“This is a place where you have to wander, explore, and adventure on your own.
“It’s an island that invites you to find your own piece of paradise.”
With just 11,000 locals you might bump into a few celebs, however.
Eddie Murphy owns a home on the island, along with Tyler Perry, Lennie Kravitz, Sandra Bullock and country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
And famous tourists have included Cameron Diaz, who rented a whole resort for a friend’s bachelorette in 2006, while both George Clooney and Mariah Carey have been spotted before.
If you fancy exploring as a tourist, Eleuthera is also known for it’s pineapple farms, thanks to the rich clay soil which helps them grow.
The best place to visit is Lady Di’s farm, where she started growing them back in 1974 are moving to the island.
Visit in June for the island’s annual pineapple festival too.
The best way to get to Eleuthera is by flight, with three airports to choose from – North Eleuthera Airport, Governor’s Harbour Airport, and Rock Sound International Airport.
Direct flights can be found to the north airport from cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, as well as from the island of Nassau.
The most popular place to stay is 29-room The Cove Eleuthera, with hundreds of good reviews raving about the rooms and the sea views.
And along with fresh pineapple, expect fresh seafood on the island.
One of the highest rated eateries is the Buccaneer Club, with meals served in a 19th century farmhouse.
Crab, conch and grouper are often on the menu.
Despite Eleuthera being off the beaten track, this might not be for much longer.
Disney is set to open their latest private holiday resort on the island, only open to cruise passengers.
Lighthouse Point, first announced in 2019, will open later this year, joining their other private island Castaway Cay.
Also in the Caribbean is Nevis, with just 12,000 locals but was once visited by Princess Diana, along with Prince Harry and Prince William.
While Brits can’t fly from the UK – instead with flights from Antigua followed by a boat – you won’t see many tourists but can visit the Alexander Hamilton museum.
Another bizarre island – this time in Bali – has swimming horses, natural pools and celeb-loved resorts.
Otherwise closer to home is the “best island in the world” which is less than four hours from the UK.
The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches.
