The other reviews are accurate. My girlfriend and I (mid-20s) stayed four nights at Laughing Bird in Eleuthera and had a mixed stay but an excellent vacation. Your rental decision should depend on what you value. Laughing Bird is great for budget-conscious travellers preferring immediate access to town and water. But this access comes at the expense of seclusion and tranquility.

In Governor's Harbour, you have a choice between Laughing Bird, Duck Inn and Cigatoo Quality Inn for low-cost accomodations near town. Laughing Bird's biggest asset is that it has a small, sandy-enough, west-facing beach across the "street" from it's backyard, which was perfect for capping a day off with a drink in front of the sunset and a swim. No, it is not literally beachfront, as few places are on the island due to hurricane threats. It's not a destination beach anyway, but rather is like a strip of sand and shells along a cay that resembles a lake. I still preferred it to a swimming pool (Cigatoo) or a deck view of water (Duck Inn.)

Laughing Bird also was very much in the town, unlike Cigatoo. This granted us walks under five minutes for groceries, liquor and the rest. The drawback of this proximity was that we were more privy to the noises of construction work, barking dogs, and local roosters acting as alarm clocks. I imagine Duck Inn, also is in town, was equally exposed to these noises, but at least it was surrounded by a fence that I imagine kept the roosters away.

The more pricey Pineapple Fields and The Cove are secluded resorts on the Atlantic side of the island. They have more luxurious rooms and easy walking access to the real beaches, but if you're a budget-conscious and not likely to spend much time during the day in your room anyway, I'd recommend staying somewhere closer to town and using the savings to rent a car. The luxury places are not beachfront anyway, and a mile drive is hardly a burden for a half-day activity.

I also recommend staying in Governor's Harbour among points north and south because in addition to its access to the exceptional Club Med Beach, the town was charming and was in a great central location for daytrips. We easily fit in a one day trip to Harbour Island and Pink Sands Beach. (Both Club Med and Pink Sands are excellent, but Pink Sands fit the nature of the island in that it was more "developed" with more people, color-coded beach chairs for the hotels, and hotel employees walking the beach taking drink orders. The sand was pinker too, but there was a lot to be said for the privacy afforded by Club Med and the way the water there remained shallow and excellent for wading a remarkably long way in the water. Anyway, both beaches were excellent in their distinct ways, and I didn't feel like I was "missing out" spending the greater share of my time at the less-hyped Club Med.)

The Laughing Bird unit itself was no frills. Two of the stovetops and the electric can opener didn't work; there was a ripped towel, and hot water wasn't available until we eventually asked the owner to adjust a setting. Also, there was not the option of maid service like there was at Duck Inn, and our place became increasingly messy and sandy as time progressed. There was no tennis court or restaurant like Cigatoo had either, in case those things mattered.

In sum, I strongly recommend Governor's Harbour for romantic couple and retiree types looking to relax and explore a rustic, tropical setting. November was a great month for tolerably hot weather, although we managed to arrive a week after a hurricane. Laughing Bird is fine as long as you do not expect luxury or seclusion. We had a blast.

Well, the previous reviewers said it all really. I would just add that since I travel on my own and do not drive, staying at LB was perfect: the supermarket is a short walk away (and if you've got heavy bags, the local guys would give you a lift!), the library where one can get online or borrow a book is less than 5 min walk away also. It takes 30 min to walk to the other side of the island - to the Atlantic Ocean. I walked there and back every afternoon...

The apartment itself is basic but has all the necessary stuff in there. The little landscaped garden and the views are so relaxing! The only thing you need to do is always check if the glass door overlooking the garden and the road is locked properly (my lock wasn't very good). Although crime is very low on Eleuthera, being careful pays off.

It also helps if upon checking in, you would use an insect killer liquid. I always do it if I am renting a bungalow in the middle of the garden as you never know who might be hiding behind the cupboards (they get in just because they can!). In LB case, when I returned from a walk, I found a cockroach - he size of a dog - dead on the kitchen floor! Other than that, there were no other unpleasant creatures lurking in the dark corners.

Getting a few good mozzie repellents would be very useful too as they always come in the evening!

We just spent 10 days on beautiful Eleuthera and stayed at the laughing bird apartments. We had a blast. The apartment was clean and affordable. It was pretty much what we expected. A clean, basic apartment with a small kitchen that was reasonably priced. This place has not been updated in some time but it is just fine. The kitchen was small but acceptable as we made breakfast every morning, and made dinner for three nights during our stay. The bed was basic but comfortable. The grounds were landscaped nicely with lots of palm trees, flowering trees, and plants all over. There is outdoor furniture and hammocks. The apartments are situated about 80’ from the beach. This is not one of the greatest beaches although if you have water shoes, it is close by and just fine for swimming or wading, or shelling. You are also right in Governor’s Harbor which is nice but you will still need a car to get around. Everything is very spread out on this island and although my wife and I are pretty physically fit and don’t mind walking, in the Bahamas heat, no one wants to do a lot of walking. We had somewhat of an ocean view from our bed, and it was quite enjoyable to wake to the sounds of the small waves crashing. Jean the owner is very pleasant and accommodating; we really felt welcomed at LB and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. She used to own the apartments with her husband but he passed away in April 2007.

If you are looking for luxury, this is not the place for you, matter of fact; this might not be the right island for you. Everything is very rustic and this is very much a ‘do it yourself’ island. If you are looking for a decent place to stay close to a beach, stay in Governor’s Harbor, and stay with a gracious host, then I would recommend the LB apartments. You can email me if you have any other questions about LB or Eleuthera.

Apartment: Laughing Bird is very nice. We stayed here a few days ago & had an amazing time. Hosts are friendly & very helpful; they provided us with information on the island & where to rent a car (about $60US/day). Grocery store, liquor store & movie theater are about a 5min walk away. Full kitchen, cable TV, Air, & bathroom with shower. Our apartment was beachfront with private patio & hammock. If you want to explore the island you will need a car as the island is about 100 miles long. The Beach by the apartment is ok, however there is a gorgeous beach right across the road on the Atlantic side of the island which is only a 15-20 min walk away. Bring mosquito repellent.

Area: Every Friday there is a Fish Fry just down the beach. Great restaurant (Sunset Inn) is about a 15 min walk up the beach, excellent place to watch the sunset on the deck. Location of LB is perfect because it's in the middle of the island, 10 min walk from the dock if you arrive by Ferry. Island is incredible, perfect beaches around the entire island with pink sand & crystal clear water.