People throw around the term “barefoot luxury” a lot. It can mean toes-in-the-sand relaxation, attentive and friendly service from staff, and deluxe amenities. But most importantly, to me, it means zero pretension. If I don’t want to dress up for dinner, and I’m too lazy to blow dry my frizzy hair into submission, no one will give me a second glance. If I order French fries and rum punch for lunch by the pool, this is heartily cosigned by the poolside staff. And if I want to sleep in and then spend all day at the beach instead of walking to town or taking the recommended boat ride, I don’t feel any FOMO or guilt for not getting the full experience of a destination.

And this is really the essence of what makes Coral Sands Inn & Cottages so wonderful. The moment you step foot on Harbour Island, a small, narrow Bahamas island that’s just 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, the rest of the world melts away. How can you worry when the sun is bright, the powdery sand is pale pink (yes, really), and the aquamarine water is the perfect temperature? When you arrive at Coral Sands, two giant white seahorses set on a pink-and-white checkered floor, with shell-clad light fixtures overhead, beckon you inside. A sign above says, “Briland,” which I soon learned is how the locals refer to the island (say “Harbour Island” three times fast and you’ll get it).

Coral Sands Inn & Cottages has been around since 1968, founded by former Hollywood actor and fighter pilot Brett King, who was an extra in more than 300 films of the ‘40s and ‘50s, and his wife Sharon. It was recently sold to AJ Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm who also founded Graduate Hotels. It underwent a major redesign and renovation that touched all the cottages (inn rooms to come), restaurants, bars, lobby, retail shop, and pool. The coral and turquoise color palette is carried throughout, as are certain mascots of the hotel, including a mermaid, rooster (you’ll understand this quickly as it’s impossible to miss the proliferation of chickens on Harbour Island), and seahorse. Overall, the redesign is stylish yet lighthearted, which is a microcosm for the hotel, and even Harbour Island itself. There’s no pretension or judgment here, but nearly everything is pleasing to the eye.

Here’s my review of Coral Sands Inn & Cottages.

The Rooms

My friend and I were staying in one of the 14 cute, flora-and-fauna-named cottages — ours was called Flame Tree — that lined the slope up from the beach. Our semi-attached garden cottage wasn’t waterfront, but we had a furnished back porch with a view of tropical vegetation and other pink-and-white cottages.

When we opened the cobalt-blue door with our key, we were greeted by pale pink walls, a plush bed with rattan-wrapped posters, and one of the coolest shell-covered pendant light fixtures I’d ever seen. Everything in the rooms fit into the coral and turquoise color palette of the resort, and the beachy accents were cute but not overbearing — like that shell-covered light fixture. In the front part of the one-room cottage was a hallway with ample closet space and a large bathroom with double shell-shaped sinks, shell-framed mirrors, and a stunning turquoise-tile-covered rain shower with an arch-shaped entry. Custom coral, turquoise, navy, and white striped cotton robes hung on the wall, and light-blue and gold Ortigia bath products with their signature leopard fit the design perfectly.

There are now 41 accommodations in total on the property, including six garden cottages and eight one- and two-bedroom oceanfront cottages, all with similar design and layouts like ours. For guests needing even more space, there are two private residences, Brett’s Home and Sharon’s Home, named after the original owners. Set away from the other accommodations in the back of the property, those each feature three bedrooms with king-size beds and ensuite bathrooms, and a living room, dining room, and fully equipped kitchen. There’s also a one-bedroom guest cottage, a landscaped private patio, and plunge pool. A short walk from the main property is the even more exclusive Villa Botanica, set on one-acre with three bedrooms, guest cottage, and a full-size private pool.

The Inn part of the “Inn & Cottages” is inside the main building where the Pink Mermaid restaurant and bar is, offering 12 rooms, some with balconies. These rooms haven’t been redesigned yet, but it’s on the docket for 2025. Still, they currently have a seahorse-themed design that doesn’t feel too out of place with the rest of the beachy cottages. The final accommodation option is the Briland House, which offers 12 suites with a separate living area and balconies or terraces in each room.

Food and Drink

The hotel has two restaurants. The first is the Pink Mermaid, and there are plenty of the namesake creatures adorning the locally made artwork that hangs on the walls, gallery-style. The coral and seafoam green color palette is accented by a hand-painted ceiling featuring vegetation and coral reefs and shell-encrusted chandeliers. The columns by the rattan bar and near the windows have rows of perfectly placed seashells set in a distinct pattern, done by an artist from Miami. Lamps with rattan roosters at their base portray another of the hotel’s icons and palm-bladed ceiling fans spin lazily above. The indoor-outdoor restaurant identifies as an Italian bistro with Bahamian influences. Practically, this means dishes like tuna crudo with sweet drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, a local beer.

The Coral Sands Beach Bar is an open-air restaurant overlooking the pink sand and clear-blue ocean. Here’s where you’ll find lighter fare, featuring fresh seafood and snacky items like fish tacos with the catch of the day fried or grilled, lemongrass red curry shrimp and jerk chicken skewers, crab cakes, and Kalik-battered conch fritters, a Bahamian classic, served here with a creamy scotch bonnet pepper sauce that I found addictively good.

Cocktails are mostly of the tropical and tiki variety, and they’re all delicious. The signature Pink Mermaid, with grapefruit and ginger, which we were welcomed with on arrival, was a favorite. Other popular cocktails include a rum punch, mango and passion fruit mojitos, frozen pomegranate margaritas, and the Sandy Shandy, made with Sands Beer (another local favorite). There are also several mocktail options, including a vodka-free version of the Pink Mermaid and a rum-free fruit punch.

Activities and Experiences

The main activity here is lounging on Pink Sands Beach. The name of the hotel is a reference to the pale pink-sand beach here, which also has the consistency of baby powder. If simply lying on the pink-umbrella-shaded loungers isn’t enough, guests can also borrow kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling equipment.

There’s also the two-level tiled infinity pool to enjoy, but if you want more action, check out the tennis and pickleball courts, open-air gym, nine-hole outdoor golf putting course, and indoor golf simulator. You can also rent bikes or golf carts (what most people use to get around the island) to explore. On any given night there might be a Bahamian cooking class or cocktail-making workshop, as well as local rum tastings. The concierge can also arrange a boating excursion to snorkel with sea turtles and see the famous swimming pigs at Eleuthera, among other things.

The Spa

There is no spa currently, but a new wellness center is in the works, to add to the new open-air gym. For now, you can book a massage treatment in your room or on the beach. There are also occasionally yoga, Pilates, and other fitness classes.

Family-friendly Offerings

There’s not much specifically offered for families, but there are babysitting services available and kids are welcome. The two-bedroom cottages or residences are ideal for families and the laid-back atmosphere makes it easy for kids to feel comfortable. You can also request board games and beach toys.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Coral Sands Inn & Cottages feature villas that are ADA-equipped. Golf carts can be arranged for guests to use on and off the property.

In terms of sustainability, the staff clean the beach multiple times a day to reduce the chance of pollution making its way into the ocean. The property’s food and beverage team use local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible and takeout is served with sustainable cutlery and boxes.

Location

The hotel is located on the eastern coast of the tiny Harbour Island, which itself is northeast of the larger island of Eleuthera, one of the out islands of the Bahamas archipelago. Eleuthera is also where the airport is, and from the North Eleuthera Airport, visitors will take a short drive and a 15-minute boat ride to Harbour Island. The hotel can arrange for both, and once the boat docks on Harbour Island, it’s another 10-minute drive to the resort.

Coral Sands is walking distance to Dunmore Town, where you’ll find boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as some rather large houses, especially as you get close to the water.