Bermuda Switzerland in the Atlantic
Written: Oct 23 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Safe, clean, predictable, beautiful, picturesque,fun
Cons: Sedate, unexciting, monotonous,bland,reserved, expensive
The Bottom Line: Bermuda is beautiful,safe,predictable, clean,warm but sedate, lacking interesting shopping and unusual dining experience.
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| timmount's Full Review: Bermuda |
Bermuda is only 2 hours from New York by air and has become famous for it's beautiful beaches and picturesque landscapes. Bermuda is not a mecca of tourism but is more a residential and international business locale with most of it's income
being derived from it's banking and insurance industries. The citizens of Bermuda are the richest people in the world, with an atmosphere similar to Switzerland or Monaco.
The beaches are beautiful, the hotels incredibly well
maintained, and the restaurants numerous but the tourists take a back seat to the financial industry. The island is
full, full, full of beautiful houses and most citizens are removed from the actual tourists both spiritually and physically. As a tourist you realize that the tourist is not the center of attention that he/she is on the Caribbean
islands.
Shopping is essentially non-existent. What had been a vibrant shopping area is now the very sedate town of Hamilton with few interesting restaurants or shops. The big stores have evaporated in the last 4 years and what is left is a few
jewelry stores, outdated clothing stores, and sundry souvenir emporiums. Hamilton Town rolls up the sidewalks after 5 PM except on the weekends when the shops stay open until six.
The streets are extremely safe and clean with Hamilton lacking the edginess found in most Caribbean cities. You will feel safe walking around the town and need not avoid any areas, after all the average income of the Bermudians is probably higher than yours. But there is little to explore in town with any venues of interest being on the main street where the cruise ships dock.
I stayed in the Fairmont Southhampton in the middle of the island. The hotel was magnificently decorated and extremely well maintained. There were shuttle buses that take guests to either the bay or the pink Atlantic beach.
Nightlife at the hotel was totally self provided with most guests retiring to them own rooms after 9 PM.There is a large variety to restaurants to indulge your tastes and plenty of taxis to wisk you to your venue.
Every inch of Bermuda has been developed into houses,hotels and parks, the wild tropical beauty of the Caribbean having been lost to the likes of Caldwell Banker Realty. The original tropical beauty of the island has been transformed and no where on the island do you not find the white cement roofs and pink stucco houses.
Transportation is excellent either via taxi or bus. The public buses are cheap, very clean, and inviting. You can travel from one end of the island to the other on a $4.00 bus pass that is good for the water ferries also.
Unless you are a motorcyclist prior to arrival I would forgo renting a scooter. The roads are picturesque but winding and hilly and you drive on the "opposite" side of the road. People pass indiscriminately, park on curves, and drive with cell phones in their ears. Only the mandated slow speed of traffic prevents Bermuda from becoming the accident capital of the world. While I was visiting there was a international bicycle race but the cyclists would refuse to practice on the roads out of fear.
Taxis are all new and cozy with the drivers being very polite and informed about the island. The fares are exorbitant but for somewhat over $100 you can have a driver all day. For a family this would be a great deal.
Restaurants are plentiful but the prices are twice what you would expect from Hilton Head or Martha's Vineyard. The food was seriously overpriced for what you got making me think Bermuda has a serious lack of world class chefs. Gratuities were added in the bill making the service predictable but not excellent.
Beaches were very beautiful with the water crystal clear. The beaches are very sedate, safe, and manicured.
Aside from the beach there are some tours of the island with the dockyard being the most popular. The British maintained a fort and victualing station for itself navy during the 1800's and the dockyards give you insight into the islands history. Take the ferry back to Hamilton to view the inside bay.
In summary Bermuda is beautiful, safe, and predictable but is expensive and sedate. For families it is a great vacation but for the tourist seeking any sort of excitement whether unique restaurants, different shopping experiences or unusual cultures Bermuda would be a poor choice.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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Epinions.com ID:
timmount
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Location: Columbus, Ohio
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Hard core skier, business owner in the medical field
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