UK meets the tropics off Eastern Seaboard
Written: Feb 07 '02 (Updated Apr 04 '02)
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Pros: beautiful beaches, friendly locals, great Bermudian cuisine, delightful during off-season
Cons: very expensive
The Bottom Line: All of the charm of Britain, but with better weather and fewer hassles. Go during the off-season for warm weather and empty beaches.
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| alexjs's Full Review: Bermuda |
Bermuda is one of my favorite destinations. It's really easy to fall in love with the place.
Bermuda is not one island but an archipelago located about 550mi east of Cape Hatteras, NC. Bermuda is often lumped in with the Caribbean, something Bermudians cannot stand. They have good reason - the nearest Caribbean island is over 700 miles away, which is like saying Washington, DC is in the Midwest. And unlike the Caribbean, poverty and unemployment are practically nonexsistent in Bermuda. It has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
As developed as the islands are (it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world) they have some unique challenges. These islands are quite rocky - there is little arable land and no source of fresh water. The only drinkable water comes from the sky, with buildings designed to collect runoff from the roof in cisterns. Being free of added chemicals, it's some of the best water I've ever had - I even topped off my water bottles and brought some home with me. Some of the hotels use desalinated water for toilets and such, but conservation is the watchword.
Bermuda and the US have had close ties for hundreds of years. The result is a country that is very accessible for American tourists, keeping the charm of a foreign country with many of the conveniences of home. The Bermudian dollar and the US dollar are on par and both are accepted everywhere, so changing money is not required. Some shopkeepers will give change in the same currency you pay with, but when I asked they were more than happy to give me change in the other currency. Interestingly enough, their coins are the same color and dimension as US coins.
Unlike the UK, the electrical system is 120V, 60Hz - the same as the US - so you can leave the converter at home. The less-expensive hotels have limited cable, while the ritzier places usually have greater access to satellite feeds. There is little local TV to speak of but you can get all the major US broadcast networks as well as CNN and ESPN. Another major convenience for American fliers is the fact that Bermuda flights operate from domestic gates. When you head back to America, you are processed through U.S. Customs and INS in Bermuda, saving you a lot of time stateside to catch connecting flights.
Foreigners can't rent cars in Bermuda, and it's just as well. The mainly two-lane roads are narrow and typically don't have much of a shoulder (there is one 4-lane stretch in Hamilton, but it's only a mile long). Gasoline (or petrol) sells for roughly 4 times the price stateside, so the cars are small. The maximum speed limit is only 35kph. And as you might guess, cab rides are atrociously expensive. My ride from the hotel to the airport (about 1.5mi) ran me $4.50.
You can rent a moped (called bikes by the locals) but tourists are prone to "laying it down" on rain-slickened roads, tearing up their skin. But if you're not so adventurous, the mass transit system is quite good, with small pink buses getting you within easy reach of most places. Just be sure to note the color code of the route and look for the appropriately colored pole.
The famed pink sand beaches are found along the south shore. The best beach is at Horseshoe Bay Park. Words simply can't do it justice.
The cuisine for the most part isn't remarkable and it's expensive. There's not much here you can't get in the States. People come here for the scenery, not for the food. But one exception is Dennis' Hideaway on St. David's Island. The place looks like a total dive, and in many respects it is. I walked past an old washer on my way to the door and sat next to a window with a broken pane. But the food - Bermudian-style seafood - is absolutely wonderful. The fish stew and conch fritters are out of this world. People come to Dennis' for the food, not the scenery. Be sure to check out the guest book. You'd be surprised who ate there. (Three big names I found on my visit: Tom Cruise, Alanis Morisette and *gasp* Martha Stewart)
You're waiting for the downside. It's the cost. Bermuda is a very expensive place. My hotel room at a moderate resort ran $100/night in the off season. Their high season rates are more than double that. Since practically everything has to be flown or shipped in, food is expensive, especially meat. The short flight to Bermuda (a little over 2hrs from Philadelphia) is quite pricey. The airlines assume that if you can afford to vacation in Bermuda, you can afford higher airfare.
Bermuda is best in the off-season which runs from mid October to around Easter. The weather at this time is quite pleasant - 70s during the day, low 60s at night and fairly humid, about the same as Central or South Florida. (Summers, incidentally, are a bit warmer with highs reaching into the 80s.) The rooms are a lot cheaper and there are few tourists (most folks seem prefer the Caribbean that time of year). My hotel was maybe at 20% capacity, and I had the hot tub all to myself. =) Ask your travel agent if there are any package deals - I got airfare, two nights hotel with full breakfast for about $1000 for mid-December, which is a bargain for "Bermy."
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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Epinions.com ID:
alexjs
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Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Web developer who likes weightlifting, cycling, baking, writing and travel.
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