What I did in Beautiful Bermuda- should you?
Written: Feb 11 '02 (Updated Mar 07 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gorgeous beaches, friendly people!
Cons: Expensive!
The Bottom Line: Go if you can- beautiful beaches, friendly locals, unforgettable trip!
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| annecal's Full Review: Bermuda |
In July of 2001 I went on a Norwegian Majesty (7 day Boston-Bermuda) Cruise (see other E-pinion for more details) with my aunt, who is in her early 60's (and very feisty), and my sister (we are in our early-mid 20's). Our ship was docked in Hamilton, and as we entered the island, I was immediately struck by how beautiful the water is! I have been to the Mediterranean, but not to the Caribbean before and this was the most beautiful water I have ever seen!
Here is a list of places we visited, things we did and things we learned. My aunt had slightly different experiences with some of these things. My sister, in her early 20's is quite a tomboy, and so though we are close in age, our experiences were sometimes a little different. I will make a note when applicable.
TRANSPORTATION- I would absolutely, without a doubt, recommend that you NOT rent a moped. The streets of Bermuda are extremely narrow and full of sharp curves. They also drive on the left-hand side of the road. In the four days we spent there, we saw a number of accidents, all involving mopeds. At first, my aunt thought we would rent them, as she had done in the '60's. She quickly realized that the number of people on the roads and the speed at which they were travelling had changed dramatically since her last trip, and we opted for a multi-day bus pass instead. The pink busses will take you anywhere you need to go. The drivers are very friendly, and will help direct you when you aren't entirely sure which way to walk when youget off. They are also a great way to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the island as you travel!
CARRY- You’ll definitely want a large tote bag or a backpack to take with you during the day.We went in July, and it was quite hot, though everyone in our group loves the heat! Bring a hat, preferably one with a wide brim. You’ll burn more quickly than you expect. Also remember to carry sunscreen and reapply often! Drink plenty of water. If you buy bottled water, save the empty bottle to fill with Bermuda’s unique pink sand. Shells are rare, because the island is surrounded by coral, and most won’t make it through intact, but you certainly will regret not saving sand! I would also suggest you buy a couple of disposable waterproof cameras- one for para-sailing, and one for the beaches. We got some great ariel shots, shots of each other in the water, and underwater shots of fish at Tobacco Bay. These cameras are great for the beach, as the photo quality is fine, and you don't need to worry about damaging an expensive camera.
BEACHES- The beach that we spent the most time at was Elbow Beach. This is a stunning beach, with pink sand, clear water, and naturally formed caves. The area immediately in front of the resort is for guests only, but a public area of the beach is only a short walk down. Not all of the beaches have the pink sand, though most do, so be sure to check out the situation before you go! A great site to check out is http://www.bermuda.com/. Another great site, which will allow you to do virtual tours, is www.bermudatourism.com. Tobacco Bay is a very small beach, and I wouldn’t recommend it for spending a day at the beach, unless you plan to do some...
SNORKELING there are package deals all over the island, and they are offered of you cruise,but I would suggest you go to Tobacco Bay. For a small fee,(if I remember correctly, $10 for a mask, snorkel and flippers) you can rent snorkel equipment all day, and they are very lax about a retainer (I believe I left them my library card as insurance until I returned my gear). You should be aware that it seems that they soak their equipment in Lysol to disinfect it, which was fine with me, but you want to take it into the water and really rinse it out well before you use it! The sandy beach area is small, but there is a restaurant with manageable prices, decent food, cold beer and a deck to relax on. There are amazing rocks here, it is really like a little lagoon, and the fish are incredible! There are barracuda near the large rocks, and if that worries you, just stay near the smaller ones, and you most likely won't see any! Just up the hill is also a spot where you can get your hair braided, if it interests you!
CRYSTAL CAVES- The Crystal Cave are beautiful and unique. There are quite a lot of stairs to climb, but it is well worth it! My aunt was a little worried about the stairs,since she has new bifocals, and apparently they make stairs a little tricky, but she had no difficulty. The caves are a sort of lagoon, and you will walk over the clearest, most beautiful water you have ever seen in your life. As you reach the cave interior, you move from solid land onto very sturdy dock-like structures. It is also a nice way to cool off on a hot day! They are very open- I am mildly claustrophobic, but had no problem. They are also not very large. You shouldn't need more than an hour or so to see them in total. The Swizzle Inn is very nearby- located across the street from the bustop, and is a famous local haunt.
PARASAILING- we went to St. George Parasail and Watersport, and it was wonderful! The people were very helpful and friendly, and helped me to get over my fear of heights to fly tandem with my sister. For an additional (I believe it was $20) fee, my Aunt rode on the boat with us, snapped photos and enjoyed the view and being on the water. BOOK EARLY! They will book up, and you may not get to go! Also, we tried a number of places, some that weren’t running because the boat was having repairs done, etc., so call ahead. Also, tip the people who take you if you have a good experience- we did!
SHOPPING- souvenirs can be ridiculously expensive. I did find one shop in St. George that I was really very impressed with, The Salty Dog. The woman who owns the shop, which is very relaxed and casual, makes this wonderful handmade soap in different scents. They are around $5 a bar, and everyone I brought them back for loved them! A much better choice than a $15 mug that was made in China. Don’t miss Hamilton’s, either!
CLUBS-
Club 40, in Hamilton was a very posh nightspot with “Cocktail”-like bartenders. The music was mostly techno, after 10. Very nice décor. Oasis, also in Hamilton was also a lot of fun, and they played a mix of music. The décor isn’t nearly as nice, and feels more like a beach club than a city nightclub. For more information, see http://www.bermuda.com/oasis/intro.htm.We stayed in St. George, so I went with people I had met on the ship, and we took the bus out, and then splurged for a cab ride back to the ship at the end of the evening.
There is so much I can tell you about Bermuda, but mainly I would say that if it is an option, GO! It is a beautiful, romantic island. If you’ve gone once, you’ll be back as soon as you can!
*NOTE- sorry for any typos, my goal is to get the information I have to you as quickly as possible. If you have a question about something I didn't address, feel free to leave a comment and I'll try to respond to you. Thank you for reading and rating!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
annecal
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Annie
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Reviews written: 125
Trusted by: 129 members
About Me:
Road test drivers over 75!!
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