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Description Bermuda is one of the oldest, smallest but by far and away most populated of remaining British Overseas Territories - and oldest British Commonwealth member.
Destination
Highlights
Local
Weather About 50 inches of rain annually. Bermuda has a remarkably mild climate that seldom sees extremes of either hot or cold. During the winter months (December through March), temperatures average 70F. The hottest part of the year is between May and mid-October, when temperatures range from 75F to 85F. The summer months are somewhat drier, although rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year.
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Destinations
Description Bermuda is one of the oldest, smallest but by far and away most populated of remaining British Overseas Territories - and oldest British Commonwealth member. Located on the Atlantic Ocean in the North Gulf, it lies North Carolina and is easily accessible by plane or a cruiseship. It has 6 principal islands and 120 others for practical purposes (138 in total, including mere rocks) in its total land area of under 21 square miles (33 square kilometers). The six principal islands (or former islands) are Ireland Island (north and south), Boaz Island, Somerset, Main, St. David's and St. George's, about 22 miles by road in total length. They are the contiguous mass of Bermuda. The largest by far is Great Bermuda or Main Island, which is a mile wide on average, 14 miles long. All of the principal islands are now joined together by 12 bridges and a causeway. Most visitors confine themselves to these six principal islands without knowing they are going from one to the other because there are no island signs.
Bermuda's physical beauty remains undeniable making it one of the most expensive pieces of beachfront in the world. Within the city itself there are parks like Par-la-Ville and Victoria. Beyond Hamilton's borders, beaches and quiet coves may have only a few couples taking the sun or swimming languidly in the island's fabled waters. But the island is more than just a pretty face. Scratch the surface, and just beneath the "tranquil and contenting" skin is a country that over the last twenty years has evolved from an almost mythical sleepy hollow into a dynamic international business hub. The former capital is a major attraction in and of itself. Founded as a town in 1612 and as a corporation in 1797, St. George is Bermuda's first and oldest town.
Among the long stretches of sand beaches divided by cliffs and coves are fascinating examples or Bermuda's stone and cedar architecture. During the summer months, when the temperature reaches into the high 80s and the traveler can expect to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities such as scuba diving, horseback riding, windsurfing, sailing, and just relaxing on the beach and soaking up the great Caribbean rays.
Bermuda is also a shopper's paradise. The visitor can expect to see savings on crystal, china, some jewelry, cashmere and lambswool that can range between 30 and 40 percent lower than typical prices in America.
Nightlife revolves mostly around restaurants, bars and some nightclubs. There is only one large city -- Hamilton. While it's true that much of the nightlife (particularly the club scene) is in the capital, there are nightspots scattered all over the island, many of them in hotels. Restaurants range from the small and cozy casual spots to the extravagantly elegant. Among the restaurant choices are Bermudian, French, Mexican, Italian, Indian, Continental, Thai, English and Irish pub-style cuisine.
Getting around is fairly easy, thanks to the efficient buses and ferries, but car rental is nonexistent because of traffic concerns. Renting a moped is de rigueur , but be warned that Bermuda's narrow, scenically walled lanes have sent many a tourist home in plaster.
Visitors are not allowed to rent automobiles in Bermuda but get about easily by taxi, bus, ferry, motor scooters (no driver's license is required), and by horse and carriage. Bus passengers must have exact change in coin or 'Transportation Pass' available for one, three, and seven days of unlimited use on the buses and ferries (sold at the Central Terminal, the Visitors Service Bureau in Hamilton, and at authorized outlets).
For a true Bermudian experience, hire a private horse and carriage. Or ride in a pink and blue bus or an open-air ferry. 1, 3, and 7-day Transportation Passes for unlimited use on buses and ferries are available.
The traditional port is the City of Hamilton, the capital and the most commercial area on the Island. If you like to shop, most stores are located in Hamilton. Many ships tie up in the Town of St. George, where you walk off the vessel into a charming town of 17th century buildings, narrow lanes, and small boutiques. The West End, Bermuda's third port of call, is fast becoming the preferred place to be. Its Royal Naval Dockyard, an erstwhile shipyard that was the British Royal Navy's headquarters until March 1995, has been beautifully restored as a mini-village with shops, restaurants, a maritime museum, an art gallery, and a crafts market. There is a marina with rental boats, parasailing excursions, a snorkeling area, and occasional special events.
Repeat visitors are those who like their comforts convenient and plentiful; who like their sea tranquil, their nightlife cozy, their dress code dapper, their meals predictably genteel. Golf and tennis are a widespread obsession, played on numerous top-notch courses and courts. Except in mid-winter, the swimming's excellent, too, on the seemingly endless carnation-pink coastline. And thanks to the surrounding coral reefs that grind out that famously gorgeous sand (and once wrecked many a ship), scuba and snorkeling are also a must; farther out, sport fishing's the rage.
A less strenuous pastime is shopping, since many European goods are available for prices lower than those in American stores. In Hamilton, Bermuda's orderly capital, the shops clustered along Front Street sell an overwhelming array of fine china, jewelry, French lace, and British woolens (here's the place for newlyweds to scope out that coveted crystal at close to half-price).
Local Information The official curreny of Bermuda is the Bermuda dollar (BD$), which is divided into 100 cents. The Bermuda dollar is pegged to the US dollar on an equal (one-to-one) basis. This means that US currency is accepted at shops, restaurants, and hotels at equal (face) value. Other foreign currencies are not accepted but may be exchanged at local banks at rates that are set daily.
Electricity 110 volts, 60 cycles ACStandard Time in Bermuda is Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours.
Daylight Savings Time in effect from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
Airport
Information Bermuda is serviced by Continental (800-231-0856), American (800-433-7300), Delta Airlines (800-221-1212), US Airways (800-428-4322), Air Canada (800-776-3000), and BritishBermuda International Airport Airways (0181/897-4000; 0345/222-111 outside London). Please be advised that many destinations charge a departure fee. Generally, most airlines include this fee in the cost of your airline ticket. We recommend you contact the airline directly to review the details with the carrier.
Entry
Requirements We recommend all U.S. Citizens travelling abroad should carry a passport due to heightened security at airport check-in and immigration. If you do not have a passport or are not an American citizen, please contact your airline or your local consulate or embassy in regards to travel documentation necessary for your vacation.
