Bermuda
Bermuda is a small, picturesque British Overseas Territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 650 miles east of North Carolina, USA. Known for its pink sand beaches, turquoise waters, and subtropical climate, Bermuda is a popular travel destination with a unique blend of British and American culture. Though often mistaken for being part of the Caribbean, Bermuda sits far north of the tropical islands. If you love beautiful beaches, watersports, snorkeling, boating, resorts and more this is the place for you.
getting to the Bermuda
The two most common ways to come to the Bermuda are via plane to or via cruise. All international flights arrive through the L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) located in the Parish of St. George’s. When arriving by plane you will have to clear customs. Currently no visa is required for USA, Canada and the UK. Cruises can stop at one of the three main ports: St. George’s, Royal Dockyard and for smaller ship Hamilton. Customs will be cleared via the cruise so you are free to exit and get straight to your activities.
getting around Bermuda
Majority of tourists visiting Bermuda opt to use taxis to get around the island. There is a great public bus that runs across the island however it takes some time given the stops. It is very cost effective. If you want to take the bus into Hamilton from the Bermuda Airport you have the leave the airport and cross the road. They do not like passengers with a lot of luggage to use the bus but if you just have a carry on/hand held bag you will be fine which is what I did.
If you are coming into Royal Naval Dockyard via cruise ship you will have lots of different options for transportation. The bus does go here but if only stopping for a day it may be worth the cost of paying for a shuttle, taxi or a ferry. To get the Hamilton you can take a ferry or taxi that takes about 20 minutes while the bus takes about 1 hour. If you want to visit Horseshoe Beach you can opt to take a mini-shuttle for around $16 per person there and back.
when to visit the Bermuda
You can visit anytime of year because the weather remains fairly similar year-round with mild temperatures. Peak tourism occurs between May and October. The best time for swimming is June-August. Hurricane season is from beginning of June to end of November. The lowest tourism time seems to be between December-February so that will be when lowest crowds and best deals. During the winter some attractions will have shortened hours of operation.
where to stay Bermuda
There are places to stay all over this island. You can stay in the town of Hamilton which is central or in an area closer to the famous beaches. You can find great vacation rental options or resort/luxury stays. Some popular options include Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa, Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Spa, the Loren at Pink Beach and so many more. I was very lucky because the two times I visited I my friend was living there so I had a free place to stay! The lowest tourism time seems to be between December through February so that will be when lowest crowds and best deals.
Things to do Bermuda
Beaching, water-sports, snorkeling, and relaxing will be what you are doing while visiting the Bermuda. There are incredible beaches with iconic pink sand and so many fun activities to do. Some of the top attractions not to be missed include: Horseshoe Bay Beach, snorkeling at Tobacco Bay, visiting the Crystal and Fantasy Caves, touring the Royal Naval Dockyard and visiting the National Museum of Bermuda, wandering through St. George’s which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbing Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, golfing, and so much more. No trip to Bermuda is complete without tasting the rum swizzle!
