Bermuda Vacation
From LoveToKnow Travel
A Bermuda vacation is ideal for honeymooners, golfers, and those looking for a sparkling and friendly beach destination, rich in history. Bermuda lies about 600 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It consists of 138 coral islands, closely linked by highways and bridges. A British overseas territory, Bermuda’s approximately 64,000 residents are ruled by a local governor and Premier who report to the British Prime Minister. Bermuda has a colorful history. It was first discovered in the early 1500s by Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez, from whom the islands gets their name. For the next hundred years, the islands were only used as a supply port, because rumors of spirits kept permanent settlers away. (These rumors were later attributed to the callings of local birds.) The first permanent settlement began when the Sea Venture, a British ship en route to American, wrecked off the coast of Bermuda in 1609.
Today, Bermuda has a thriving economy and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. International finance and banking are the island’s primary business, followed closely by tourism. Many wealthy Americans and British have second homes on the islands, including actor Michael Douglas, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, and financier and former presidential candidate Ross Perot. Bermuda is famous for its colorful architecture, sparkling pink beaches, the rum swizzle (which was invented in Hamilton), and Bermuda shorts.
Hamilton
No Bermuda vacation would be complete without a visit to Hamilton, the capital city of Bermuda. The colorful pastel homes and businesses here make a delightful complement to the blue seawater and vibrant ships in the port. Shops line Front Street and Queen Street in the capital, with wares varying from fine British linens and porcelain, to rum and British Scotch Whisky, to quality jewelry. Prices are somewhat high in Bermuda, largely due to their steep import tax, but the quality in almost all stores is exceptional.
St. Georges
The site of the original settlement on Bermuda, St. Georges is steeped in 400 years of history. Unlike Williamsburg and Jamestown, many of St. Georges’ original buildings still stand, without renovation or adornment. Named a World Heritage Site, St. Georges’ masonry walls and narrow cobblestone streets date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Part fort and part village, St. Georges is interesting to explore.
Royal Naval Dockyards Near St. Georges is the Royal Naval Dockyard, a naval base from the 1850s until 1957. The site is now home to a quality arts and crafts mall, a traditional pub, and The Bermuda Maritime Museum, among other attractions. In the warmer months, street performers delight visitors with music, dance, and mime. The Royal Naval Dockyard is located at the tip of the “hook” in Bermuda and a little out of the way, but well worth the visit.
Playing Golf on a Bermuda Vacation
Bermuda is home to some of the most scenic and most challenging golf courses in the world. Eight championship courses grace this small island nation. Some of the courses are private, such as the exclusive Tucker’s Point Golf Club and Mid Ocean Club, but some of the resorts have agreements with the course and can obtain non-peak tee times for guests. The 18-hole Fairmont Southampton course is the finest of the resort courses, and ranked one of the best par-3 courses in the world.
The Pink Sand Beaches
Traveling to Bermuda
Start your Bermuda vacation with one of the daily flights from major United States east coast cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New York as well as from Atlanta and Toronto. Flights arrive from other U.S. cities as well as London several times weekly. Bermuda is a major cruise ship destination and ships call at St Georges and Hamilton for multi-day stays, especially during the spring and fall months.
Accommodations on Bermuda range from large resorts, such as The Fairmont Southampton, to luxury guest cottage resorts, such as the Pink Beaches Resort, to gracious guesthouses, such as the Rosemount in Hamilton. Visitors are not permitted cars on the island, due to its compact size, and there are no car rental agencies. Bermuda does have, however, affordable and efficient regular bus service throughout the island and mopeds, those power-driven scooters, are popular for tourists. Taxis are available, but pricey, with the fare running around $50 from the airport to downtown Hamilton.
Bermuda uses the Bermuda dollar, which is at par with the US dollar. Travelers on a Bermuda vacation from the United States and Canada are required to show proof of citizenship for entry into Bermuda. While a valid passport is best, this can also be an original or a certified copy of the passenger’s birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID.
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