Planning Your Trip to Bermuda

While we believe that the best vacations involve some spontaneity, we also know that advance planning helps avoid some of the glitches that can make your trip tiresome. What is Bermuda like? When should I go? What should I pack? Read on for the answers to these questions... and more!

History and Government
Bermuda is named after Spanish navigator Juan de Bermudez, who first discovered the uninhabited island via shipwreck on local reefs in 1503. Other Spanish, Portuguese, French and British mariners also came ashore involuntarily because of sharp, uncharted reefs that damaged or sunk their ships. But these early visitors didn't stay long; they made repairs to their vessels or built small boats from local trees, and then went on their way. So although Portugal and Spain claimed Bermuda, the island had no permanent residents for more than 100 years after its discovery.

In 1609, a hurricane blew a British ship called the Sea Venture onto the reefs here. The Sea Venture, which was commanded by Admiral Sir George Somers, was on her way to the New World settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, with settlers and supplies. Although most of the settlers continued on to Jamestown in a vessel they built while they were stranded on Bermuda, there have been people living here since that visit. Bermuda's other name - the Somers Isles - commemorate Bermuda's British founder father.

Today, Bermuda remains a (nominal) British possession. It is a completely self-governing British Overseas Territory, with its own laws, economy and traditions. Britons are just as much foreigners as are Americans, Canadians, Europeans, or Asians. All adults and children -- irrespective of nationality -- need individual official passports from their country of birth or domicile to enter Bermuda.

Economy
Bermuda has been highly successful in building an economic base on tourism and international finance, with the result that it now boasts one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. In fact, there are now so many big insurance and reinsurance firms in Hamilton that some call it "little Hong Kong." While financial services now account for 60% of Bermuda’s Gross National Product (with over 10,000 international businesses registered in Bermuda; over 300 of which have a physical presence on the Island), tourism still plays an important role in Bermuda's economy, with about 400,000 travelers vacationing in Bermuda each year. The power that tourism exerts over Bermuda can be seen in its currency policy: the U.S. dollar is the recommended currency for all visitors, a nod to the fact that most tourists are on holiday from the East Coast of the United States. Bermuda does have its own currency -- also called the dollar -- which is strictly local and is on par with the American dollar.

What Does Bermuda Look Like?
Bermuda is lovely, but tiny, with a land area of only 21 square miles (56 square kilometers).You can travel from one end to the other in just over an hour, and from north to south in 10 to 15 minutes. Bermuda is actually a series of connected islands (although Bermudians think of them as one) shaped like a letter "C." At the eastern end is the historic town of is St. George; at western end is what was originally a royal naval dockyard; and between them is the city of Hamilton.

Bermuda is famous for its pink sand and pastel houses, its moongates, and its affinity for Briticisms like cricket and afternoon tea.

Getting Around
The Bermuda Government has very strict rules about automobiles. Only one automobile is allowed for each Bermuda family or household, and visitors are not permitted to rent automobiles or drive those owned by residents. Also, companies are not allowed to own cars in corporate names, hence hotels are not able to have limousines to collect or deliver guests to the Bermuda International Airport. And while public buses are a good choice for sightseeing, they not equipped to accept passengers with luggage. The bottom lines is that getting to and from your hotel will involve a very expensive taxi ride. Visitors can rent mopeds or scooters -- and these are a good option if you plan to travel around the island quite a bit -- but beware the narrow roads (with little or no shoulder) and the abundance of blind curves. Remember that in Bermuda, as in Britain, you drive on the left side of the road.

Weather
Bermuda has a beautifully mild climate that rarely becomes either too hot or too cold. Although during the summer months, Bermuda is warm (up to 90°F in August) and humid, the island is nearly always fanned by cool ocean breezes. Between May and October, average temperatures range between 75° and 85°. During the winter months (December through March) temperatures average between 60° and 70°F. Rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year, averaging a little over 4 inches a month.

When to Visit
"High season," the busiest time for tourists, is May through October. This is when the bulk of the cruise ships stop at the island and when hotels, restaurants and shops are most crowded. It is also when the weather is the warmest (although during the latter part of the summer, hurricanes occasionally pay Bermuda a visit, so plan your trip accordingly and buy travel insurance if you are worried about the weather). Starting on November 1st, the crowds begin to dissipate. But note that although you'll have much of the island to yourself during the cooler weather (which is still wonderful for many sports, although sunbathing may not be as pleasant), many hotels schedule their renovations for the winter months so you may have to contend with constructions and some loss of amenities (e.g. some hotel restaurants may be closed for upgrades).

What to Wear
There is no question that Bermuda is a preppy stomping ground. Lilly Pulitzer prints, sweater sets with pearls, and brightly coloured pants for men are all welcome here. And then, of course, there are Bermuda shorts. These almost-knee-length walking shorts are considered Bermuda national dress and even today, many businessmen wear Bermuda shorts with their jackets and ties. 

Bermuda has retained the custom of dressing for dinner, so ladies should be sure to bring a few dresses or skirt sets and men shouldn't forget their jackets and ties.

Since the weather is generally balmy, you can leave the woolens at home in favor of lighter fabrics like linen and cotton.

What to Bring
While Bermuda's wealth means that the average standard of living is high, as might be expected, so is the cost of living. Little space to spare means that rents are high. And since there is not much in the way of an industrial or agricultural economic base, most items must be imported and so prices on most items are considerably higher than in the United States.

As a result, visitors should budget generously for the food and drink they will consume while on holiday, noting that the prices of all liquor (including wine and beer) are at least twice what they would expect to pay at home. Soft drinks can run as much as three times the U.S. price. And what a couple can buy in the USA for a week will be less expensive than buying food in Bermuda for two days.

To avoid paying much more in Bermuda, make sure you bring plenty of:

• Prescription drugs, including allergy medication, if you need them. It is especially important to bring what you need with you since some pharmaceuticals available without prescription elsewhere require prescriptions in Bermuda from registered local medical doctors, who must be seen first.
• Batteries and camera film. We also recommend that you get your film processing done at home since film processing is very expensive locally (about US$25 for a 24 exposure 35 millimeter film).
• Golf balls, if you play.
• Suntan lotion and toiletries.

What Time Is It?
Bermuda is in the Atlantic Time zone, like Nova Scotia to the north and Caribbean 1,000 miles south. Atlantic Time is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Bermuda observes Daylight Savings Time in the same way and at the same time as in the U.S. Bermuda is normally four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time in the United Kingdom. But as the latter occurs one week before Bermuda observes the beginning of US Daylight Savings Time on the same night as the USA, for one week only, Bermuda is five hours ahead of the UK.

What on Earth are Bermuda Onions?
"Bermuda Onions" are what Bermudian people call themselves. The name comes from a special type of big juicy onion - originally from Britain - that was exported in quantity every year to the USA and Canada from the early 1600s to the late 1800s.

How do I Get to Bermuda and Where Should I Stay?
Short, direct flights from Boston and New York City make Bermuda popular with travelers from the East Coast of the United States. Need hotel or airline reservations? We can help. Our hotel guide includes an extensive listing of Bermuda properties, with most available at discounted prices. And our airfare service will help you fly virtually anywhere you want -- and save you money in the process.

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