0:19 AM Bermuda travel guide - Wikitravel | ||||
Residential scene in Bermuda Bermuda is divided into nine parishes (from east to west):
Bermuda has two incorporated municipalities: one city and one town. There are also unincorporated municipalities (villages).
Bermuda consists of about 138 islands and islets, with all the major islands aligned on a hook-shaped, but roughly east-west, axis and connected together by road bridges. Despite this complexity, Bermudians usually refer to Bermuda as "the island". In terms of terrain, the islands are composed of low hills separated by fertile depressions, and interspersed with a complex set of waterways. The inhabited island chain is actually the southern sector of a circular pseudo-atoll, the remainder of the coral ring being submerged or inter-tidal reefs (Bermuda was formed volcanically but is not a true atoll). As a result the northern shores of inhabited islands are relatively sheltered, whilst the southern shores are exposed to the ocean swell. Consequently most of the best beaches are on the southern shore. Bermuda has a subtropical climate, with hot and humid weather from spring through fall, however daytime temps fall to the upper 60s °F in wintertime, with wintertime lows of around 58°F. Rarely do temperatures fall below 55°F. The water also cools down into the 60s °F in the wintertime. Humidity remains high in the wintertime. The Gulf Stream does help Bermuda maintain a subtropical climate, despite the latitude being equal to the Carolinas in the United States. Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for the infant English colony of Virginia. The first industry on the islands was fruit and vegetable cultivation to supply the early American colonies. The islands took a carefully unofficial role during the American War of Independence, with much of Washington's armaments coming from a covert (and likely locally complicit) raid on the island's armoury. After US independence and during the Napoleonic wars, Great Britain found itself without access to the ports now on the US east coast. Because of this situation and Bermuda's convenient location between British Canada and Britain's Caribbean possessions, Bermuda became the principal stopover point for the British Royal Navy's Atlantic fleet, somewhat similar to Gibraltar. The American Civil War and American Prohibition both added considerably to the island's coffers, with Bermuda forming an important focal point in running the blockades in both cases. During the Second World War, a large US air base was built on the islands and remained operational until 1995, and Bermuda served as the main intercept centre for transatlantic cable messages to and from occupied Europe. Tourist travel to Bermuda to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has surpassed it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial centre. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. For many, Bermudian independence would mean little other than the obligation to staff foreign missions and embassies around the world, which can be an onerous obligation for Bermuda's small population. The Thursday (Emancipation Day) and Friday (Somer's Day) before the first Monday in August are when Somerset and St. George play cricket, a tradition since 1901. Almost all businesses, including tourist attractions, shut down and large numbers of tents appear throughout the islands on beaches and roadsides. It's a four-day weekend, Bermuda-style. Bermudians make the most of it, sporting their team's colours, feasting and even doing some legalized gambling with their "Crown and Anchor" dice game. One of Bermuda's few taxes is its steep import duty. This varies depending on the item and the importer. Some items are tax-exempt when brought in for personal use (books, educational materials). The duty on cars is fixed to their value. If the price of the vehicle before it is landed is less than $10,000, the duty is 80%. For cars costing $10,000 or greater, before landing, the duty is 100%. The dealer must add his own profit margin on top of this. Each person arriving on the island is allowed a $100 exemption, but visitors deemed to be carrying more than that amount will be subject to the duty on the excess value. There is a $25 airport tax for all passengers. Bermuda's Airport has the world's highest landing/parking fee for airlines, so the overall price for the air ticket (incl all taxes) is considerably higher than for many Caribbean destinations. Arriving passengers will need to pass through Immigration and Customs, and non-residents must have a return or onward ticket. Importation of narcotics and weapons (including all forms of guns) is strictly prohibited, as are any live marine animals, snakes or plants. The airport is situated in St. George's Parish, adjacent to Castle Harbour, and nearer St George's than Hamilton (though no part of Bermuda is far from any other). If you are arriving on an inclusive tour, then your tour operator will probably have arranged onward transportation to your hotel by private bus. The airport is well served by local public buses, but unfortunately these will not accept luggage. The bus only takes cash fare in coins. An Airport Shuttle can be booked for $10-$15 to take visitors to one of four hotels. It doesn't appear as though you have to be a guest at the hotel in order to reserve and ride but the hotel will be used as a drop-off or pick-up point. The shuttle must be booked online (or using their US toll-free number) in advance and has staff at a desk outside the airport. While there is a visitor information centre at the airport, it is unmanned and thus no bus tickets packs or transportation passes can be purchased at the airport, the closest visitor's information centre is an hour's walk away at the St. George's ferry terminal. Taxis are available at the airport; depending on time of arrival and destination they may cost up to $50. Rates to and from the airport are set and posted. Hire cars are not available (see 'Get around' below). It is possible to walk from the airport, however it should be noted that the bridge across the causeway toward Hamilton is one lane each way with no sidewalks. Despite this, Bermuda drivers are patient and considerate of pedestrians and will wait for an opening in traffic in the opposing direction before passing and many joggers and walkers walk this bridge. US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance is done in Bermuda prior to boarding your flight home. This allows for easy domestic connections on arrival in the USA. The same immigration and customs rules apply as for arrival by air (above). There are three different locations cruise ships may stop at in Bermuda, and some vessels visit more than one of these in a single cruise:
Bermuda is a favourite, if challenging destination for off-shore yacht crews. Crossing from the US mainland or the Azores can take up to 3 weeks in the notorious calm of summer. The rest of the year there might be too much wind: nor'easters to hurricanes. Another hazard: lots of floating debris from sunken ships and the hurricanes of the the last few years. Within a 200 nautical mile radius from Bermuda collisions with solid objects are frequent and often deadly. Yachts have to clear in Bermuda Customs and Immigration at St George. Only bargain left in the islands: bring your own boat and anchor, moor or dock for free in all the islands' coves for up to 6 months. Check in is only $15 per person ($10 cheaper than by air). The islands benefit from an excellent and frequent bus service, which connects all parts of the islands to Hamilton. The buses are air conditioned and used equally by locals and visitors. When catching a bus look out for the pink and blue painted poles which denote bus stops; pink indicates buses heading into Hamilton; blue heading out from Hamilton. Note that buses will not accept passengers with a lot of luggage. There are also passenger ferries which ply the waters of Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound, and are a great way of getting to Somerset and the Dockyard. There is also a ferry service between the Dockyard and St. George. Transportation passes valid on both buses and ferries are available for unlimited use for periods of 1 to 7 days and cost $15-56 with one month and three-month passes for longer-term visitors and residents available. A one-way bus or ferry trip costs $4.50, with short bus journeys costing $3. Cash fares on the buses are coins only, no change given. Ask the bus driver for a transfer when getting off the bus if you must connect to another line. Rather than buying a pass, the most cost effective option for many visitors would be to buy a sheet of 15 bus tickets for $30 from any post office or the bus terminal in Hamilton. Each ticket covers a single bus or ferry ride for $2, quite a lot cheaper than the cash fare. Schedules for bus and ferry can be found here . Taxis are another easy way of getting around the islands. They are available at taxi stands on Front St. in Hamilton, at the major hotels or by phone. All taxis are fitted with a meter and charge $6.40 for first mile plus $2.25 for each subsequent mile. There is a 25% surcharge on Sundays. If not in Hamilton, you can always flag one down on a major road or call to have one pick you up. With many services in Bermuda, but especially with taxis (though not with buses and ferries, which are very punctual), there is a concept of "Bermuda Time." You may find that when you call for a taxi to pick you up, they may not be as prompt as you would like. This may mean waiting an extra ten minutes, but remember that Bermuda is not at all fast-paced like many cities, it is much more laid back and relaxed here. Until the arrival of the US military during the second world war, cars were entirely banned from these islands. Even now, hire cars (rental cars) are banned and only residents are permitted to own cars. Motorized bicycles or mopeds are available for hire and heavily used by locals and visitors alike. If you wish to use mopeds, rentals are very common, regulated and priced competitively, but beware: "Road Rash" is a very common affliction affecting many. Furthermore, the roads are very tight one-lane roads many without sidewalks with many 'odd' intersections such as roundabouts (traffic circles), and 'triangular intersections' joining three roads. Travel is on the left side of the road (opposite to the US). Road signs are based on the ones used in the United Kingdom ; however, they are usually in kilometres. The national speed limit is 35km/h (22mph), which is lower in built-up and other congested areas. More information is available from:
There are surprisingly large number of excellent sightseeing places in this 21-square mile tiny island. Main Sightseeing Attractions :
Go to one of Bermuda's lovely pink sandy beaches:
Bermuda has many golf courses and driving ranges spread out along its length.
Bermuda Railway Trail The bed of the former Bermuda Railway which was dismantled in 1948 after 17 years of service. Many sections still exist as a public walking trail stretching from St. George Town in the east end, through Pembroke Parish near the City of Hamilton and on toward Somerset Village in the west end. Many station houses, trestle footings and railway ties can be found. It offers spectacular views of the island and waters along its length. Bermuda Forts Bermuda has many examples of large fortifications and smaller batteries spread throughout the island which were built between 1612 after first settlement and manned until 1957. For its small size the island had approximately 100 fortifications built. Many have been restored, primarily the larger ones, and are open to the public with dioramas and displays. Many have their original cannons in place. Some lie on outlying islands and islets and can only be accessed via boat, or have been incorporated into private properties and resorts. Some of those which can be accessed are:
Royal Naval Dockyard The sprawling stone building that were the former naval base to Bermuda now houses several different sites and attractions, including a pub located in the old Cooperage, or barrel-making facility; The Maritime Museum, offering the most extensive look at Bermudian history on all of the islands; or many shops located in the former naval administration building. Now known as the Clocktower Mall. these small shops offer many different speciality souvenir options exclusive to Bermuda such as fine linens and jewellery. Located just off of King’s Wharf. visitors coming off of cruise ships may find the Royal Naval Dockyard to be an appealing option because of its close proximity to the docks and the accommodations. Victoria Park Located in Hamilton. this public park is the home to many concerts in the summer months on the bandstand, which was established in 1899 and completely restored in 2015. Visit one of the several flower gardens, walk on the paths or sit on one of the many benches under the trees. Public restrooms are available nearby and the location is prime, between several of the busy streets of the capital. In the summer, expect frequent concerts on the bandstand during the day and into the evening hours, food vendors, and other attractions for both adults and children. Conveniently for tourists, the main bus station of the city is located one block over from the park. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Aquariums The Devil’s Hole aquarium, located in Tucker’s Town. has since closed, leaving the Bermuda National Aquarium and Zoo as the sole aquatic life centre in Bermuda. Expect to see a variety of water and land animals nursed back to health after being found in danger on the shores of Bermuda. This zoo/aquarium is unique because visitors can walk into the habitats of the animals due to the small nature of the facility. Sports Besides a large variety of golf resorts available, Bermuda also offers unique sporting activities to its visitors:
Bermuda's currency is the Bermudian dollar (BMD, abbreviated '$'), which is divided into 100 cents. It comes in the same denominations and sizes as US currency, except there is a one dollar coin instead of a banknote. The currency is directly tied to US currency, so one US dollar always equals one Bermudan dollar; therefore US dollars are accepted everywhere in Bermuda at equal value. Bermuda offers ATMs in several tourist locations, including their airport, St. George. Somerset. and Hamilton. Though MasterCard and Visa debit and credit cards are frequently accepted, it is common for smaller hotels and bed and breakfasts to not accept them. Before booking, check with the hotel or bed and breakfast in order to ensure they accept credit cards if you plan to pay this way. Though most stores accept cards to accommodate tourists, many hotels and even larger resort areas do not. Gratuities are typically paid in cash as well. If changing money before coming to Bermuda, then change into US dollars. Remember that Bermudian dollars cannot be changed outside the country, so should be spent or exchanged before leaving. Bermuda can be expensive. Because of Bermuda's steep import tax, all goods sold in stores that come from off the island carry a significant markup. When buying groceries or other (non-souvenir) items of that nature, be aware that the best prices are usually away from the more "touristy" areas. For example, one cup of yoghurt might cost about $1.60 at a grocery store near hotels; it will cost 25% less at a grocery store further from the tourist attractions, and only 10 cents more than in the United States. When buying these sort of things, go to where the locals go . A nice assortment of stores exists in Hamilton. especially on Front Street. The area can be explored easily by foot. Front Street, is one of the main shopping streets, and is facing the harbour. In recent years, two of the largest and oldest department stores on Front Street have closed. However, A.S. Coopers, first established in 1897, remains. Shopping can also be found in the easily walked town of St George as well as in Dockyard, which has a small shopping mall. Smaller stores can be found throughout the island offering a variety of goods. Two relatively unique Bermudian dishes are salted codfish, boiled with potatoes, the traditional Sunday breakfast, and Hoppin' John, a simple dish of boiled rice and black-eyed peas. Shark hash was made, fish cakes were traditional on Fridays, hotcross buns at Easter, and cassava or farine pies at Christmas. With the high-end tourist market, great effort has been expended by hotel and restaurant chefs in developing an ostensibly 'traditional Bermudian cuisine', although this has usually meant adapting other cuisines, from West Indian to Californian, in line with the expectations of visiting clientele. Most pubs serve a typical British Pub fare, although the number of these establishments has diminished as premises are lost to development, or establishments are redeveloped to target the tourist market (note the loss of the Ram's Head. the White Heron. the Rum Runner. and the Cock and Feather (redeveloped into the Pickled Onion. with a nouveau menu)). On the other hand, over the same period Bermuda gained its first and only Irish pub, Flannagan's. While lobster and other sea foods are often featured on the menu, virtually everything is imported from the US or Canada. Although this shows in the price of even casual dining and groceries, it should be noted that locally produced foodstuffs are typically less varied, poorer quality, produced in smaller quantities, and more expensive. Most bananas, for instance, will have a 'Chiquita' sticker, and are larger than those grown locally (which do have the advantage of ripening on the plant). Restaurants and Dining Options Restaurants can be found all over the island, with the largest concentration in the city of Hamilton and St George town. Also, there are several at some of the hotels which are outstanding, although pricey. At Elbow Beach Hotel, Cafe lido is excellent, and Southampton Fairmont Waterlot Inn, although sometimes crowded and noisy, has excellent dining. Remember that with most restaurants, the closer you are to the cruise ship docks, the more expensive the menu will be. Most cruise ship passengers have a short time in which to experience Bermuda, and if they don't eat on the ship, most will be reluctant to leave the town to eat. The restaurants in proximity to the cruise ship docks in, say, St. George's can be as much as three times as expensive as a comparable one in, say, Somerset Village.
Local specialities include:
Bermuda has two popular drinks:
Both drinks are comparatively very sweet. Accommodation in Bermuda is typically quite expensive. However, there are excellent options available. There are many exclusive and four star accommodations. Additionally, some businesses offer private homes, apartments and studios for short term rent such as Bermuda Accommodations Inc. The exorbitant cost of accommodation and airfares has had a negative effect on tourism, which is shrinking by more than 25% every year. Local government therefore hopes for more budget airlines to come to the island (now only USA3000 from Baltimore and some JetBlue Flights are available. Cruise ships are scape-goated for the decline in hotel stays. Compared to Caribbean destinations Bermuda is at least twice to five times as expensive for a similar product.
The principal language spoken is English, spoken with a distinctive accent not really similar to any other Caribbean country. Most people claim it resembles the Southern US in some cases. Portuguese is the second most widely spoken language. Violent crime is becoming increasingly problematic in Bermuda but is still very rare compared to other destinations in the Caribbean. Most crime is petty like robbery. Using common sense and similar precautions that one would take at home is usually sufficient enough to deter most thieves. Mopeds are very frequent targets for theft; make sure that you properly lock up any rented moped when leaving them unattended. When riding, do not place valuable items in the carry-basket unless they are secured - thieves have been known to ride next to tourists on mopeds and snatch purses and valuables. Also, rented mopeds have a tendency to get into accidents due to the sometimes narrow roads as well as driving on the left hand side, which may take getting used to. Using common sense and keeping calm in the traffic, which can appear quite close helps. Always lock your doors and windows before leaving your hotel or guest accommodation. Note that Bermuda has no right to concealed weapons except for government officers. In case of emergency Dial 911 for all emergencies, (fire, police, and medical) Although it should go without saying, Bermuda can get very hot during the day, so a bottle of water is very handy for those venturing more than a short distance from their hotels. Health care in Bermuda is incredibly expensive, and is roughly at American standards. There is one hospital on the island, the King Edward VII Memorial, with emergency services, including a decompression chamber. Air Ambulance service is available to additional medical services on the East Coast of the US. There is no government-funded National Health Service. As healthcare costs in Bermuda are quite expensive, it may be wise to purchase traveller's insurance through a travel website or cruise line depending on how long you choose to stay. Most agents will be able to say whether any healthcare costs will be deducted immediately or upon returning home. For minor issues or to purchase medication such as aspirin, stop by one of Bermuda’s many chain or independent pharmacy drug stores. Most are well-stocked, and are employed by friendly, knowledgeable pharmacists and staff who can assist with any questions. A well-known, reputable stop is The Phoenix Centre +1 (441) 279-5451 Be wary of coral, especially in Snorkel Park. as it is easy to cut yourself on the sharp edges. Purchasing sandals or water shoes from one of the island’s many tourist shops or bringing them from home may be a wise choice. Something else to be wary of is jellyfish. If stung, apply a solution to neutralize the poison (typically a meat tenderizer) or seek medical attention immediately if breathing or consciousness are affected. Because all drinking water in Bermuda is caught in tanks and neutralized by the lime rooftops of the houses and buildings, it is best to inquire with a hotel's manager or staff if the water is safe to drink. If unsure, never assume it is safe, as the different bacteria in the water can vary depending on where you are staying. The differences of bacteria in the water in Bermuda in comparison to the water tourists are used to drinking may also cause stomach issues. Boiling the water or purchasing water neutralizing tablets are two ways to ensure the water is safe to drink. It is considered good manners when greeting someone, a shop assistant or the Premier, to say "good morning", "good afternoon" or "good evening" and to do the same when leaving them. This applies even in situations where you are the customer, such as when catching the bus or entering a store. It is considered rude and abrupt to ask a question or make a statement without first greeting them. Try to avoid talking about politics or religion unless you know the person very well. Most Bermudians are very accommodating when it comes to helping out or answering any questions a visitor may have. Just stop someone on the street, or pop into any shop and ask. In Bermuda, it is common for a tip to be included in your bill, whether hotel or restaurant. However, in the event one is not, a 15% tip is customary. Make sure to tip taxi drivers 10%, or even more if the driver is transporting tourists from the beaches to elsewhere. It is not unheard of for drivers to turn passengers away if they are sandy or soaking wet. Also note that homosexuality is seen as taboo in public in Bermuda even if it is allowed by law in private. The local gay community exists on a more low-key scale than elsewhere, with no gay specific venues at this time.
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