| Picture: Image Bank |
THERE are a few things you need to know about Bermuda. The
official currency is the Bermuda dollar, though you’re more
likely to see US dollars, which have the same value and are
accepted everywhere.
Driving is on the left and the speed limit is a rather stately 20
miles per hour. There are no hire cars on the island, but
scooter-hire prices start at about $50 for half a day.
Taxis are expensive, but public transport is good and tourists can
buy transportation passes for unlimited travel by bus or ferry.
Prices start at $12 for adults and $6 for children for one
day.
The island is quite conservative. Bare midriffs are not tolerated
anywhere except on the beach and many clubs and bars have a dress
code – trainers are often off limits, although smart jeans
are generally acceptable.
Bermuda also offers plenty to keep visitors occupied, from unspoilt
sandy beaches to lively night life. Follow Travel Weekly’s guide to
get the most out of the island.
| Day one |
Water therapy
09:00: start the day with a bracing swim. Wherever
you are on Bermuda, you’re never more than a mile from a
beach. Tobacco Bay and Gates Bay, next to Fort St Catherine are
popular, but there are lots more and most will be deserted.
History lessons
10:00: Fort St Catherine, at the east end of the
island, was built in 1614. It has prisoner-of-war artefacts, a
ghost called George and its own collection of replica Crown Jewels.
Admission costs $5 for adults, $2 children.
By George
11:00: Bermuda’s former capital, St George,
with its colourful colonial buildings, is now a World Heritage
site. At the top of King Street is the State House, one of the
oldest standing stone structures in the western hemisphere, built
in 1620. It’s also possible to explore a replica of the ship,
Deliverance, which came to Bermuda in 1609 to rescue survivors
who’d been shipwrecked on their way to Virginia. Admission
costs $3 for adults and $1 children.
Duck for cover
11:45: line up just before 12pm on King’s
Square, St George, to witness the daily re-enactment of a local
‘nag and gossip’ being punished on the ducking stool.
Tony Blair and his family watched the spectacle during a visit last
summer.
Feeding time
12:30: Bermuda’s oldest pub, the White Horse Pub and
Restaurant, overlooking the sea, is a good choice for lunch.
Bermudan fish chowder laced with black rum and sherry pepper sauce
is an island speciality and every restaurant, including the White
Horse – which charges about $10 a bowl – will tell you
theirs is the best. For a more substantial meal, fish and chips
costs $17 and there’s also a selection of Atkins-friendly
low-carb dishes.
Crystal amaze
15:00: head south, stopping off at the Crystal
Caves, where stairways descend 120ft to a wonderland of
stalactites, stalagmites and crystal clear waters. Admission costs
$12 for adults, $7 children, or to see both Crystal Caves and
Fantasy Cave next door entry costs $18 for adults and $8 for
children. Nearby, Devil’s Hole Aquarium, on Harrington Sound
Road, is Bermuda’s oldest tourist attraction, where visitors
can feed the fish and turtles. Admission costs $10 for adults and
$5 for children. On Tuesday and Friday evenings the attraction runs
a buffet and tour from 6.30pm-9.30pm.
Rum with a punch
19:00: time for an evening tipple before dinner.
Rum Swizzle is Bermuda’s signature drink, made of strong
black rum and fruit juice and available everywhere. Also popular is
a Dark and Stormy, made of black rum and ginger beer. Expect to pay
$4-$6 each.
Some of the best restaurants on Bermuda are in its hotels. Waiters
will set your table on the beach so you can tuck into dinner with
the waves lapping at your feet. Good options are The Reefs or Surf
Side, both on South Shore Road. Alternatively, the Southampton
Princess’ restaurant, Whaler Inn, or the Café Lido at
Elbow Beach are right on the water.
| Day two |
The oldest swinger
09:30: ride your moped or take an early morning
cab into Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, via the Crow Lane
roundabout, where 80-year-old Johnny Barnes greets commuters every
weekday morning by blowing kisses and telling them he loves them.
After that, have a wander around Hamilton’s exclusive
designer boutiques and jewellery shops.
Alternatively, choose from one of Bermuda’s nine golf
courses. The Mid Ocean Golf Club is regarded as the best on the
island. A round there costs $200, while a cheaper option is the
Fairmont Southampton golf course, which charges $70.
Pub grub
12:30: take the ferry from Hamilton to the Royal Naval
Dockyard. This former working yard has been revamped into a
bustling centre of shops, an arts centre, craft market, cinema,
bars and restaurants. You can easily spend a whole afternoon here.
Two options for lunch are the Frog and Onion, which is popular with
tourists and has an English pub feel, or the Freeport Seafood
Restaurant, which serves local fare.
Animal magic
14:30: the Royal Naval Dockyard is also home to
Dolphin Quest, where 10 mammals, including Cirrus, Bailey and
19-month old Ely are waiting to swim with you. Prices start at
£95 per person for 10 minutes in the water or $150 per person
for 30 minutes. Nearby is Snorkel Park, an enclosed beach area with
great snorkelling opportunities.
Sound check
17:00: drive over Somerset Bridge, the smallest drawbridge
in the world, only wide enough to let through the mast of a
sailboat. Stop off at Scaur Hill Fort and Park, the best place to
view Great Sound (the stretch of bay between the fort and Hamilton)
and the Royal Naval Dockyard.
Pampering time
18:00: most of Bermuda’s hotels either
already have a spa or are currently building one – the island
is keen to set itself up as a major spa destination. At Elbow Beach
a two-hour Time Rituals spa treatment, including massage and facial
costs $320 per person.
Night fever
19:30: for a night on the town, Hamilton is the
place to go, with most bars, restaurants and clubs in and around
Front Street, the main road.
The Lobster Pot is a reasonably priced seafood restaurant with a
laid-back atmosphere, where fish chowder costs $5.50.
The Beach Bar has live music, no dress code and free entry, while
Docksiders has big-screen TVs which show US and British sports.
Bermuda’s newest nightclub, Splash, opened in November, while
Ozone is an old favourite. Entrance to both is around $15. Another
local favourite is open-air club Blue Juice. Admission is free.
