Travel

[bargainsgirl]

Who had been and can you offer any advice as to what part is best, what to see, where to stay and is a 4 night stay enough time to visit?  Thanks!

[Effie54]

I've been there twice years ago. Hamilton was lovely...Elbow Beach amazing! St. George is historical and interesting. Four days is enough. It's a very small island, and when we went, there wasn't much shopping on it. The beaches are very nice, but it depends how long you want to stay. Prices are very expensive! There are a lot of fun to do there; we took a submarine dive, a cruise at night, to name a couple of things. It's been quite a while, but I remember it is being quite lovely.

[1Snickers]

@bargainsgirl  We were on a cruise ship so I don't know about hotels. 
  The perfume factory there makes an Orleander scent that I still use after many years. There is a tour of the factory. There are caves also. Four days is plenty. 
 CAUTION! Watch out for motorcycles! A girl on the cruise rented one and was hit on a curvy road. It's scary because they drive on the opposite side of the road like England. 
         ⚠️ 🛑‼️🛵

[ritasNo1Fan]

I too was on a cruise and Bermuda was part of the tour.  I believe we were there two nights, three days.  It is really an interesting place.  So much different than I expected.  We went on a tour by boat all around the island.  Also a guided tour of a historical science museum.  And I walked as much as I could manage (in the heat) all through the main area by myself.   Very British.  Popped into the City Hall to use the loo and was greeted by a huge portrait of the Queen.  There is even a Marks and Spencers store there.  And a fully packed book store.  Plus duty free shopping near the docks.  Bought some fragrance and CLARINS.  Much cheaper than the states at that time.  Very enjoyable and beautiful place.  I thought it was going to be like Nassau but I was thoroughly mistaken.

[ciao_bella]

While I can't offer any recommendations for hotels in Bermuda because when my husband and I went, we stayed with friends who have a house there.  At the time, the husband (USA citizen)  worked for the US Naval shipyard as a pipefitter.   

He and his wife took us to both Hamilton and St. George and to all the little unknown places.  Loved going to the Swizzle Inn, which is known as the first place to make that lucious drink, the 'Rum Swizzle".  

We were much younger when we visited and found that renting motorscooters was the way to go to see the entire island.  For some crazy reason, when I think of islands I think flat landscape.  Not so in Bermuda.  Loved the small hilly like areas that had wild roses growing along the side of the road and big, beautiful lily pad ponds all throughout the island.  Just a lovely place to visit!   

Just an interesting fact that most people don't know about transportation in Bermuda.  It's hugely expensive to own a car or other vehicle there.  And, there is a 'Rust Rule' by the government that you can't use a vehicle if any rust is on it.  It must be fixed and/or covered with paint before it is allowed to be used there.   

[kaydee50]

Years ago we stayed at the Rosedon in Hamilton.  They had a free shuttle to Elbow Beach.  Another time we stayed at the Hamilton Princess which had a free shuttle to the Southhampton Princess and their beach.   I remember both as being very nice.  

Recently, we were there on a cruise which docked in Hamilton.  There were a fair amount of public buses and of course tours.  I would recommend a cruise around the harbor.

Other than that can't remember too much.   4 nights IMO is enough.  As others have said it is very expensive and very British.

Enjoy!

[FancyPhillyshopper]

I love the soft pink sand beaches of Bermuda.

I have been there several times on cruises.  

I prefer more traditional, quirky, old world hotels. Hotels can be quite costly, which is why we usually cruise.

I would have liked to have gone to stay at the luxurious Elbow Beach hotel, but unfortunately it closed down due to the pandemic. I would also like to stay at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort.  

Bermuda can be VERY expensive and it is not overly warm until the Summer.  It is a very beautiful, clean and safe island, popular with golfers.  

We went snorkeling in the Bermuda triangle area and saw two shipwrecks!

Have a great trip!

[Enufstuff]

@bargainsgirl    Bermuda has been one of my favorite vacation

   places, since the 70's. I have been there 15 times.

    It is a beautiful island with gorgeous turquoise water and pink sand beaches. The beaches on the south shore are the most popular and the sand is pink. Horse Shoe Bay Beach and Elbow Beach are the nicest on the south shore.

  Unfortunately, Elbow Beach Hotel and The Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel have been closed since Covid.

  We have stayed at both many times. They were lovely and elegant.

   The only all inclusive hotel is Grotto Bay. It is the most economical. It is nice and smaller than our other two favorites.

All meals are included as are drinks and a transportation pass

and use of kayaks and some other water equipment. The Crystal Caves and the famous Swizzle Inn are walking distance

from the Grotto Bay Hotel.

  The food has always been good there and there are three restaurants to choose from. Grotto Bay has a small beach and

it is five minutes from the airport. It has a bus stop in front of the hotel. Bus or taxi is the way to go. It is too dangerous to rent a moped these days. Not like the old days, when people

observed the speed limits and now there is too much traffic also.

  The Bermuda people are lovely. But in recent years, I have seen some changes. Some younger people in town, I noticed

are like young people here, glued to their phones. They are not as attentive or as accommodating to tourists as the older generation are. Some have an attitude toward tourists.

   We have always flown from Boston and have never taken the cruise. From the east coast, you are there in about 1 hour and

forty minutes. We always arrive in time for lunch.

   Since Covid and the two large hotels closed, it has really affected the economy of the island. There is much unemployment and many of the stores in Hamilton have closed

for lack of customers. They stopped flights from Boston since the Princess closed and Covid. I don't know if they brought the

flights back yet.

   St. George is the old capitol and is a quaint little town with

much history. The Crystal Caves are interesting to see as is the

Lili Perfume Factory in St. George and cute little shops in St. George.

   If you are not a beach person, people go to Bermuda in winter for shopping and golf. Hotel rates change with the seasons. Winter

is about 50 degrees and hotel rates are the lowest then.

    I like going in March or April because it can be in the 70's and hotel rates don't go up until May 1st, which starts the high

season. August is too hot unless you like heat and humidity.

   October is a nice time to go also. If you fly during a school vacation week, plane fairs will be higher.

   Before Covid, There was Dolphin Quest at the Dockyard and

also shops and restaurants. There are also nice restaurants in

Hamilton and St. George.

   We have not been there since Covid, so I'm don't know exactly what is still open.

   I occasionally read the Bermuda Royal Gazette online, to see what is happening on the island. It is very expensive to live there and a lot of people have left the island. There is a lack of job opportunities.  Taxi drivers relied on tourists and the Southampton Princess employed ove 500 people. So there are fewer tourists.

  The cruise ship tourists are a loss to the hotels and restaurants. Some of the new high end hotels are really expensive to stay at. Everything is pricey in Bermuda.

  A four day stay is good to do some of the sightseeing and

visiting highlights. There is a small zoo and aquarium and

Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. There is also the BUI underwater museum.

  Since the 70's one of our favorite places to have lunch in Hamilton is the Hog Penny Pub. This quaint pub is the oldest pub on the island and was the inspiration for the TV show Cheers. They have the best fish & chips and a full menu.

  You can go online to Bermuda Tourism and see what some of the hotels and beaches look like and see things to do.

  With the Princess closed, I would stay at Grotto Bay again.

If they bring back the direct flight from Boston, I would go again. We made a couple of friends there. When you stay on the island rather than a ship, you get to know the island and the people.

 I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have. I know a shop in Hamilton to get the best prices on gifts and souveniers. There are also some nice jewelry stores.

  Even with some shops closed, it is a beautiful place to see.

[Enufstuff]

@FancyPhillyshopper    If you get a chance to fly to Bermuda,

Grotto Bay is the only all inclusive hotel. If you request the all

inclusive package, you get all your meals and drinks, a transportation pass and use of kayaks and water equipment.

There are three restaurants to choose from and the food was

always very good. Plus Grotto Bay is 5 minutes from the airport, but you do not hear the planes.

  It is smaller and more personal than The Elbow Beach Hotel

or the Southampton Princess which are now closed, since Covid. I loved staying at both hotels and they were elegant.

I have been to Bermuda 15 times and have never taken the cruise.

I love the island so much, I want to get there in 1 hour and 40 min. I like going in March or April, you get beach weather and rates go up May 1st. August is very hot and humid, if you like that.

 You get more of the island experience if you stay on the island. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have

about Bermuda.

[Enufstuff]

@FancyPhillyshopper @bargainsgirl 

    Hi Ladies, I'm back to let you know that Bermuda Tourism is

offering its annual Pink Sale. It is normally offered for about 5 weeks in December and January.

   This year, they have extended the offer through February 28th.

In the recent years, we have taken advantage of this offer.

It must be booked by Feb28th and you must travel withing the year.

  Grotto Bay Beach Resort is offering 50% off their rooms. This is the only all inclusive hotel on the island. We have stayed there several times and the people there are lovely. It is

not as fancy as the Princess Hotels or Elbow Beach had been. It is a convenient location, just minutes from the airport. Meals

were always very good.

  Ask about the all inclusive package, it is well worth it.

I looked at the other more expensive hotels and they are offering

20%-30% off room rates. Be aware that each hotel has resort fees and daily taxes. Gratuities for staff are included also in charges.

  We need two rooms, so we try to book during the Pink Sale.

50% off is a great savings, since Bermuda is so expensive.

   You can contact each hotel for booking or go through a travel

agent. Until they bring the Boston to Bermuda flight back, we

won't be taking the trip this year. From the east coast, we fly after breakfast and arrive in Bermuda for lunch. It is less than two hours away.

   Check out the Bermuda Tourism website and the hotel websites. My children and I love Bermuda so much. I always say, "The saddest day in Bermuda is the day you have to leave to go home." It is so beautiful.

   By the way, I checked Bermuda weather a couple of days ago

and it was 70 degrees. I'll take that over the subfreezing Boston

weather that  we are having.

   If you want to go during the warmest weather before hotel rates go up on May 1st, go in April. It is also less expensive to fly midweek, rather than on a weekend. Keep in mind that some businesses and shops there are closed on Sundays.