Bermuda for Beginners
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We have designed this page to give new tourists a brief introduction to Bermuda. We are delighted that you are considering Bermuda as a location for your upcoming trip!
Bermuda Accommodations Inc. has provided a variety of options for vacation rental accommodations for the last 20 years, and we pride ourselves on providing personal and efficient service. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to e-mail us (info@bermudarentals.com) or give us a call at 1-416-232-2243. We are open every day of the year: we want you to come visit with us and make all of your future bookings with us as well!
Please take a look at the following article, which is divided into useful subsections:
Introduction to Bermuda
Bermuda is a gorgeous holiday destination and is close to the Eastern seaboard (only an hour and 15 minutes by air from New York City). Most flights to Bermuda from the East Coast of the U.S are less than two hours in duration. In fact, flights from Europe (London) are less than 6 hours long. Bermuda is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard (or Daylight) time.
Bermuda is in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 miles off the coast of South Carolina. The island is famous for its astounding geography: green hills and lush valleys, and flawless pink and white sand beaches. You will have an array of activities available: snorkelling in water of unparalleled clarity, diving off the protective reefs that surround the island (and the multitude of ships that have been claimed by those reefs), and golf on complex professional courses. Furthermore, boating, fishing and tennis, parasailing, guided tours, hiking, and cave exploring are great ways to fill your days on the island. See our “For Your Information” section on the home page for further information.
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Arrival
During the flight to Bermuda you will receive both Immigration and Customs forms. Please fill in the complete address of the unit you are renting including the name of the homeowner, which you will find in the letter of receipt or the lease we will have provided to you. If you are bringing any meat or foodstuffs, list the value as a single sum under the “Miscellaneous” section of the Customs form: you may have to pay a little duty on it.
Before you get your bags, go to the cashier or one of the automated Customs machines (they don’t always work!) and pay your duty if applicable. After you have your bags, show the receipt to the Customs Inspector and explain that you will consume all the food on island and are not bringing anything for anyone else. Do not try to bring in any form of seafood or fresh produce: these things are banned because they have been the unwitting hosts in the past of insects and disease that have done incalculable damage to the fragile and utterly unique fauna and flora of the island. Please don’t try and sneak anything in. Every delicious thing is available in Bermuda: Bermudians live and eat exceptionally well, at a multitude of astoundingly well provisioned food emporiums and restaurants.
On the way from the airport, you may want your taxi to stop at the nearest grocery store to your lodging to pick up perishable items such as milk, bread, eggs, fruits and vegetables, or other essentials. If you are part of a larger group staying at one of our houses, dropping off one guest at the grocery store with the shopping list while the taxi driver takes the rest of the group “home” to unload, with the driver returning in an empty taxi to collect the shopper and the delectables is perhaps a better use of the metered taxi drivers service and time, not to mention your wallet! Have the driver stop off as well at the local post office if you are planning to use a bus and ferry pass as your primary transportation option. The bus-ferry schedule is one of the useful links in our “For Your Information” section on our home page.
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Beaches
Relaxing at John Smiths Bay
The South Shore coastline includes fabled beaches from the incomparable collection at Coopers Island in St.Georges, to Church Bay out in Southampton. In between you will find breath-takingly beautiful beaches like John Smiths Bay, Elbow Beach, and Stonehole Bay and Jobson’s Cove sandwiched between Horseshoe Bay and Warwick Long Bay. The sands are so soft and pink that you almost wish for snowshoes to cross them- you sink deep into the tiny pink coral grains. The North Shore coastline offers up its own jewels for swimming: tranquil waters of colours of green, turquoise and indigo, lapping gently at quiet crescents of sand like Tobacco Bay and Shelly Bay. A drive up the North Shore coast is not to be missed: fine old homesteads, pretty shops and a view over the ocean that often includes sailing ships as well as ocean liners.
Parks flank many of the coastal beaches. In Bermuda most of the beaches are publicly owned and easily accessed.
Once the less prudent tourists have staggered off the beach in search of lotions to soothe their red roasted hides and darkened rooms to ease their pounding headaches, the locals perkily appear with picnic baskets, oversized sheets (so much better than towels), coolers and a barbecue to busily set up for dinner with family on the shore. The sunset is almost immediate: the sky turns from brilliant hues to dark blue velvet, and the stars have that 3 dimensional effect of being layered and almost within reach. If you have moonlight, so much the better, especially if you have thoughtfully brought someone with you to enjoy that hammered silvery surf extending from the shore to the horizon. The air is so soft and warm, parties tend to commence later in the evening when it cools off a bit. Have a nap before dinner. The night air is heavy with the fragrance of flowers, rich earth, and greenery.
If you can drag yourself out of bed at dawn, you will hear unusual birdsong and see the sun rise over the ocean, always a breathtaking sight. I like it best when the sky and the sea are the same rosy golden colour. If you can get over to the beach you love best, there will be no footsteps upon it but your own: that’s always a special thrill.
Have a look at our collection of photographs of beaches and nature attractions: Beaches and Nature Attractions Photo Gallery . Taken by our photographers and by our clients, the pictures give a great impression of the lush sands and turquoise waters of Bermuda!
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National Parks & Native Flora and Fauna
Spittal Pond nature reserve on the South Coast in Smiths Parish has native plant species, a freshwater marsh, and if you clamber up the rocks to look out to sea, a thoughtful vista of relentless waves crashing onto the shoreline, accompanied by the freshest cleanest breezes. The coral and limestone stately headlands are perforated with rock pools and filled with wildlife (no snakes or anything scary, I hasten to add) with seabirds hovering and swooping over the ocean. With riotously coloured parrot fish hanging all but motionless in the curling breaking waves, your day will be complete. Those huge fish with the tiny mouths for feeding on algae on the rocks are a thrill to see.
Coopers Island Nature Reserve
Coopers Island Nature Reserve is a new park opened to the public in the last few years. Part of the land leased by the British to the US military for consideration in World War II, the old NASA tracking facility from the 1960′s is now closed. The remnants are being removed to reveal a 77-acre paradise of native plants, astoundingly lovely coves and flawless beaches upon which loggerhead turtles still come to find a safe haven for their babies. No bikes, taxis or concession stands are allowed here: you lock up your moped and walk in from the main gate near Clearwater Beach, with your picnic, water bottles and thermoses and camera to enjoy the unparalleled views down the South Shore coast and north towards St. David’s. Please take your garbage with you when you leave. If a hike around Cooper’s Island sounds ideal to you, there is a superb book on hiking locally available as a link on my website. It is well worth the small investment to see mangrove marshes, collections of rare botanical specimens, marvellous caves with millions of year old stalagmites and stalactites. Bring your most comfortable shoes, no matter how ugly. We want you to see it all, with no blisters- just big smiles.
The most famous of Bermuda’s native birds (the Cahows- Bermuda Petrel, Pterodroma cahow) live in their last bastion on earth, on a protected tiny island out by Castle Harbour; see if you can arrange to go and view them by phoning the Bermuda Conservation Office who may be able to arrange a viewing from an non-intrusive distance. Their re-discovery after centuries of being apparently “extinct” is a wonderful story: see more information on the Bermuda Audubon society in the “For Your Information” section of our website. The Longtails (White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus,) are another marvel to see: they glide on the ocean breezes, swooping and diving to feed their chicks in nests safely ensconced in the sheerest cliff faces they can find.
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Excursions and Attractions
Visitors return time and again to see new and marvellous things. Take a glass bottom boat and have a peek at the reefs, or go scuba diving or snorkelling: have a look at our “For Your Information” section to book an excursion. There is deep sea fishing and gorgeous yachts that will take you out for a sail during the day or evening. The Bermuda National Trust has a collection of stately homes, warehouses and hotels, with bookstores & gift shops that augment their truly extraordinary museum properties. Most visitors are unaware of how pivotal Bermuda was to the establishment of the American colonies, European military strategic positioning and the development of Caribbean and South American trade routes.
The Commissioners House at Dockyard
If you should have a rainy day, book a cab driver and ask him to take you to the haunts and vantage points of the North and the South Shore that only the locals frequent: perhaps a little roadside cafe for a culinary specialty that you’ll see nowhere else. Taxis can be hired on an hourly rate and with up to 6 people you can drive up to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and all over the island to see unexpected views and rainbows between the showers. Another must-see is a view of Dockyard from the top of the Commissioner’s House. You will be able to see from one end of the island to the other, sweeping along the North Shore coast. Your children will delight in the flock of little goats keeping the grass neat with their bells tinkling prettily below you, as well as the gold treasure from wrecked Spanish galleons. At Dockyard there are also leaping dolphins and the snorkel park where you can have a beer and a sandwich while they play happily in the quiet waters.
Gibbs Hill lighthouse has a new cafe where the views are spectacular. Take your mopeds along the Railway Trail (you will find it clearly marked on the maps of Bermuda). On the Railway Trail you will see parts of old Bermuda most visitors will never happen across: handsome solid stone farmsteads, fields of vegetables and flowers.
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Bermudian Culture
Bermudians pride themselves on their hospitality. My father never drove past tourists waiting for the bus without stopping and offering a lift into town or wherever he was going. It is a tradition my brother and my sister and many other good folks carry on to this day. People say “good morning” and greet one another constantly, which make a cacophony of car beeps and waves as you bumble along the narrow streets at the proscribed 20 mph speed limit. Being rude or slovenly is frowned upon. Take a jacket and a tie in your pocket for higher end night-time dining: locals dress more formally. Service is fantastic and food is uniformly excellent. Tips of 15% are added to the bill before you even get it, but be sure to reward exceptional service.
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Transportation
An important note about taking taxis in Bermuda: When you are not using one of our few recommended drivers (contact information available from us, upon booking), it is important that the taxi driver uses his/her meter while driving you. Extra baggage charges should be determined before you depart. Confirming that the meter is running, and extra charges are discussed beforehand, will ensure you are not unpleasantly surprised upon arrival.
Gratuities are added on top of the metered fare, and are decided using your own discretion.
Rental cars are not available for tourists in Bermuda. However transportation on the island is easy to arrange via taxi, bus, ferry or moped. The Bermudian dollar is equal in value to the U.S. dollar and is used interchangeably. There are ATMs on the island, often located in markets, stores and banks. Recent changes in Bermuda law require a valid passport for travel to Bermuda, as well as visas for some nationals.
Be aware when walking that Bermuda’s roadways do not have a legal allowance for sidewalks. This means that you must walk single file and facing traffic, taking particular care when you go round corners flanked with towering hedges. If your children are too young to walk independently and in reliably in single file, strap them into a collapsible stroller for peace of mind. Better yet, use buses to get where you need to go and save your walking exercise for more relaxing areas such as the many parks and beaches. Bermuda has rush hours like everywhere else so avoid traveling at that time and let the workers zip off to their offices while you cavort happily elsewhere. I do not recommend pedal bikes personally: there is a lot of traffic and the island is surprisingly hilly. In the summer months the humidity is high. It is an awful lot of work to propel yourself anywhere worthy while uneasily wondering how many cars behind you are chafing at the delay. Rent a moped if you feel truly comfortable on them, or use the bus-ferry system or a cab driver to get you where you want to be.
Tips on the mopeds: I drive a car here in Canada and when I go home to Bermuda to visit the family and hop aboard the mopeds I have been riding since 1969, I have a fail safe way of ensuring I am always driving on the correct side of the road. I pull out of the driveway and adjust my mirrors, sunglasses, helmet etc. all while waiting for a local person in a car or truck to drive by. I pull in behind them, no thinking required as they always know which side of the road to be on. Otherwise the problem is approaching a tight corner with no one in front of you and finding yourself suddenly unsure what side of the road you are supposed to be on. Night time is for taxis: spring for them, and enjoy your wine with dinner without a worry about getting home safely.
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Golf
The Port Royal Golf Course is a lovely and challenging public course which has just had a multi-million dollar makeover and has been host to an important PGA tournament. Easy it is not, so be prepared to lose a few golf balls. Call ahead and reserve a tee time. The Club also has a great restaurant and good tennis courts. See the list of phone numbers to all the major courses (Mid Ocean golf Club, Riddell’s Bay, The Fairmount Southampton Golf Club, Belmont Hills Golf Club, Ocean View, and Tuckers Point) in our “For Your Information”section on the homepage. Sometimes a call the night before will reveal a last minute tee time slot at one of these superb clubs.
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Duty Free & Groceries
Good liquor shops abound in Bermuda: Gosling’s has been in business since 1806. Wine, beer or spirits are not cheap, but liquor stores and grocery shops carry every delicacy you can imagine, from all around the world. In Smiths Parish, Harrington Hundreds is renowned. In the Central Parishes, Miles Supermarket has a line up second to none. Lindos and other markets are happy to provide you with every delicacy. The local grocery stores roadside often sell delicious little specialties made in house as well to replenish your picnic hamper. Crow Lane scones are to die for. So are Specialty Inn cheeseburgers, with iguana poppers on the side.
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Dining
There are many restaurants of all styles around the island. Hamilton is the main town and in the centre of the island. Little Venice, The Pickled Onion, The Lobster Pot, and The Hog Penny are all great. See Preview Magazine, This Week in Bermuda, and Bermynet.com for new hot spots which are opening up all the time. Henry the Eighth Pub is on the South Shore road near Horseshoe Bay and has excellent food and live music one or two nights a week. If you are at Horseshoe Bay, the Reefs Hotel and Blu at Belmont are good options too. The Swizzle Inn has opened a branch on the South Shore as well for all their local supporters, going back 50 years plus. In Somerset there are waterside spots, the Country Squire Inn, and Salt Rock: both are informal and fun. The Waterlot Inn and Fourways Inn are justifiably famous for their fine cuisine. Cambridge Beaches has a casual beach bar and restaurant as well as good formal dining. Many of the better restaurants in Bermuda require a reservation, and that gentlemen wear jackets in the evening.
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Weather
It rains suddenly, torrentially and briefly in Bermuda: you might want to carry a raincoat or poncho that rolls up into a tennis ball sized package. The rain-shower will probably be over by the time you fight yourself into it over your helmet, to the helpless laughter from your companions. But I digress… Another recommendation is to be sure to take some nice soft earplugs because the “night life” in Bermuda includes a million tiny singing frogs and crickets that come out after sundown to regale you with an account of their day. Some people find it so unusual it takes a while to get used to it. The sound of the waves sighing on the shore is never a problem. On the other hand, you can buy a CD of both these sounds at the MusicBox at 56 Reid Street in Hamilton (295-4839).
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From West, to East
To see Spanish treasures go to Dockyard. These precious artifacts were found by Teddy Tucker in 1955 (Article at BerNews, here) and more by Harry Cox in waters less than 24 feet deep in 1968. Nearby is Flatts Village with excellent places to dine and cute shops. Flatts Village features the Aquarium and zoo, in a lovely little 1926 building situated on the bridge access to Harrington Sound and the tidal inlet that leads to the North shore and the open ocean. In the Aquarium not only will you delight in floor to ceiling fish tanks, but also a small zoo that little children particularly enjoy and a fascinating display showing the geological history of the island.
Along Front Street in the City of Hamilton, there are some very handsome high end clothing shops, as well as places for china, jewellery, and other luxury goods. The street market called “Harbour Nights” is held on Front Street from May to October on Wednesday nights and showcases local talents with everything from art to local cuisine. Do try a traditional Bermuda codfish and banana breakfast served only on Sundays. Delicious!
Front St. in the City of Hamilton
St. Georges, the original capital was founded in 1612. The town is a snapshot of village life in the 1600’s and 1700’s when Bermuda was a sea trading set of industrious enterprises including piracy. The brilliantly preserved architecture, street layout and ambiance will charm you. Museums, shops and the magnificent St. Peter’s church is a testament to the art of shipbuilding. The nearby ocean facing heavily armed forts only underscore how important Bermuda was in a time of powerful maritime interests.
St. Peters Church, St.Georges
If you are interested in art, flowers, local cookery, or historical photographs and books on the island as it has a history that goes back 400 plus years. Go to the “For Your Information” section on our main page. The best bookstore is at the corner of Front Street near the Perot’s Post Office with picture books, history, local cook books and all your magazines and light reading available for you to peruse.
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A Note on Housekeeping
Finally, Bermuda’s salt air and usual sunshine is delightful, but destructive of all materials. Here, a house is like a boat in the water. Our homeowners work very hard to keep our homes in good repair, but sometimes there can be a window or door that does not shut perfectly, or open easily. Wet towels, swim suits and the like do not tend to dry well indoors in Bermuda’s often humid air. Place them outdoors on a terrace chair or railing in the sun to dry. Humidity and dampness are a part of life by the sea, and as a result Bermudians have a problem with mildew. You can help us by keeping the doors and windows shut when it is rainy. Please keep outdoor chair cushions covered overnight and when otherwise not in use to protect them from rain and the bleaching effects of the sun.
Part of island life is the flora and fauna that we are used to living with. The houses are, in effect, in the countryside and not in a city. A few ants can be expected, especially during a particularly dry summer, and avoiding spills of drinks and cleaning up food will minimize any invasion. Lizards and frogs abound and are completely harmless. Like the sea turtles, they are far more afraid of you.
Bermuda’s off-island call charges by cell phone or landline are very high. If you wish to make a telephone call off island on one of our telephones, please always use a telephone calling card or a call back service such as UWT. This can be set up before your departure to Bermuda at www.uwtcallbackservice.com. House numbers all have a 441 area code.
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Ecological Concerns
Although Bermuda is surrounded by water, fresh water is the island’s most precious resource. The only regular source of fresh water is collected from rain on the roof of each house which flows into large tanks. In short, preserve it. That means limit toilet flushing, take very quick showers, turn off the water when brushing teeth and wash dishes promptly, leaving to air dry.
We ask that you treat our properties as you would your own, leaving the house as you found it.
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Your Escape To Bermuda
The thing about Bermuda is that it is so much more than just cocktails, pubs, shopping, hotels and delicious meals. It is ancient stone buildings of enormous character, exquisite silver and classic antique furniture built of the indigenous Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana), towering clouds at sunset and dawn, starry skies that will leave you breathless, moon rises that turn the ocean to beaten silver, and dawns of rose and gold. Bermuda is filled with flowers that laden the hedges and gardens, trees and lawns in a profusion of colour and perfume to gladden and lighten any heart, and colours in the ocean that are beyond anything you have seen before in terms of vividness and clarity.
It is clear that there is enough to see and do to justify a return visit trip soon after your initial foray. Perhaps you would like to bring friends or extended family with you next time. We will be here with the perfect apartment, cottage or villa at the right price in the right location. We also offer hotel services as well for those who feel that, all things considered, they really deserve some exceptional pampering this time. The island is a great place to escape from winter, with exceptionally attractive rates in the off season, and locals who are always charmed to see you again. For a comprehensive compendium on all things Bermudian, please visit www.bermuda-online.org .
When you return from your vacation, please send me your best photos and your top suggestions for inclusion here on our introduction to Bermuda.
Happy travels!
Fiona T. Campbell
President, Bermuda Accommodations Inc.
416-232-2243
Fiona@bermudarentals.com
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