Find Your Beach Paradise and More in Bermuda
Bermuda’s South Side Beach
Image | Susan Brown
Do you live on the East Coast of the United States of America and are desperate to get away for a beach vacation? There is a gem of a country only a couple of hours from the East coast that is waiting to wow you! That gem is the British island territory of Bermuda, and it is easy to fly to only a couple of hours by plane from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Miami.
2020 and the first half of 2021 has been a write-off for most leisure travel as governments, people and businesses try to get their heads around vaccination rates, variants and how to adapt travel rules in Covid times. Whilst many of us are desperate to recommence international travel, Covid-19 is likely to cast a shadow for a while longer, both in terms of people’s confidence and willingness to travel as well as trying to keep on top of which countries are open to travelers without quarantine periods.
When I’m not guiding travelers in Scotland, I spend extended vacations in Bermuda where my partner lives. I can strongly vouch for the island, the people, and the lifestyle. Here’s the lowdown on what life is like in Bermuda for the traveler and why you should feel confident about traveling there.
Elys Harbour
Image | Susan Brown
Many people think that Bermuda is a single island in the Caribbean, but it’s actually an archipelago a fair way north of that—roughly 650 miles due east of Charleston, South Carolina. It’s comprised of 181 islands, nine of which are connected by bridges, including the main island which is also named Bermuda.
A rocky outcrop in the Mid-Atlantic, it occupies only 21 square miles and has a population of roughly 70,000 people. It’s surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters and has a temperate winter climate where temperatures usually range from 70F-80F (November through April). As summer approaches, both temperatures and humidity gradually rise and peak in the 90s Fahrenheit from July to late September. As a British Overseas Territory, it has a certain old world charm to it, as can be seen in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Town of St Georges and the Royal Naval Dockyard at the other end of the island.
St Peter’s Church in the historic town of St Georges
Image | Susan Brown
In managing Covid-19, Bermuda had a great track record until 6 months into the pandemic, when cases began to rise. A few tough months followed, but Bermuda’s transmissions have now been designated as “sporadic cases” by the World Health Organisation (as of June 20th, 2021). The CDC currently has Bermuda listed in the “Level 2 - Moderate” category. For those who are interested in statistics, there have been 33 deaths and 2499 confirmed cases.
At the beginning of the outbreak, Bermuda quickly put in place a comprehensive arrivals testing regime in place for visitors and returning residents. This system has instilled confidence locally and protects both travelers and residents.
This is how it works if you are fully vaccinated:
Non-residents need to have travel health insurance, a negative pre-arrival Covid-19 test taken within three calendar days of your arrival date, and must also request a Travel Authorisation on the Bermuda government website. There is a fee for the travel authorisation which covers the cost of your Covid tests once on Bermudian soil.
Your documents will be checked upon arrival in Bermuda, and you will receive a nasal swab test—this is known as the Day Zero test. The nasal swabs are a little uncomfortable but over in 20 seconds! At this point, if you are not vaccinated, you will need to quarantine in a government-mandated hotel at your own expense for 14 days. Mandated hotels start at $200 per night.
Vaccinated travelers will be asked to self-isolate in your hotel or accommodation until you get your test results, which is usually within 12-24 hours. Depending on the length of your stay, you will also need to go to a central testing site in the city of Hamilton and be retested on days 4, 8, and 14 of your stay. Whilst you are on island, you will need to follow local regulations in force at the time of your visit relating to mask wearing and social distancing. Apart from that, you can get on with your holiday as normal. Just remember to say “good morning” to the locals. They’re incredibly friendly, and it’s good form to show good manners.
Somerset Village
Image | Brandon Morrison, Pexels
So why should you travel to Bermuda?
It may be small, but it packs a punch whether you are staying for a long weekend, a week or maybe even longer. It has great golf courses and a huge selection of beaches. The Railway Trail is a scenic stretch of 18 miles (broken into various segments) that you can walk or bike, and it’s officially designated as a national park. Dating back to 1612, the aforementioned UNESCO-designated town of St George is one of the earliest examples of English colonial settlement, and its fortifications (1600s-1900s) exemplify English military engineering .
Railway Trail at Bailer’s Bay
Image | Susan Brown
Across the island, you’ll find a wide selection of eateries to suit any taste and budget. You can choose to stay in a hotel or one of the many vacation rental properties. If you wish to visit in winter, there is usually a “Pink Sale” which the hotels take part in for stays in January to March—traditionally a quieter, cooler and slightly wetter time on the island.
Here are some hotels, self-catering and Airbnb-style establishments to look out for by area.:
HAMILTON - Hamilton Princess, Royal Palms Hotel and Newstead Belmont Hills & Golf Resort (a short ferry ride across the harbour from the town centre)
SPANISH POINT NEAR HAMILTON - Lemon & Ginger Vacation Rentals - run by the effervescent Jenita whose enthusiasm for life is infectious, especially if you go on one of her wonderful explorations of the island
EAST END - Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa which is close to the airport with water sports on site and easy access to The Railway Trail walking route. There is also a new hotel, part of Marriott, called the St Regis, which has just opened at Fort St Catherines near St George’s.
SOUTH SHORE - Many of the best beaches are here. The new kid on the block is the Azura, but there are also others like The Reefs and Pompano Beach Club which have spectacular sea views and their own beaches and golf courses or tennis courts on site or within 10 minutes drive.
WEST END - My favourite is Ledgelets Cottage Colony, where I stayed in the pool house in 2015 and will rave about it to anyone who cares to listen! Cambridge Beaches Hotel is perfect for couples looking to chill out or much closer to Dockyard, you have Prince Alfred Self Catering Apartments, but you will probably need to rent transport if staying at these two as public transport is less frequent than other areas of the island.
Where to Stay if Budget Is Not an Issue - The Loren, Rosewood Bermuda or any number of self catering vacation rentals dotted across the island including the beautiful Hawkins Island which I always admire when we pass in the boat!
Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda
Image | Reilly Durfey
If you like water sports, you have your choice of motor- and wind-based activities, stand-up paddle boarding, and for those who wish to see first-hand what lies below the surface, snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities abound. Blue Water Divers at Somerset Bridge and Dive Bermuda are some of the great companies that you can explore with.
If you want to explore on land, head to Walsingham Nature Reserve, near Grotto Bay Hotel. You can take a walk through the woods, explore the shoreline and sea, seek out the inland blue lagoons, and look for the caves with stalactites and stalagmites with cold pools of water that you can swim in. Another great option is to explore Admiralty House Park on the North Shore. You can dive off the cliffs, come up through a stairway in the caves, or chill out at a lovely beach in a sheltered bay.
One of my favourite places to go is Cooper’s Island which is in the east, just past the end of the airport. Although called an island, it is linked by a causeway at the end of the airport runway. There are numerous beaches on all sides of the island, which is shaped a bit like a holly leaf. The first beaches that you come to are Clearwater Beach and Turtle Beach, which have some lifesaving cover in summer. You then pass numerous other beaches as you walk out to the end of the island. There you’ll find a small tower which you can climb to survey the seas and look out to Nonsuch Island, home to protected Cahow birds which are the second rarest seabird on the planet. No matter which side the weather is coming from, you can find a calm beach to sit on and savor the moment.
In terms of getting around, you can use the local bus service, taxis, hire a scooter or rent an electric vehicle for two people—just remember, they drive on the left here (left is right, right is wrong!). You could also hire a boat and head out on the water to one of the sheltered bays, or splurge for a locally crewed yacht (as one does) whilst you relax.
I would love to say I live it up whilst in Bermuda, but having champagne tastes on a beer budget is not ideal, so I tend to explore on land and underwater and live a fairly quiet life. To give you an indication of costs for groceries, plan on spending from $5 for a loaf of bread and about $15 for a piece of sirloin steak. A bag of carrots is $7, a bag of satsuma oranges is $9, and a reasonable bottle of wine runs upwards of $20.
One last enticing offer being extended by Bermuda in times of Covid, is a one-year Work from Bermuda Certificate, also referred to as a Digital Nomad visa that you can apply for at the moment. If you are a smart-worker and ready for a little tropical bliss on the side, this might be just the thing for you!
Find your paradise in Bermuda
Image | Susan Brown
For more information on Bermuda, visit www.gotobermuda.com. You can also send me your queries at susanbrownscotland@gmail.com or follow me @eyesonbermuda on Facebook and Instagram.
