Bermuda: My Solo Experience on a Scooter

I remember finally starting to feel a little more comfortable riding the scooter around Bermuda. With the wind in my hair, lush vegetation, the sun on my brows, colourful houses, and the bluest skies meeting turquoise waters! I took a mental picture of that moment as I thought to myself: ‘This is paradise, and it’s called Bermuda.’

 

Chances are that if you’re looking at going to Bermuda, you’re looking to relax and just go at a slower pace for a bit. I have to admit that I kind of stumbled onto Bermuda as a destination. During a trip to the US, I wanted to insert a little ‘me time’ on the beach. I got a good deal on the flight and spent 48 hours in Bermuda in August 2016.

 

 

Fun (Educational) Facts About Bermuda

• It is a British Overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean
• The capital city is Hamilton
• In addition to tourism, offshore reinsurance and insurance is pretty big!
• It is the northernmost point of the Bermuda Triangle
• It is divided into nine parishes and has 64 miles of coastline
• Bermuda has 2 flags
• Bermuda shorts are considered appropriate business attire when made with suit-like fabric and worn with knee-length socks. They’re worn in my firm’s Bermuda office as business casual attire
• Bermuda’s delegation to the Olympics rock Bermuda shorts at the opening ceremonies

 

Visas & Entry

Citizens of several countries can visit without a visa. For those that do require one, a multiple entry visa to the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada (the only countries with air links to Bermuda) exempts you from an entry visa. Your passport and visa for these countries must be valid for at least 45 days beyond the end of the intended stay in Bermuda. At the time of my travel, I had both UK and US visas/permits.

 

Getting There

Air Canada, WestJet, British Airways, Jet Blue, United, American Airlines, and Delta have direct flights to Bermuda. Bermuda is probably best suited for North American travellers in search of sunshine, especially those closer to the east coast. I flew United from New York and it was less than 2 hours each way!

 

What To Expect – Practical Tips

• Prior to visiting Bermuda, I’d been to Tulum, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Bermuda prices are on another level. Take extra $$ or snacks, or both!
• Rental Cars are not allowed on the island, you can get into town from the airport by Taxi (they’re metered and cost about $35), pre-arranged bookings, or by public bus
• Even Airbnb options are pricier in Bermuda. I ended up renting a room in a house and paid 271GBP for 2 nights. This is easily the most expensive Airbnb I’ve stayed. Perhaps because August was also peak season?
• The official currency is the Bermudan dollar, which is on par with the US Dollar. USD is also widely accepted
• Cruise ships stop here, so consider those peak times at certain beaches/Naval Dockyard when planning your activities

 

How To Get Around

Taxis (most expensive), local buses (cheapest), mini-buses (somewhere in the middle), and scooters (for the adventurous) are the options available. I rented a scooter for part of my time on the Island so I could explore at my own pace. It was the first thing I did after settling in. There a number of vendors on the Island but I went with Elbow Beach Cycles and I got to meet and chat with the infamous Mrs. T – a sharp 70+ year old lady that is incredibly meticulous.

 

I had never ridden a scooter and to be honest, and was scared, I appreciated that Elbow Beach Cycles does a lesson for you first in their parking lot and then in the area just outside it so they make sure they’re comfortable with your riding before they send you out into the world. The first few hours were scary and at two points on my first day I got stuck. Locals were quick to help me out. If I had to do it again, I’d definitely go with a scooter. Couples can rent one and share!

 

I used a taxi one night while I was out late in town, it was pricier than I would have expected for how short of a ride it was. I also went on the local bus once after I’d returned by scooter, it worked fine but one has to work around the bus schedule, which isn’t really set.

 

 

Where to Stay

If you want to stay near the beach, be sure to pick a parish like Paget, Warwick, or South Hampton. If you want to stay close to activities and action, then stay in or near Hamilton. My Airbnb was located in Paget and I picked it because it offered the best of both worlds: close to beaches, a 10-minute scooter ride from Hamilton, with a number of activities and restaurants. I didn’t make it to St George or Sandy’s Parish.

 

Accommodation Options

There are Hotels, Bed& Breakfasts, Airbnb, and Luxury Resorts. I went during the high season and booked late so I had few desirable options. I mean, some day I’d like to stay at the Hamilton Princess but it was outside my price range for now. I’d recommend first deciding on your preferred location/parish and then looking at accommodation options. I do not know of hostels here, as I said its not a ‘budget’ destination.

 

Things to Do

As I was only in town for 48 hours, I wanted to go at my own pace so I did not book any tours. I checked out beaches, walked around Hamilton, and rode my scooter all over the island.

 

Beaches

I visited 5 beaches in 2 days and they were all beautiful, starting with Warwick Bay and Horse Shoe Bay (often featured on the list of top beaches in the world) on day 1. Both are beautiful beaches but I hear Horse Shoe Bay gets busy in the late morning/afternoon when cruise ships stop by. Luckily, I arrived around 5pm and watched the sunset as I sipped on a drink.

 

On the second day, I walked to a private beach near my Airbnb (I probably shouldn’t have been there), and then I rode my scooter all the way to Shelley Bay Beach. This beach had the most locals and it was fun to just watch. During low-tide one can go pretty far into the water and still only be waist-deep in. Elbow beach is right next to the scooter rental shop. It’s also near a nice resort with beach bars and restaurants. You can’t go wrong here!

 

Water Sports

Parasailing, snorkeling, Crystal Caves, Jet skiing, catamaran cruises/boat tours are some of the water activities available.

 

Other Activities

The Royal Naval Dockyard is a main stop on any Island tour. Beautiful historic buildings, a chance to encounter dolphins, and a mall, and lots of restaurants usually makes this a spot for Cruise ship passengers.

 

Harbour Nights in August

Wednesday Nights in August are made of lively summer street parties on Front Street. The street is closed to traffic and is transformed into a block party. At this party you can dance to local music with that island vibe, buy local art and craft and eat street food of all kinds! It is a great view into Bermudan art, food, music, and culture. Imagine my excitement as the famous Gombey Dance Troupes grooved down the street in their colourful costumes.

 

 

Food & Drink

Several restaurants are on Front Street in Hamilton. I ended up meeting an old colleague for dinner at one of the many restaurants here. Looking to cool off? Why not stop at Bailey’s Ice cream after a meal at Swizzle Inn or a visit to  Crystal Cove? Wanting a fish sandwich? Art Mels (not on Front Street ) is known for their fish sandwiches, definitely worth a stop. Art Mels = local cuisine for cheap!

I missed out on trying the fish chowder in Bermuda, but you should do better! After all, this is Bermuda’s national chowder!! Here are a number of restaurants that serve this famous dish: Barracuda Bar & Grill, Harry’s, Lobster Pot (award winning Chowder here), and Wahoo’s Patio & Grill. Please let me know how it is!

 

What about stepping into Bermuda’s oldest & most famous pub – Swizzle inn for some food/drinks. Two of Bermuda’s unofficial national drinks are the Rum Swizzle and the Dark n’ Stormy. Both are made out of the locally produced rum – Goslings Black Seal Rum . My Airbnb host welcomed me to Bermuda with a Dark N Stormy.

 

Should You Go to Bermuda?

Bermuda is stunning, but it’s important that people know that its more expensive than many other ‘beach’ destinations. I’d recommend it for a short getaway as I do think one would run out of things to do after a few days (unless you’re on a mission to be a beach bum). Is Bermuda on your list? I personally hope to add one Caribbean destination to my list each year going forward. If you’ve got further questions about Bermuda, ask in the comments section below!

 

If you’re off to Bermuda, have a great time, rent that scooter, get the wind in your hair, enjoy the views and just remember to ‘Keep Left’ while riding. Oh, and yes tell me about it! For more posts about ‘beach’ destinations, see my posts on Philippines, Mauritius, and Portugal! P.S, I didn’t take my camera on this trip to Bermuda  so these are all phone pics.

 

Till Next Time,