Don’t miss to visit Bermuda
Bermuda is one of the oldest and smallest but by far and away most inhabited of outstanding British Overseas Territories - and oldest British Commonwealth member. Located on the Atlantic Ocean in the North Gulf, it lays North Carolina and is easily reachable by plane or a cruiseship. It has 6 principal islands and 120 others for practical purposes (138 in total, including mere rocks) in its total land area of under 21 square miles (33 square kilometers). The six principal islands (or former islands) are Ireland Island (north and south), Boaz Island, Somerset, Main, St. David's and St. George's, about 22 miles by road in total length. They are the neighboring mass of Bermuda. The largest by far is Great Bermuda or Main Island, which is a mile wide on regular, 14 miles long. All of the principal islands are now connected together by 12 bridges and a land bridge. Most visitors imprison themselves to these six principal islands without knowing they are going from one to the other because there are no island signs. Bermuda's physical beauty remains irrefutable making it one of the most expensive pieces of beachfront in the world. Within the city itself there are parks like Par-la-Ville and Victoria. Beyond Hamilton's borders, beaches and silence coves may have only a few couples taking the sun or swimming languidly in the island's fabled waters. But the island is more than just a pretty face. Scratch the surface, and just under the "tranquil and contenting" skin is a country that over the last twenty years has evolved from an almost mythical sleepy hollow into a dynamic international business hub. The former capital is a major attraction in and of itself. Founded as a town in 1612 and as a corporation in 1797, St. George is Bermuda's first and oldest town.Among the long stretches of sand beaches divided by cliffs and coves are charming examples or Bermuda's stone and cedar architecture. During the summer months, when the temperature reaches into the high 80s and the traveler can expect to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities such as scuba diving, horseback riding, windsurfing, sailing, and just relaxing on the beach and soaking up the great Caribbean rays. Bermuda is also a shopper's paradise. The visitor can expect to see savings on crystal, china, some jewelry, cashmere and lambswool that can range between 30 and 40 percent lower than characteristic prices in America. Nightlife revolves mostly around restaurants, bars and some nightclubs. There is only one large city -- Hamilton. While it's true that much of the nightlife (particularly the club scene) is in the capital, there are nightspots scattered all over the island, many of them in hotels. Restaurants range from the small and cozy casual spots to the extravagantly elegant. Among the restaurant choices are Bermudian, French, Mexican, Italian, Indian, Continental, Thai, English and Irish pub-style cuisine. Getting around is fairly easy, thanks to the well-organized buses and ferries, but car rental is nonexistent because of traffic concerns. Renting a moped is de rigueur , but be warned that Bermuda's narrow, scenically walled lanes have sent many a tourist home in plaster. Visitors are not allowed to rent automobiles in Bermuda but get about easily by taxi, bus, ferry, motor scooters (no driver's license is required), and by horse and carriage. Bus passengers must have exact change in coin or 'Transportation Pass' available for one, three, and seven days of unlimited use on the buses and ferries (sold at the Central Terminal, the Visitors Service Bureau in Hamilton, and at authorized outlets). For a true Bermudian experience, hire a private horse and carriage. Or ride in a pink and blue bus or an open-air ferry. 1, 3, and 7-day Transportation Passes for unlimited use on buses and ferries are available. The traditional port is the City of Hamilton, the capital and the most commercial area on the Island. If you like to shop, most stores are located in Hamilton. Many ships tie up in the Town of St. George, where you walk off the vessel into a delightful town of 17th century buildings, narrow lanes, and small boutiques. The West End, Bermuda's third port of call, is fast becoming the favored place to be. It’s Royal Naval Dockyard, a last shipyard that was the British Royal Navy's headquarters until March 1995, has been beautifully restored as a mini-village with shops, restaurants, a maritime museum, an art gallery, and a crafts market. There is a marina with rental boats, parasailing excursions and special events. Repeat visitors are those who like their comforts suitable and plentiful; who like their sea calm, their nightlife cozy and their meals unsurprisingly refined. Golf and tennis are a widespread mania, played on numerous top-notch courses and courts.
Thanks to the surrounding coral reefs that grind out that famously gorgeous sand (and once wrecked many a ship), scuba and snorkeling are also a must; farther out, sport fishing's the rage. A less strenuous pastime is shopping, since many European goods are available for prices lower than those in American stores. In Hamilton, Bermuda's orderly capital, the shops clustered along Front Street sell an overwhelming array of fine china, jewelry, French lace, and British woolens (here's the place for newlyweds to scope out that coveted crystal at close to half-price).Local Weather
Bermuda has a remarkably mild climate that seldom sees extremes of either hot or cold. About 50 inches of rain annually. During the winter months (December through March), temperatures average 70°F. The hottest part of the year is between May and mid-October, when temperatures range from 75°F to 85°F. The summer months are somewhat drier, although rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year.
Local Information
The official curreny of Bermuda is the Bermuda dollar (BD$), which is divided into 100 cents. The Bermuda dollar is pegged to the US dollar on an equal (one-to-one) basis. This means that US currency is accepted at shops, restaurants, and hotels at equal (face) value. Other foreign currencies are not accepted but may be exchanged at local banks at rates that are set daily. Electricity 110 volts, 60 cycles ACStandard Time in Bermuda is Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours. Daylight Savings Time in effect from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
Airport Information
Bermuda is serviced by Continental (800-231-0856), American (800-433-7300), Delta Airlines (800-221-1212), US Airways (800-428-4322), Air Canada (800-776-3000), and British Bermuda International Airport Airways (0181/897-4000; 0345/222-111 outside London).
Entry Requirements
We recommend all U.S. Citizens traveling abroad should carry a passport due to heightened security at airport check-in and immigration. If you do not have a passport or are not an American citizen, please contact your airline or your local consulate or embassy in regards to travel documentation necessary for your vacation.
posted by Gloria at 9:55 AM
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1 comments
Kilauea's eruptions make the Big Island bigger every day - and, if you're lucky, you can stand just a few feet away and watch it. In just a week, Kilauea can create enough lava to fill the Astrodome.
On the other hand, if you're into watersports, this is paradise. The two tall volcanoes mean the water on the leeward side is calm 350 days a year. The underwater landscape of caves, cliffs, and tunnels attracts a stunning array of colorful marine life. The island's west coast is one of the best destinations in the world for big-game fishing. And its miles of isolated coastline are a kayaker's dream of caves, quiet coves, and crescent-shaped beaches accessible only by sea.
“I don't think you could find anything better" than this boutique line whose vessels look like big yachts": "I saw one and knew I had to go on it". Travelers praise the "intimacy and privacy" of these small ships that sail through Europe and the Caribbean. "The service is inconspicuous but extraordinary they do everything for you". Rooms include Turkish bathrobes and Bulgari amenities, and some have flat-screen TVs. The onboard Asian spa opened this year, offering holistic treatments such as a Javanese lulur body scrub. "We stopped in all the right spots", include one that allowed a seasoned traveler to do a mountain bike excursion. The "fantastic food" includes a range of international dishes and vegetarian options.
The smaller passenger capacities of this fleet make its cruises "less touristy and more intimate and low-key". Destinations span the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, from a trip around the Virgin Islands to a Rome - Barcelona itinerary that includes a walking tour of Portofino, a town inaccessible to larger ships. All cabins have sitting areas, wood-paneled walls, flat-screen TVs and ocean views that are "the highlight of the otherwise snug rooms". Onboard amenities including a book/DVD lending library, a pool, a lounge, and a casino "are limited but adequate". As for the casual restaurants, "it's so convenient to be able to just walk in and eat without having to plan mealtime’s weeks in advance". "Crew really pay attention to your needs."