Bermuda
February 16, 2017
Need somewhere to spend a vacation with two parents, a lazy older sister, and a brother who constantly needs something to do? No need to fear! Bermuda is the place for you. You can take an easy three hour flight in, or join the fun and take a 7-day cruise, which is what my family did. This mode of travel is full of entertainment and fun. Bermuda is beautiful and the water is breath-taking (literally). This island is astonishing, and the sight-seeing, food, close-knit community, and history will blow you away.
WHERE TO STAY
- If you decide to cruise, then there you have it. Sleep is included on your voyage. You can stay in a suite, stateroom, or a penthouse with a balcony that provides a gorgeous view for sight-seeing and a beautiful look at the water around you. The cost will vary depending on room size and whether you want a room with a balcony or not.
- Valley Cottages & Apartments: This very inexpensive apartment-style hotel is located in Paget, Bermuda. It is within a one mile radius of many points of interest such as Elbow Beach, Paget Marsh and Nature Reserve, and Fort Hamilton.
- Coco Reef: The location of this hotel is prime. It is just 10 minutes outside of Bermuda's capital, Hamilton. It is also within a 5 mile radius from the popular Horseshoe Bay beach as well as the Bermuda Aquarium, Zoo, and Museum. Guests rate it 4.2 stars out of 5 and mention it's delicious restaurants and great service. The pricing is reasonable and fair.
- Fairmount Southampton: This five star luxurious hotel is one of the more expensive hotels, but it is worth the money. This hotel is conveniently located right along the water, and a thirty minute ride from the airport. A three minute walk to and from Horseshoe Bay beach can be replenished with the gourmet food served from one of it's nine restaurants.
WHAT TO DO
On the 14 level cruise ship:
- Go to the one of their six pools or three hot tubs to sun bathe, and just relax. You're on vacation! The pool deck lights up at night in fluorescent lights and I recommend taking part in the cruise-wide themed party nights!
- Catch a play, some stand up comedy, or dance ensemble at the Stardust Theater. This will make time go by with the satisfaction of pure entertainment.
- Check out the casino! You'd be surprised at how many people win on the ship. The casino is full of slot machines, table games, and tournaments. It's open until 5am, 7 days a week.
- Teenage siblings, family friends, whoever, can enjoy the Teen Zone located on the 13th deck level. This gives teenagers a good place to be kept busy and socialize with other kids on the boat.
- Most kids play in the designated T-Rex Pool Kid Zone so there is never concern about kids running around everywhere.
- Play over-sized chess, table tennis, half court basketball, swing some golf balls at the netted driving range, and walk the track all on the top deck with an amazing view during your travels.
- Hit up the gym and work on that summer bod while on vacation
In Bermuda:
- Tour the Crystal and Fantasy Caves. The underground tour of the Crystal and Fantasy Caves will take your breath away. During your tour, you will be told the history of the caves and how they were found by two teenagers playing a game of cricket in 1907. This location is one of Bermuda's most well-known attractions for tourists as well as its residents.
- Go to the beach. Horseshoe Bay beach located in Southampton is ranked amongst the top beaches in the world. It's pink sand, large climbable rocks, and clear blue-green water makes this beach one to remember. However, it's very crowded due to it's popularity. Elbow Beach is located in Paget and it's named after it's curve shape along the shore; it's shaped like an elbow. This beach has a private section owned by Elbow Beach Hotel, but there is a large section open the public. Elbow Beach Hotel also runs an on-beach bar and bistro which is available to anyone.
- Scuba dive and snorkel. Tobacco Bay is located at the East End of the island. It has a shallow bay that is great for snorkeling. You can bring your own snorkel equipment to this bay full of unique rocks popping out of the sea and you can explore it's rocky coves.
- Go shopping along Front Street. There is no sales tax when you shop in Bermuda. One of the best products to buy in Bermuda is perfume. The perfumes are produced locally and are often inspired by the ocean and the sky to capture the nature of the island.
WHERE TO EAT
- AQUA. Located on the 7th deck of the cruise ship, this restaurant was the go-to for my family. We ate here every night for dinner. It provided no room for disappointment and a great deal of friendly service. They served delicious food in a space full of blue and green tile; an aquatic touch. The cost of our meal was included in the payment of the trip. The best meal to order is the steak which comes with potatoes and asparagus and a chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream for dessert. You can't go wrong.
- Ocean Club. This seafood restaurant is located in Southampton. On average the customer rates it 4.2 stars out of 5 for it's delicious meals, great service, reasonable prices, with the addition of the charming view of the island. It can be as casual as just wearing a beach cover-up, to more formal wear for celebrating an anniversary.
- Devils Isle Cafe. This cute, welcoming cafe is located in Hamilton. It is the Best of Bermuda winner of 2016 for their "Best cup of Java" and "Best Salad: Kale Caesar". Many recommend it for it's friendly service, hearty atmosphere and delicious menu.
- The Pickled Onion. This restaurant is found in the strip of shops along Front Street in Hamilton. This restaurant provides live entertainment while indulging into a variety of reasonably priced seafood.
- Walking is your best bet. You get to sight-see, take in the view, look at the pastel colored surrounding buildings, and experience the culture. The roads are very narrow and full of aggressive and speedy drivers. It's definitely cheaper to get from place to place by foot. Walking is especially the best route if you are trying to access a beach nearby.
- Take a ferry. Taking a ferry will get you from point A to point B while experiencing a nice breeze on the top deck and a nice chance to socialize with the people on board with you. If you want to stay warm, sit in the enclosed bottom deck seating area. If you don't mind wind, and want a beautiful view of the island and it's water all at once, then sit up top.
- Call a taxi. If the restaurant, shop, beach, or cafe is out of walking distance, then call a taxi. The car size depends on the amount of passengers. My family of five was driven in a mini-van. From our experience, the taxi driver acted as a tour guide. He chatted with us and filled us in on historical information about such areas we were passing. We went through a set of traffic lights during our drive and he informed us that there are only 2 sets of streetlights in all of Hamilton, and that we had just gone through one of them.
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