the seasoned traveler with george bauer

Program 101:

Bermuda for a Bargain

My first stop on The Seasoned Traveler was the pink-beach paradise of Bermuda. While it has been a playground for the prosperous in the past, it's now open to everyone. And in fact, Bermuda is “on sale” each February. The island-nation, 600 miles east of North Carolina, now offers a special new program to lure visitors after the high season each summer. Called "Fall into Spring", it encompasses an existing program that benefits seasoned travelers. February has been known as Golden Rendezvous Month, when hotels and attractions offer discounts and special programs to mature visitors.
On this program we take viewers across these islands in the Mid-Atlantic. In 1505 the sailor Juan de Bermudez first dropped anchor here, but he didn’t last long. The British came next, on a fluke.


Spectacular sunsets abound in Bermuda...

They were shipwrecked in 1609, near what is now St. Georges Island. The group called the place the Somers Islands, after their leader Sir George Somers. The sailors stayed for a year until they could build new boats, then sailed on to the Virginia colony. But others from Britain followed. London formed the Bermuda Company in 1612 to settle the group of 180 islands, about a dozen inhabited. Bermuda has been a British possession ever since. The Victorian upper crust from damp and dreary England discovered Bermuda as a holiday haven; by the start of the twentieth century, others were coming for vacations as well. That changed Bermuda forever.
Today people flock to the islands from the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, and Caribbean nations. They stay in large hotels, smaller ones, cottage colonies, housekeeping cottages, and guest houses. Many of the most prestigious places are directly on the beach. The South Shore is the home of most hotels, with its surging waves and sandy beaches. The North Shore is quieter. Swimmers there are less bothered by the tides. If you come in February to save some money, you may have to pass up the water altogether. Air temperatures average seventy degrees then, compared with eighty-four in July. The ocean reading in February is sixty-seven degrees; in July it’s eighty-one. But it's a great time for golf at Bermuda's 15 courses. Bermuda has more courses per capita than anyplace on earth: you can come for a week or ten days and play a different course every day.
On the east end the town of St. George is the original settlement. Given its age and charm, it’s now been deemed a World Heritage Site.

It’s a town of narrow alleyways where the commerce of the community was once carried out. St. Peter’s Church in St. George is the oldest on the islands—parts of it date to 1620—as well as the oldest continuously operating Anglican church in the western hemisphere. Fort St. Catherine is north of the town, now a historical museum. You can snorkel at Tobacco Bay nearby; the reefs are just about 40 feet offshore.
The capital is Hamilton, in the center of the main island. Aside from being the governmental center, Hamilton is the place for quality shopping along Front Street and for arts and culture. Cruise ships dock downtown, as well as in St. George and at the Royal Dockyard on the west end. But the government mandates that ships leave port by the weekend. Hamilton is also a place for fine dining and fun clubs. The Art Museum is in city hall and the historical museum is in the main library near Front Street.


All skill levels are welcome here...

Bermuda has a zoo and aquarium in the small village of Flatts. The two facilities are adjacent.
Several old homes in Bermuda show off the good times of the past. My own favorite is called Verdmont in the center of the islands. The Botanical Garden is a sight to see when things are in bloom (and alas, they may not be if you venture here in February). It’s not far from Verdmont and is next to the prime minister’s ceremonial residence. The Royal Dockyard is the former British naval base, long abandoned by Her Majesty’s Navy and converted into a shopping and entertainment complex.
Because it’s an island chain, you’ll want to sample the seafood: fish chowder, mussel stew, shark hash, and the locally-caught wahoo. The most popular drink here is something called a Dark and Stormy, made with jet-black Goslings Bermuda rum and Barritts stone-ground ginger beer. You should also try the Rum Swizzle, which can contain three or five different rums.
Bermuda has some magnificent beaches on both shores, perfect for tanning and cooling off in the aquamarine water. There’s snorkeling, diving, boating, fishing, parasailing, horseback riding, and much more on these islands in the Mid-Atlantic.
Golden Rendezvous Month has been scaled back to some degree in recent months but there are still many activities for seasoned travelers over the age of 50, available only in February, and many of the events are free.


Some of the best golf in the world...

A typical calendar of events includes lectures on Bermuda's History as well as its Culture and Traditions each Monday of the month; there are Tuesday afternoon teas at Trimingham's Cafe in Hamilton; there's a free bus tour of Bermuda's East End (complimentary seating for mature travelers only) every Wednesday in February; tours of historic St. George are also conducted on Wednesdays; on Fridays in February there are bus tours of the West End as well as programs of interest at the Bermuda Maritime Museum, at the West End's Royal Naval Dockyard.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism is your best source of information. Ask for the Where to Stay and What to Do booklets to get you started. Call (800) BERMUDA or go online to www.bermudatourism.com.

The Resort Hotels are very large but very appealing.
Elbow Beach, Bermuda is on the South Shore. You can call from the U.S. at
800-223-7434 or visit its web site, www.mandarinoriental.com.

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess is one of the oldest hostelries on the islands. Queen Victoria's daughter stayed here, which is why it's called the Princess. It is located right in downtown Hamilton. Call 800-441-1414 or visit the web site, www.fairmont.com/hamilton. Fairmont also owns the Fairmont Princess, located at one of the highest points in Bermuda. This resort has its own Par-3 golf course and access to a beautiful south shore beach. Call 800-441-1414 or go online to www.fairmont.com/southampton.

Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Tennis Club is in Hamilton Parish on two secluded coves. It is not far from Bermuda International Airport. Call for information 800-582-3190 or go to the Internet: www.grottobay.com.
There are several cottage colonies and private clubs.

The most famous are Cambridge Beaches in Somerset on the western edge of the islands. This exclusive facility has welcomed royalty but you are welcome too. Go to www.cambridgebeaches.com or call 800-468-7300.
Ariel Sands cottages are owned by actor Michael Douglas and occupy a wonderful location on the south shore. Information is at www.arielsands.com or by calling 800-468-6610.

The Fourways Inn houses five luxury cottage in the center of the islands. From the United States, call 800-962-7654.
And the newest beach buzz comes for a place called 9 Beaches, billed as a water-lover's vacation spot. Guests stay in cabanas, many at the water's edge and some are actually on stilts over the water. For information, call 866-841-9009 or hit the web at www.9beaches.com.

There are many more hotels, cottages, bed and breakfasts, suites, and apartments. The Where to Stay guide will guide you.
Bermuda is a great place to ride a horse, especially early in the morning along the beautiful south shore. Contact the Spicelands Riding Center: spicelands@northrock.bm.

Bermuda is a land of festivals. While seasoned travelers are visiting in February for Golden Rendezvous, there is a major arts festival underway for the entire month. There is music, theater, dance, and art in abundance.


Festivals are as colorful as can be...

And my favorite Bermuda tidbit: there's no need to convert U.S. dollars into Bermuda currency. That's because a Bermuda dollar equals an American dollar. Merchants on the islands will take both currencies. So you don't have to waste time changing money, which leaves you more time to spend your money.
Have a great time in Bermuda!