Expert: Michael - 9/29/2007

Question
Hello.  By your description, it sounds like you might be able to help.  I would live in Northern NJ near Newark International Airport and everyone tells me that it is only a 3-4 hour flight from Newark to Bermuda and that I should go.  However, I am working with a small budget and will be traveling with my wife so that makes two of us.  
Here's the scoop, I want to go on vacation but I don't have a lot of money.  It would be my wife and I and I am ready to spend about $1500 to $2000 dollars.  Everyone tells me that Bermuda is not a far flight from Newark airport which is right near my house in Northern NJ.  
Can it be done?  Hotel and flight, for two people, with a few nights stay?  Can it be done for around $1500 bucks???  
That's my question.  If you respond and tell me that it can be done, I will have some follow up questions.  Remember, this budget amount of around $1500 dollars needs to include the daily spending while there.  I'm not going to be purchasing a lot of things and don't really need a lot of money throughout the day, but we do need to eat...at least breakfast and a nice dinner.  
With regards to the hotel, it doesn't have to be five star or anything, but yes, it would be good to have running water.  What I'm saying is that I'm not looking for the five star, two week stay.  I'm looking for the 3-4 or 5 night stay in a normal hotel near a nice beach or on a nice beach.  
For the daily spending, we don't snorkle and we don't scuba so the spending would be limited to the food only pretty much and what ever other attractions you guide us too.  Does this make sense?  
Please advise.  Thanks.

Answer
emad,

I understand your query.  You and your bride are in business.  Linda and I just returned from a two week stay and because I am impulsive we went again for our anniversary for a 4 night stay and just returned.  In terms of $ this is the one I want to share with you.  So let me go move ahead with specifics...

I'm not going to turn you toward a penny pinching trip.  You can experience Bermuda in fine fashion with the dollars you have available.  But before I do let me address some of your questions.

The flight from the Eastern Seaboard is 1 hour 40 minutes in the air.  We departed Boston on Delta at 9AM and were well into customs by 11AM (they are 1 hour ahead of us).  After immigration, customs and the transfer we were at our destination ready to do something in the event our room wasn't ready, but it was!  I can only guess that there is a direct flight from Newark, JFK or LaGuardia to BDA. If so this will assure your lowest pricing.  More on this later.  We have in the past flown to Philly and then on to BDA, so I know Philly goes direct on US Scareways.

I can concur with "Everyone telling you that you should go to Bermuda" emad, but not on account of the flight.  Rather Bermuda is magical.

I worked with a small budget this last trip too and wouldn't travel w/o my wife.  hehe  My budget was less than 2K.

Yes it can be done.  A very very nice hotel, air, transfers and breakfast and dinners.   On a beach with a beautiful pool .Here's the skinny.  I usually set up my own arrangements but this anniversary we wanted to stay at a hotle that caught own imagination for all the many years we visited but never did for one reason or another.  So I called the resort directly and they told me booking was through their preferred broker, Dynamic Leisure Co./Changes In Lattitude, 1-888.330.8272.

I am recommending Grotto Bay Beach Resort. www.grottobay.com
4 nights with R.T. transfers and direct air for two was $1790.  

On top of this we received a complimentary voucher from the Bermuda Department of Tourism as a promotion in the form of a visa card worth $300.00.  YOU MUST BE CERTAIN TO RECEIVE THE VOUCHER FOR THE $300.00 PROMOTION! They screwed up on me but are taking the $300.00 off my credit card.

I would recommend not buying the transfers for $13.00 each way.  The actaul cost for a readily available taxi is $8.15 one way plus a modest tip ... what, $2.00?

This brings your initial R.T. cost of to the Bermuda resort $1410.00 plus the Visa card worth $300.00 to be used on food, trinkets or anything a visa can be used on in Bermuda.  The card must be used in Bermuda.  

You can bring a bottle of wine, vodka or your vaforite to make drinks for around the pool or at their beautiful beach.

Linda and I walked the three minutes to the Swizzle Inn.  I had the black bean soup and greek salad while Linda had some Asian dish.  With a couple of swizzles it went 60ish.  Linda had a full breakfast and I the continental at Grotto for $30.00 (Almost all restaurants in BDA include the 15% grats).  We had the fabulous Sunday Brunch at the Carriage House in St. George which went about $80.00 which included champagne. This I would recommend as it is a great spread and a very Bermudian setting on the harbor.  We took the buss to Hamilton to Portofino.  Another favorite spot which went about $70.00.  A medium priced place for Bermuda but not cheap and excellent food.  Linda did the Cananloni and I the Meat Balls and macaroni.  We had mussels and garlic bread as an app. She had a creme brulee dessert and a drink.
We had a dinner at The White Horse Inn again at nearby St. George and on the beautiful harbour.  About 50ish.  They have a full dinner menu as well as a pub menu.  We each had the Fish & Chips.  Linda the swizzle and I a ginger beer.  The ginger beer is non alcoholic and fabulous.  We stopped at Somers Market to pick up a few items to snack on.

This eating thing went $330.  Across the street from Grotto is Bailies Bay ice cream.  You can get a less expensive sandwich there.  Coffee is provided in the room.  You can bring pop tarts, Wheat Thins, a can of Tuna or Shrimp and some hot dog rolls or be creative.

So as you can see emad, a quality vacation can be had for the money you are prepared for.  Oh, transportation pass will be necessary.  A buss trip cost either: $4.00 cash ea one way, or 3.00 using a token, or what shakes out at $2.00 if you get a book of tickets.  You can also but a two three day tranportation pass for under $30 ea or a one day pass or you can ask me for my left over tickets I can sell you for face value.  I use the book tickets because I go often.  You can also rent a double moped for less than $50.00 a day. I don't thinnk your buget can figure in the moped.

Grotto has lovely rooms, the bus runs better than every fifteen minute to anywhere you want to go and stops at Grotto, they have interesting caves to explore and their is a good variety of age groups.  I saw no children.  Who-ahh!

A PASSPORT IS REQUIRED.

Write me at mfedeny@aol.com if you have any further questions.

Happy planning!
Michael