Expert: Michael - 6/17/2004

Question
Hi,

We will be going to Bermuda for our honeymoon from 6/28 to 7/4. We are staying in an apartment in Warwick, close to Riddle Bay Golf Course. We need to be somewhat budget conscience, but not cheap.

Can you make any recommendations on:

Beaches
Jet Skis
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Parasailing
Dining
** For the activities, do you recommend it, if so who is the best vendor.

Thanks ver much in advance for any info you can provide.

Brian

Answer
Hello Brian,

Have a great honeymoon.  Your seven days in Bermuda will be fabulous.  Of that I am cetain.  Just understand that simply being in Bermuda will take you two over the top.  The island is the destination, the island is the lure.  Everything about it is your activity.

I would recommend to you a moped.  Perhaps a double.  This will give you great flexibilty in exploring the island.  You can reserve online for a 15% discount with Oleander Cycles (www.bermuda.com/oleander/RentalForm.htm)

It is OK to be budget conscience.  You don't want to end up with empty pockets come Wednesday and 2+ days to go.  Hehe.
Does your apartment have kitchen facilites?  Do bring with you a box of cereal.  If you drink coffee why not a bag of Dunkin Donut coffee?  Most everything on the island is imported so those things will cost you an arm.  Your leg will go when purchasing a bottle of wine or your favorite liquor.  So do consider bringing a bottle or two of wine with you if are so inclined.  The sin tax on liquor in Bermuda is extreme.  You will find milk or cream at a local market.  So that'll help with breakfast costs.  Muffins and jelly can be purchased when there if you simply don't want to carry it in, but Linda and I do.  We also bring frozen a favorite steak or two for each of us when we stay in a unit with kitchen.  We splurge and bring porterhouse or filets,  something we not often have.  Potatos and veggies are readily available in Bermuda.  So there's a small tip that can save to $75 for each dinner in $15 to $20 for each breakfast in.

Pick up a Dining Out In Bermuda book.  This will be about $5.00.  But it will identify for you most restaurants in Bermuda and list their menus.  It will identify who offers an Early Bird special.  When you eat out Brian, do look for the Early Birds which run maybe 5:30 to 7.  M.R. Onions is one that is great in Hamilton.  Portofino is an icon in Bermuda.  You can get a pizza pie there. I don't think their meatballs and spagetti is over priced either.

Sundays in Bermuda are slow Brian.  I would suggest that when you arrive at your destination immediately call The Carriage House in St. George and make a reservation for Sunday Brunch.  The price is affordable at about $25 or $30 pp, the setting perfect, and the dining experiance is just that.  An experiance.  The whole afternoon is more like an event Linda and I look forward to.  A piano player, a most fabulous buffet including a carving staton offering prime, lamb, and pork.  The line will have italian, chicken, soups, all kinds of salads, caviar, and even pickled herring.  They have a dessert bar and will even make a flaming something.  Peaches or whatever.  The dinner includes a glass of champagne for each of you.  Can you believe this?  Honest.  Especially cause Sundays are slow in Bermuda.  Everything is closed.  Take the bus or moped.   

If you have a special night planned do consider Coconuts for that special occassion.  AlFresco dining with a prefix menu of gourmet.  This is the best of island dining in my book.  You can even get a table on the sand with torches lighting your table (we never did the dining on the sand thing.)  It may run $55.00 pp but worth every penny.

The best beaches will be on the southshore.  From Warwick Long to Horseshoe Bay.  Unbelievable.  I am excited for you as I think of it.  You will find beaches in this stretch where you will be alone.  Jobsons Cove is one of them.  Just beautiful.

A good deal for the money is Gibbs Hill Lighthopuse.  About $3.00 to walk to the top.  A panoramic view of the entire island chain.

Snokeling can be had at Horseshoe Bay.  They rent equipment as do they rent it at Tobacco Bay in St. George.  But Church Bay is on the southshore and is noted for snorkeling.

I must pass on the Jet Skiis and parasailing.  Linda would never do the Jets and I'm trying hard to talk her into parasailing one day out of St. George over the harbour.

Horseback riding from Spicelands costs $50 pp.  The trail ride brings you along the ocean even.  We loved it.

The Wildcat is about $50.00 too. It is a high speed water ride that goes around the island in two hours from Alboys Point.  Best with seas at 3 to 6 feet.

I hope you can use some of this information.

Happy planning!
Michael