Expert: Michael - 1/2/2005

Question
Michael,

My husband and I won a trip at an auction for 4 nights at Fairmont Southhampton.  We have to take the trip by May 22 (unless I can convince American Airlines to extend the trip through the summer)  We are going to take my 10 year old daughter with us. If we can't extend the trip, we will have to take it the week of March 5-12 during my daughter's spring break.  Here are my  questions....is there enough to do with a 10 year old, will the water be to cold to snorkle and since my husband is a diver, will this time of year work for him?  If on the slight chance I can get American Airlines to extend the travel dates, is June or July a better month to travel to Bermuda?

I am sure I am making this more complicated than it needs to be, but I just want to make the most of the trip since it was quite expensive.

Thanks for your help,

Beth Garvey  

Answer
Hello Beth,

Congrats on winning an auction foro a stay at the beautiful Fairmont Princess.  A most beautiful large hotel with all the bells and whistles.

The Fairmont will hahve a shuttle to their private beach on the southshore, just a minute or two away from the hotel.  I will say that you will be pampered.

March is off season.  Bermuda has both a high and low season.  In low season the grass is always green but it is definately not as the summer months would be.  The air teperature will be 68.4F for a high and 59.4F as a low.  Of course you may strike it rich with much warmer weather depending on unusual weather patterns and luck out.  The surface sea temperature will be 66F, and you can take that to the bank as the temperature required to change a body of water that size just one degree is phenominal and a day or three of unusual warm weather won't do it.  These figures are taken from a 44 year mean chart.

Snorkeling will be tough.  For me too cool.  I think you cold frollick or wd in the water for a short time but it will not be pleasant enough to stay in for hours.  Diving would be great with a wet suit.

I think an exciting venue for bothj you, the hub and daughtr would be a horseback trail ride out of Spicelands.  A little more than an hour in length and the trail goes along the beach.  This is fabulous!  The horses are gentle and will leave many memories.

You could visit the Aquarium, many forts, Crystal Caves... and the shoping in Hamilton is good.  I mean the colors of the builds are all pastel shades and this alone will be the first thing that srikes your daughter about this harbor city.  St. Georges is a old 300 year old village with cobble stone streets and appears much as it did 300 years ago.  This is a historic and great take.  It happens to be my fvorite part of Bermuda.

I would also recommed walking the beach from Horseshoe Bay which is next to the Princess beach, and walk it all the way to Warwick Long.  This streatch of beach is world class.  Every one is differant, picturesque and just devine.  If you want you could take the buss from the Princess and get off at Warwick Long and walk back.  It would be a lovely exploration.  Linda and I do this each time we visit Bermuda.

A couple months later, say May, the air rises to 75F ish, but you asked about Jne or July ...  Here Beth is where yo would experience a tropical like vacation as humidity and warm to hot air moves in at 80ish and 85ish respectively.

Beth, Bermuda is not a Disney vacation.  But my kids loved it when they were younger and still go today when they can.  Bermuda is truly a gem.  It is almost a hidden secret.  It is well developed, scenic, historic with ties to the US Revolution, it has many pubs which are wonderful for lunches and less expensive dinners.  Your daughter would be welcome at these too.  Bermuda is proper and under the influence of the queen.  The people sincerely make you feel welcome.

You would all enjoy a ferry tip accross the Great Sound from Hamilton to the Dockyard, another tourist spot whee if you were mariners their is a maritime museum.

I would not say Don't go in May, but would say hat absolutely June wiould be head and shoulders above March, and July head and shoulders above June.

Call (800)BERMUDA and ask for a Handy Reference Map and tell them you are first time visitors.  They will send you some great reading stuff.

Happy planning!
Michael