Expert: Nan - 9/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello, in Oct of 2008, my wife and I are thinking about taking our honeymoon to Bermuda. I have been doing research on privatly owned apartments and cottages that people own. I am heavily considering looking into one of these places instead of a hotel. Can you tell me what you know about these places. Are they clean? Are they safe? Are they worth the month? Do you recomend one over the other? I am listing the names of some that I am looking at. Thanks for your help and your time. Also if you know anything about bed and breakfast's please comment on them also. Here are the places.

Devonshire Cottage, Spanish Port Studio Apartment, Warwick Cottage, Hamilton Waterside House, Shelly Bay Beach

ANSWER: Hello Andrew,
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!  Bermuda is a wonderful place to celebrate your new life together. Staying in private apartments -- which I love to do -- provides the opportunity to live like a local no matter what the destination.  I've enjoyed apartment experiences in Bermuda, Paris, Florence, Edinburgh and London and would highly recommend that you continue your research in this type of unique accommodation.  It's a different experience, to be sure, so you'll need to decide if it's really what you want.  Is daily maid service important to you?  Do you need laundry facilities? Do you need a restaurant or bar on-site?  Or interaction with other tourists to enjoy your visit?  Staying in an apartment usually means you'll have more space than a hotel room though this is not always the case. Some apartments have full kitchens, others just a cooktop and small fridge.  How much cooking will you be doing and is this important to you?  Foraging around local grocery stores and preparing your own meals can be part of the fun of travel. But remember, you'll be cleaning up after yourselves and you may not want to be washing dishes on your honeymoon! Renting apartments can be a cheaper alternative to hotel stays, but that depends entirely upon your budget, the destination and the apartment.  Cleanliness and safety is a concern of both apartments and hotels; those properties that have been inspected by a local tourism or hospitality group may be just as at risk for safety issues as those that have not.  While I'm not familiar with the specific properties you've found in Bermuda, I am familiar with the areas.  Do you need to be close to "city" activities, such as in Hamilton?  Do you absolutely have to be within a short walk to a bus line or ferry?  Or will you rent a double scooter and ride off in the sunset by yourselves? I have also stayed in B&B's and found them to be another charming alternative to hotels. It's nice to know you'll have breakfast without really thinking about it every morning!  Whatever your choice, I wish you much happiness.  Bermuda is a beautiful place and I hope you enjoy it.  Best Regards, Nan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Nan, thank you for writing me back. I wanted to answer some of the question you asked in your respons to my e-mail. Maid service is not impotant and we will not need a laundry either.We do not need a resturant or bar on site. We plan to rent a scooter and tourning ourselves so a bus or ferry is not important either. It would be nice to be around a 5 minute or so ride to Hamilton. Being near other tourists is not a big deal either since we plan to do our our thing with the scooter anyway. Which sections of the islands are better for us? We want to be in a safe section also. You said you stayed in apartments and bed and breakfast's when you are there. Can you recommend some apartment/cottages that you stayed in that were nice and also if you could recomment some bed and breakfast's also that would be great. We are a young couple (late 20's) so we are looking for a place that is under $200 a night. Thanks Nan, your help is really appreciated and will definetly be used. Maybe next year I will contact you again to get your help on places to go and things to see. Thanks.

Andrew

Answer
Hello Andrew,

A five-minute or so ride into Hamilton narrows your choices considerably.  Quite considerably.  Two of the self-catering places I've enjoyed in this area in the past are either back to being a private residence or have changed into a full-service hotel/executive suite experience.  One apartment that I usually recommend isn't open in October, sad to say.  There a few options, however, that might suit and all can be found on the Bermuda Tourism website (www.bermudatourism.com).  One that comes to mind is Little Pomander on Hamilton Harbor.  I've had personal experience with Little Pomander and found it small, quiet and clean. That was several years ago. Other choices include Salt Kettle House from which you can pick up the Salt Kettle Ferry and Granaway Guest House on Harbor Road. I list these because of your requirement to be within 5 minutes or so of Hamilton.  In Hamilton you might try Rosedon.  Also Fordham Hall.  From Hamilton as a base you can easily travel end to end of the Bermuda islands.  You mustn't miss the town of St. George or the Royal Naval Dockyard.  There's simply too much to see.  You asked which areas would be good for you and I really can't say.  Bermuda is small and easily navigable by scooter. As far as safety goes, be smart.  No matter where you travel, don't carry large sums of money or valuables, use the ATM machine during the day and stay close to its screen/money dispenser, advise your bride to leave her jewelry at home and to turn her engagement ring with stone/s around facing her body while walking out at night.  A Bermudian once suggested that we use white duct tape to cover up the rental facility's name on our helmets so we wouldn't look so much like tourists.  We've been doing that for years.  B&B's are great and so are apartments.  I trust you'll find them enjoyable too.  Let me know what you choose or tell me your top choices and I'll tell you what I know about the areas!  Best Regards, Nan