Expert: Michael - 7/23/2004

Question
My husband & I are thinking of celebrating New Year's Eve (also our 15th anniversary!) in Bermuda. Please be honest: Will the ocean temps be too cold for swimming? Will the hotel pools be open and heated if necessary? We are colder temp people -- I keep my house at 66 degrees farenheit in the summer months in the US; and never put the heat above 68 in the winter. But please tell me if we're crazy!

Answer
Dear Patricia,

Why on earth would you think I not be honest with you?

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year and 15th anniversary.

You have never been to Bermuda I am supposing.  Bermuda's waters are warmed by the gulf stream, but lying in the North Atlantic will absolutley be too cold to frollic in at that time.  You can take it to the bank that the sea surface temperature will be 68F give or take 1 degree.  It takes so much sun time to affect a change in a body of water so great that this can easily be projected (I got it from a 40 year mean).

Hotel pools will be open and I can't list for you the resorts that have indoor pools or which ones will have heated.  There is quite an array of hotels on the island and those that do have them heated will have the heat turned on.  Inquire with the hotels you are interested in.

Do not go to Bermuda in December if you seek the warmth of ocean water.  However, because it will be off season pricing may look attractive to you.  Air temps will run approximately 68-70F for a high and 60-68F for a low.

Shopping, sightseeing and dining will be the same as the high season.  The Rum Swizzles and Dark 'N Stormy recipes remain the same.  hehe  Flowers will be somewhat less in bloom but the beauty and enchantment of Bermuda really never changes and it would be delightful to explore on a moped, or even go horseback riding along the seashore.

We have been to Bermuda two times for New Years.  We were present at an event in the Town of St. George one year and it was very entertaining New Year's eve.  I saw things or people I've never seen before in all the years we've been going to Bermuda.  Strange ones seem to come out of the woodwork.  In an effort to control the crowd, the bobbies allowed open containers in the streets.  Typically a no no.  And the busses were open late to take people home and were free.  We watched the Bermuda Regiment Band perform and a bag pipe band.  The Onion came down to signify the New Year and that was enough for us.  

One year the weather was terrible.  Cold, windy and raw,and the other year it was simply delightful where slacks were required in the daytime and evening rather than shorts.

Temperature wise I would say that December and January are too "iffy" if in fact you are seeking island type weather.  But Linda and I like Bermuda and wouldn't hesitate to go.

In closing I would say beware.

Happy planning!
Michael