Bermuda- Bring $$$$$

BERMUDA


November 2004
One of the sad facts of life is that if you accumulate a bunch of frequent flyer mile, there comes time when you must ’use them or lose them’. Such was the case this year. Back before 9-11, we had been accumulating a lot of points on an American Express Platinum Card, which we had acquired for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the 2 for 1 Business Class offer. We were going to Australia and New Zealand with a stop in Hawaii, and since the flights were very long in both time and distance, it worked out that for just a few hundred dollars more, we could fly Business Class, which is quite a leap up from Economy. We had booked a 1st class tour of Ireland in the fall of 2001, but the events of 9-11 cancelled those plans, and all of the points were stuck in Deltas’ Frequent Flyer program. Thus the trip to Bermuda.

We used as many of the points and miles as it took to book 1st class airfare there and back, and deluxe rooms at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel, in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda.

I drove to Sanford, Fl on Sunday, to catch an early morning Monday flight to Atlanta. We were delayed at the Orlando Airport for 2 hours, due to terrible storms in Atlanta. Eventually we flew out, changed planes in Atlanta, and arrived in Bermuda about 3 in the afternoon. Customs was quick and easy, so we climbed into a taxi for the ride into town. Bermuda is not a large island. The trip was about 7 miles. Only locals are allowed to drive cars in Bermuda. The tourists are allowed the privilege of crashing motor scooters if they like. The speed limit is 25mph, which is about as fast as you can go, due to the constantly heavy traffic. The fare for the 7 mile trip was $35 US dollars, which are readily accepted everywhere on the island. This should have been a clue at to what was in store for us, financially. The hotel was old, and referred to as the Queen of the Island. We were put in a water front room, 3rd floor, overlooking the harbor and a pool. It was actually a suite, with a living area, and a sleeping area. Very elegant. We walked around and checked out the place. It was during off season, so it wasn’t very crowded, but when it was crowded, we figured it would be with rich old folks from the Northeast US. We found a big lounge with stuffed chairs and sofas, and a fireplace burning, even thought it wasn’t cool outside, and sat down. This place would turn out to be our refuge at the end of the day. I ordered a Grey Goose martini on the rocks, a very safe choice, but when the tab came, it was $11.US. Wow- that set me back for a while. As it turns out, everything on the island is very expensive. More examples as we travel on. The restaurant in the hotel was called Harley’s, and had nothing to do with motorcycles. We had dinner there the first night. It was a good meal, nothing special, except the price $85.00. That rated another WOW!

We got up and went to Harley’s for 2 coffee’s a bagel, and a muffin. $22.00. By now I’m beginning to not be wowed anymore. We walk to Front Street, the main drag in Hamilton, to shop a little. We hit the shops looking for souvenirs, but don’t find many. This is a very proper island and cheap trinkets are evidently frowned on. So we press on. I find a grog shop, so I get a bottle of Goslings Black Seal rum, the local claim to Rum fame, for the room, to help cut costs a little.

One of the main forms of transportation around the island are Ferry Boats operated by the government, like the pink buses. Since one is getting ready to take the scenic route to the Docklands at the western tip of the island, we buy tokens and hop aboard. It is a very pretty ride, with a few stops along the way. The Docklands was a British fort and ship repair facility, that is now a tourist attraction. A very interesting place. We have a $45.00 lunch of fish and chips at a pirate themed restaurant. Next we visit a glass blowing factory and trinket shop. There was not as much to do as the brochures had led us to believe, so we caught the ferry back to Hamilton and the fireplace and the $11 martini. We walked back towards town and had dinner at the Lobster Pot. $95.00

Coffee in the room today with some Danish I purchased at a shop in the hotel. Not near as expensive as yesterday. We walk back downtown for more exploring. We find the Bermuda National Art Gallery and spend some time there. We finally find a shop that has what we are looking for, as far as taking some stuff back home. We have lunch at a pub called the Hog Penny, excellent fish and chips again + Guinness. $50.00. We go back to the hotel to pack and rest a little. We walk down the hill to a place called Monty’s. He has a special: ½ a spiny lobster for $39.00. We pass on this value, since I can buy a whole one at home for around $12.00.

Back to Orlando tomorrow.

In closing, my views on Bermuda-

It’s the most expensive place, overall, I’ve ever been.

Lunches- $35 to $50

Dinners- $$80 to $100 and this is for nothing really special.

Beer- $6.00

Martini- $11.00

Gas- $5.80 per gallon

Taxi- Way overpriced, until you factor in the price of gas

The people were very friendly and the place was very clean. Would I go back? Not if I was paying. Nassau is closer and cheaper by far.