Mail

Mail services in Bermuda can be erratic, so the following should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, generally allow seven to 10 days for mail from Bermuda to reach the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, and about two weeks to arrive in Australia or New Zealand.

Airmail postcards and letters for the first 10 grams to the United States and Canada cost 70¢. Postcards to the United Kingdom cost 80¢, letters 85¢ for the first 10 grams. Postcards to Australia and New Zealand cost 90¢, letters 95¢ for the first 10 grams.

If you want to receive mail but have no address in Bermuda, you can have mail sent care of General Delivery, General Post Office, Hamilton HM GD, Bermuda.

Main Branches

International Data Express (441/297-7802.)

Parcel Post (441/297-7875.)

Shipping Packages

Through Parcel Post at Bermuda's post office, you can send packages via either International Data Express (which takes three to five business days to the United States and Canada and three to seven days to the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand) or Air Parcel Post (which takes seven to 10 business days to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, or two weeks to Australia and New Zealand).

For the first 500 grams, International Data Express rates are $25 to the United States and Canada, $30 to the United Kingdom, and $38 to Australia or New Zealand. Air Parcel Post rates run $7.65 for the first 500 grams to the United States, $9.10 to Canada, $11.95 to the United Kingdom, and $14.95 to Australia or New Zealand.

Most of Bermuda's largest stores offer shipping of purchases. Some may ask you either to buy insurance or to sign a waiver absolving them of any responsibility for potential loss or damage.

Overnight courier service is available to or from the continental United States through several companies. Service between Bermuda and Canada takes one or two business days, depending on the part of Canada; between Bermuda and the United Kingdom, generally two business days; and between Bermuda and Australia or New Zealand, usually three.

In Bermuda, rates include pickup from anywhere on the island. Prices for a document up to the first pound range from $26 to $42 to the United States, from $30 to $42 to Canada, and from $35 to $50 to the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. For the fastest delivery, your pickup request must be made before about 4 pm. Note that pickups (and drop-off locations) are limited on Saturday, and there's no service on Sunday. Packages sent to Bermuda may take a day longer than documents.

Express Services

DHL Worldwide Express (441/294-4848.)

Federal Express (441/295-3854.)

International Bonded Couriers (IBC) (441/295-2467. www.ibc.bm.)

Mailboxes Unlimited Ltd. (441/292-6563.)

Sprint International Express (441/296-7866. www.sprint.bm.)