tedgale

We are leaving for Bermuda in 4 weeks (April 29) -- a first trip there.

We have air tkts and have rented a well-reviewed apartment in Warwick, right on the water, on the opposite side of the harbour from Hamilton (and 100 meters from a ferry stop).

http://www.bermudagetaway.com/indexBL.html#

Apart from that, we are at square one in our planning.

I'm checking the other Bermuda posts but there are not that many threads...

A primary concern is transportation. I'm told ferries and buses are convenient; we can supplement them with taxis. I have misgivings about scooter rental -- I do not drive.

May I ask, what is Fodorites' best advice about transportation?

I'd like to go out for dinner several evenings and wonder how feasible that would be, if we must rely on public means ot scout out a taxi after dark.

I should mention that my spouse has some heart problems, so a lot of hilly walking (which I'd really like to do) will not be possible. Hence our destinations will be the main tourist sites, plus beach walking on the south-shore beaches.

cmcfong

Perfect choice, Ted. You will be delighted with the location of your rental. It is extremely convenient to the ferries and will only be a short walk to the bus. I do not believe the buses run on Harbor Road so you will need to walk to Middle Road to catch a bus or take a ferry into Hamilton to catch a bus there. The bus station is about a ten minute walk from the ferry terminal, but it is uphill so you may want to catch a bus on Front Street.
I love riding mopeds but I do think they are extremely dangerous and if you are not a driver would probably be illadvised for you.
If you would like any suggestions on restaurants, please let me know.
Have a wonderful time in beautiful Bermuda.

tedgale

I'd certainly welcome some restaurant suggestions. I've seen your list of the finest places. We are foodies, more or less, but as this is an "unwinding" holiday, we'd probably prefer something not too fussy.

RE scooters:

My partner told me "No problem with having me drive a 2-person scooter. I had a Lambretta in the 60s!"

A few days later, I casually asked "BTW, what did you do with the Lambretta? Sell it?"

Answer: "Oh... well, I totalled it."

"WHAT? How?"

"Umm, I accidentally crashed into an official motorcade. I plowed into the car carrying Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia. The Lambretta was toast."

So that's how "The Lion of Judah" got rear-ended by a Canadian college student. I don't think we'll be renting mo-peds.

cmcfong

Sounds like the decision is a good one, Ted. Great story.

neighborhood pub-casual Robinhood or HogPenny.

You will be very close to Blu, though it will involve a walk uphill. Fabulous views of the harbor and the food is quite good. It is on a golf course and I have generally found the dress to be casual. In the opposite direction, but also quite close to you is Fourways. I really think you would enjoy it. The Sunday brunch is terrific. Fourways is coat and tie at dinner, but the dress for lunch is a bit more relaxed.

One of my favorite places for lunch (lobster club) is Splendido at Horizons. It is about a ten minute cab ride from your rental, but I think the walk would be a bit much. Another casual restaurant near your rental is the Dining Room at Gibbs Lighthouse...again, wonderful views.

TxgrlinBDA loves Mad Hatters. I will have to give it another try when I am back, but reservations are essential. It is very popular.

I would also recommend Rustico, White Horse Tavern, Lemon Tree and the bar restaurant at the Fairmont Southhampton.


You might also want to check out this deal,
http://www.diningbermuda.com/restaurants.htm

Bermuda is not nearly as formal as it was when I first started visiting in the seventies. Most restaurants now have a smart casual dress code.

Have a wonderful trip and please post a review of your rental. It looks most appealing to me.

cmcfong

Ted, I just saw your note to me on the other thread. Yes, I am very excited about our upcoming trip to Savannah. Just me and 100 or so of my closest friends!

If you think I can be of any help to you in your planning for BDA feel free to write me at my screenname at yahoo.

tedgale

Thanks: I will write to you this weekend at that e-address

Mathieu

My niece and her husband and 6yo just returned from Bermuda 2 weeks ago and said that they had no trouble at all getting around using the buses and ferries or just walking to nearby sites and restaurants. It was easy to get into and around Hamilton.

I don't know specific details except that they stayed at one of the Fairmonts (I think it was in Southhampton and I don't know where that is relative to where you'll be) and they had easy access on foot or by bus/shuttle to several good restaurants. Some were very expensive for the portion sizes.

Its a long time since I was last there but Bermuda is a very pretty island. Pastel houses and limestone roofs.


M

Hllywdbrit

When I was there visiting from the Cruise I worked on there was ready bus transportation available. Frequent stops, clean busses, A/C, and I think it cost about $1.50us. I took a bus from Hamilton to the old unfinished church....

http://www.bnt.bm/Places_to_Visit/unfinished_church.htm

Please go! Its one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Considering returning on my Honeymoon.

cmcfong

You will need to buy a transportation pass (covers buses and ferries) or individual tokens. This can be done at the terminal in Hamilton and post offices.

tedgale

Thanks for advice on tokens or a pass.

We are there for 6 nights so a one week pass may make sense.

It appears that passes can be obtained in only a limited number of places, alas. I suspect our ferry stop (Darrell's Wharf) is too small to sell them.

Will research further. Thanks to all -- I'll check out that church too.

tedgale

Thanks for advice on tokens or a pass.

We are there for 6 nights so a one week pass may make sense.

It appears that passes can be obtained in only a limited number of places, alas. I suspect our ferry stop (Darrell's Wharf) is too small to sell them.

Will research further. Thanks to all -- I'll check out that church too.

txgirlinbda

I am pretty sure there's no staff at Darrell's Wharf. If your flight lands during the day, I believe there's a small post office as you leave the airport (just past Swizzle Inn, as a reference for your taxi driver), if you want to pop in there and see if you can grab your transportation pass first thing.

Another idea is to ask the individual responsible for your rental if they could pick passes (or just a few tokens to make that first trip across the harbor to the ferry terminal) up for you ahead of time and leave them at your apt (for a fee)?

tedgale

Good ideas. The owners live upstairs in this rental, seems very gracious and may be amenable to helping us out.

PS: Curious you mention the Swizzle Inn: We had lunch Saturday with new friends who live here in Ottawa, Canada (We met them in Savannah GA, where we both winter -- seems you have to leave town to make hometown friends) They enjoy Bermuda and recommended the Swizzle Inn, which we'll have to try.

txgirlinbda

Swizzle is just good, basic fun - think business cards on the ceiling, graffiti on the walls (encouraged), and near-lethal rum Swizzles. Sit outside if there's a table.

Mathieu

The best anything 'swizzle' I remember are the sticks that stir a great Dark and Stormy. Cheers !

Tanya

Choose the old Swizzle Inn instead of the newer location. Beware, the pitchers are small but mighty. The bus stops directly out front. There used to be a perfumery across the street - think it is gone now. Crystal Caves are also fun to visit.

Definitely by a pass - good for ferries and buses. Take the ferry to the Dockyard for an afternoon. Easy walking, lots of restaurants, shopping. There is a snorkel park where you can swim with a bar, etc. Sometimes a local band playing.

Walking - not recommended for any distance. The roads are very, very narrow and in some places, no where you can duck off with oncoming traffic. Also remember they drive on the opposite side of the road. As for mopeds/scooters, I would say the investment in a taxi is much more worthwhile. If travelling from the airport to your accommodation, get to know the taxi driver and ask for their card or if they have more than one person servicing the area. Remember, don't expect the cab to show up within a few minutes of calling them. Give them at least 1/2 to one hour before you want them to arrive. Traffic is busy on the roads and no one is in a hurry.

Just past the ferry terminal in downtown Hamilton is a large grocery store where you can purchase just about anything you need. They have a large assortment of wines, etc., and a great deli. You can lunch on the waterfront on one of the benches and you are allowed to consume a cold alcoholic beverage with it.

Robin Hood is a great local bar with pizzas, etc. More of a sports bar. We have also enjoyed breakfast/brunch at a place called the Specialty Inn next to the North Rock Brewery. Great pizzas too. Frog and Onion at the Dockyard and the Hog Penny in Hamilton are great for pub fare.

tedgale

Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice. Now researching restaurants (Thanks to cmcfong and others for dining suggestions)

I think we may eat out at noontime and fix sthg light in our (large and well equipped) apartment in the evening, to avoid dangerous walks/ lack of buses/ impossibility of finding a taxi.

That way, we can integrate restaurant sampling with our daytime sightseeing....

txgirlinbda

Do not worry about not being able to get a taxi back from town in the evenings -restaurants will happily call one, and there are several taxi stands on Front St where they'll be lined up.
Groceries can be expensive -my average grocery bill was close to three times what I pay here in the States -often DH and I found that reasonably priced restaurants weren't much more than shopping. (and that's when we lived there, not on vacation.)
What kind of dining are you looking for?

Tanya

Just remember with groceries ... everything is imported. Coming from Canada, I really didn't notice too much difference in a lot of items. If you are staying at a housekeeping unit with fridge, you can always bring with you a few staples (coffee, etc.) plus frozen meat. We used to bring a soft sided cooler with us. In terms of the taxis, txgirlinbda is correct, from town they are faster, but if ordering from your villa, do so in advance.

tedgale

RE what food we're looking for:

We are, I supppose, foodies. Spouse is a terrific cook. We travel a lot and eat out a lot when we travel.

We appreciate fresh ingredients and authentic, knowledgeable cooking.

But merely "fancy" doesn't much impress us: Been there, done the Michelin star thing.

We'd like to go somewhere where the local folk eat and eat what they eat.