Hawaii or Bermuda, Which with Kids?
 

Trying to decide between visiting Hawaii or Bermuda with children this summer. Been to Maui and everybody loved it. Should we try Bermuda? How do prices compare? Bermuda hotels seem even more expensive than Hawaii. Is there enough to do in Bermuda for a week?<BR>Appreciate help in deciding.

Never been to Hawaii, but I can tell you about Bermuda.<BR><BR>You don't say how old your kids are, so it's hard to say what they'd like in Bermuda. However, no matter what their ages, they and you are probably going to find Bermuda a little staid.<BR><BR>The island essentially shuts down around 10 pm, and during the day, you're limited pretty much to beach, golf or tennis. (The beaches are very pretty.) <BR><BR>Yes, there are a few sights to visit and stuff like snorkeling might fill a half-day, but all in all, Bermuda is a spot people go to for relaxation and not much else.<BR><BR>Maybe someone else has a different take on it, but that's how I see it.<BR><BR>

It depends on what you enjoy Bernie, (and Sue). We took our kids to Bermuda when they were 13 and 16 and we all remember this as the best family vacation ever. It was expensive...I didn't even want to ask my husbnad what it cost, but we felt it was WELL worth the expense, it was such fun. <BR><BR>Our entire family loves the water and that was the kids' introduction to snorkeling. We could snorkel every day all day and not be bored, which we did for a week there. <BR><BR>I had researched it pretty thoroughly and my husband and I had been twice previously so had some ideas for this trip. Our daughter had just turned 16, had her drivers license, so was allowed her own moped. Our son rode behind my husband (much to son's dismay)! I plotted out a different beach in a different section of the island to snorkel each day and some attractions to visit on the way out to that beach, while we still looked somewhat decent. We did things with them we had not done on previous trips...glass bottom boat, arboretum, thorough exploration of St. George and the fort, Crystal Caves, lighthouse, rails to trails. We saw the island from end to end and each day was delightful. Took a day in Hamilton as well. DH and son played golf one day while daughter and I did more shopping. We never ran out of things to do, and as I said, fondly recall this as our best family vacation and we did some nice ones with them...Cayman, Cancun, the coast of Maine, SF and northern CA coast.<BR><BR>Now, if your kids are younger, transportation could be a problem. I would not have been comfortable riding one of the kids behind me on my moped, though my husband was fine with it. It was all I could do to remember which side of the road I was supposed to be on, let alone worry about what the kids were doing. And...there are no rental cars. There are taxis and buses if you can't do mopeds.<BR><BR>Bermuda is an entirely different beauty than Maui, but I acutally find it prettier...narrow little roads, stone walls, pastels homes with white tile roofs, flowers everywhere. You are hard pressed to find any corner of the island that is even remotely substandard. It's simply a beautiful spot!

I'd go with Hawaii. I've visited and enjoyed both, but Hawaii is way more laid back, and, I would think, kid friendly. Bermuda is ... well, British.

A major factor is where are you traveling from? Is it a 12 hour ride to either place?

I agree mainly with Olive Oyl's sentiments above--but Bermuda more beautiful than Maui? NEVER!! But it is a GREAT island just the same and I must admit that the beaches are more beautiful than Maui's, definitely worth seeing just for those beautiful beaches! However, be forewarned that they do have a "portuguese-man-o-war season" that can RUIN your vacation!! I think the man-o-war season runs through June or July so be careful of your vacation dates!!