There`s a too-often ignored wintertime getaway for Midwesterners to consider-the self-governing British colony of Bermuda, an Atlantic alternative to the more commonplace Caribbean destinations.
Prices tend to rise for Caribbean trips during this season, but they drop dramatically for trips to Bermuda, where the average high temperature ranges from 79 in October to 68 in January, February and March.
A caution, however, to water sports fans: While highly inviting in the summer, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are not as practical during the winter, when the water temperature falls to the mid-60s. If it`s swelter you seek, you won`t find it in off-season Bermuda, 600 miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and more than 1,000 miles northeast of Miami.
The island encourages off-season tourism by scheduling events such as the World Rugby Classic, animal shows, equestrian events and a seemingly endless series of golf tournaments. (See accompanying story.)
Long a sophisticated playground for residents of the Atlantic seaboard, this cluster of volcanic islands is definitely within range of Chicagoans intent on escaping snow and wind chill for a break as short as an extended weekend. The heartland traveler will find a semitropical paradise of tennis and golf (mention Chicago and many a friendly Bermudan will relate excitedly that Michael Jordan played this or that course).
It`s possible to leave Chicago early in the morning and be on clay courts or a croquet lawn by midafternoon in the Atlantic Time Zone.
American Airlines, for example, through Dec. 1, offers a 6:30 a.m. departure from O`Hare International Airport, with a stop in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., that arrives in Bermuda at 1:45 p.m. From December through March, a less convenient connection is available through New York City.
Delta Dream Vacations offers an 8:10 a.m. departure from Chicago, with a stop in Atlanta, and arrival in Bermuda at 3:50 p.m.
While the idea of catching a 6:30 a.m flight might not seem as inviting when the alarm buzzes at 3:30, the payoff comes with same-day strolling on a pink sand beach in secluded Jobson`s Cove or postcard-perfect Horseshoe Bay, both on the South Shore.
Dine the first night at your hotel, guest house or cottage colony, a genuinely Bermudan gathering of individual cottages around a central clubhouse/dining pavilion. One way to prepay for food but still enjoy variety is to book the stay with a participant in a ”dine-around” plan, which allows visitors to eat at other selected hotels of the same category around the island.
Spend the remainder of the trip being as active or inactive as you like;
the options are many (see accompanying story). Depending on the time of your departure, your last day in Bermuda can afford nearly a full day of excursions (perhaps shopping, spelunking or horseback riding) before arriving in Chicago in time to unpack and catch the 10 o`clock news.
Things to know before you go:
– Travelers entering Bermuda need to bring proof of citizenship. For U.S. visitors, this can mean a passport, a birth certificate with raised seal or a voter`s registration card and a picture ID.
– Lodging options are many, and what you choose will depend on budget, personal preferences on size and desirable activities and availability of transportation. Less expensive can be the smaller guesthouses and hotels not on water. There also are larger guesthouses, often stately old Bermuda mansions with heated pools and lighted tennis courts; some serve complimentary tea and finger sandwiches. Cottage colonies provide personal attention with the comforts of home but can be expensive. Housekeeping cottages usually have kitchen facilities and may be a way to save money if you feel like cooking meals. The best way to investigate the range is to contact a Bermuda Department of Tourism office for a ”Where to Stay” brochure containing photographs, descriptions and an excellent map.
– You can`t rent a car on Bermuda unless you are a resident. However, you can travel from one end of the 22-mile-long main island to the other by rented mo-ped (for the confident driver), taxi (luxurious, but expensive-the 7-mile trip from the Pompano Beach Club to Newstead at tea-time cost $20), local bus (much less expensive and a nice way to meet residents) or ferry (civilized and reliable but limited by schedules and destinations). Bermudans, and visitors on mo-peds, must drive on the left side of the roads, which though well-paved, are narrow by U.S. standards.
– Bermuda is a hassle-free way to visit a ”foreign” country. It
”feels” British, but language won`t be a problem and U.S. dollars are used interchangably with Bermudan currency. Bermuda bills and coins are colorful and beautiful and worth seeking out. They depict local flora and fauna while honoring the island`s British heritage. The bronze penny, for example, shows Queen Elizabeth II on one side and a wild hog on the other. A cheaper souvenir is hard to find.
– There is no sales tax, but other taxes can creep up, including a 6 percent government room tax and a 5 to 10 percent hotel service charge in lieu of tips for housekeeping, bellman, etc., and some hotels have an energy surcharge of about $2 a person a day. There`s also a Bermuda departure tax paid at the airport of $15 an adult and $5 a child age 3-12.
When booking, ask which taxes are and are not included in the quoted price, if you want to avoid an ugly surprise later. For example, various meal plans are available at certain hotels, including a modified American plan supplying breakfast and dinner daily, but some packages already include a 16 percent charge for tips, a fee you won`t want to unknowingly pay twice. –
