Sunset at Elbow Beach resort
I
just returned yesterday from my first visit to this stunning island with
a unique location in the Atlantic Ocean (I was lucky enough to stay at the fabulous Elbow Beach resort), and am already planning my
next visit! Here are just a few of the reasons why:
1. The flights
Total time from takeoff at New York's JFK airport
to arrival at LF Wade international airport on Bermuda? 1 hour and 35
minutes! My only complaint? Such a short flight meant that I did not get
to see the last 5 minutes of the movie I was watching on the seat-back
screen. Ah, I suppose there are worse problems...
Coming
back, I flew from Bermuda into Atlanta. Even with headwinds and about
50% more distance to cover, I was still in the air for under 2.5 hours.
For travelers in the Midwest, and especially on the west coast, getting to Caribbean islands
can be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring overnight flights or
long layovers due to most flights leaving in the morning from the East
Coast. But thanks to a couple of evening flights from Boston and New
York, travelers coming from further west can easily get to Bermuda the
same day with just one simple connection!
2. The Bermudians
From the moment you go through customs and immigration in Bermuda (where
the booths sit next to a paneled English fireplace topped with a
portrait of Queen Elizabeth, natch),
you notice the huge smiles and genuine friendliness of the Bermudian
people. Rightfully proud of their island, they are welcoming and
gracious hosts, full of wonderful stories and information, and from what
I could tell, love to share a hearty laugh! And they love their
cocktails - making them definitely my kind of people! Which brings us
to...
3. The national cocktails
Pick your poison - rum swizzle or dark n' stormy? The former is my
personal favorite, but that did not stop me from sampling (for research
purposes only, of course) quite a few of the latter as well.
Islanders and visitors alike may disagree on where to find the best, and
it seems like most locals will say no one makes them like mama, but
rest assured that it's hard to find a bad rum swizzle or dark n' stormy
anywhere on-island! For my money, dapper, charming Danny at Elbow Beach
(see photo above) wins the award
for the most delectable rum swizzles (and best stories - he's been at
the resort since 1959)!
4. The beaches
I
was blown away by the (approximately 63) stunning beaches here!
Unfortunately I only got to visit a tiny fraction during my short stay, but that's a great excuse to go back! Warwick/Long Bay was my favorite on the island. With a long stretch of
pink sand backed by dramatic rock and lush greenery and lapped by
crystal clear turquoise
and royal blue water, enough wave action to keep things fun without
risking your neck, and portions where I did not see a single soul,
what's there not to like? If you climb up over the rocks at one end
(there's a little trail as well), you can also reach a tiny grotto in
the rocks that acts as a natural swimming pool. A tiny concession rents
umbrellas $15+$10 deposit) and sells some simple food items (hot dogs,
fries, chicken fingers) and water/soda, but if you prefer your beach day
to include beer or rum, be sure to bring your own!
As an island nation, of course seafood tops the list
of things to eat in Bermuda. And they do a fantastic job with it -
everything from locally caught tuna made into delectable tartare to
pecan crusted swordfish, enormous shrimp, and the (elusive but
apparently incredibly lobster-like) hogfish. But the restaurant scene in
Bermuda offers so much more as well - whether you're in the mood for
Italian, French, Asian, English pub grub, or just about anything else,
you can find it here! Be sure to check out the Ocean Club at Fairmont
Southampton (and request a table next to the railing for incredible
views), Lido at Elbow Beach (go early enough to enjoy the sunset from the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows),
Sul Verde at Rosewood Tucker's Point (the antipasti buffet and
mozzarella bar alone are worth the trip), and Swizzle Inn (a Bermuda
institution, now with 2 locations and an especially delicious pizza -
aptly named "The Favorite").
View from Ocean Club (with rainbow)
