{"id":100,"date":"2009-04-06T12:03:25","date_gmt":"2009-04-06T17:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/bermuda-a-caribbean-vacation-with-british-flair\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T12:42:22","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T18:42:22","slug":"bermuda-a-caribbean-vacation-with-british-flair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/bermuda-a-caribbean-vacation-with-british-flair\/","title":{"rendered":"Bermuda: a Caribbean vacation with British flair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Caribbean<\/a> By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

With winter weather turning skies gray, a Caribbean vacation<\/a><\/strong> has never looked more tempting. Why not head to Bermuda? Here are some great vacation tips to help you enjoy this small but stunning sub-tropical island located just 650 miles off the Southeastern U.S. coast.<\/p>\n

Get on the Greens<\/strong><\/p>\n

With seven play-able golf courses and one golf academy spread across 21 square miles, Bermuda is proud to have more golf courses per capita<\/strong> than any other place in the world. The newest course on the island is the resort course Belmont Hills. St. George\u2019s on the eastern coast is currently closed, but will reopen as a Nick Faldo<\/strong> course some time in 2012, bringing the total number to eight. Port Royal Golf Course<\/strong> on the west side of the island is reopening for play early this summer, after a complete redesign.Port Royal is a government-owned course, as is Ocean\u2019s View <\/strong>on the north shore of the island. Tee times can be reserved at (441) 295-9092. All the other courses on the island are semi-private resort courses.<\/p>\n

Think Pink!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bermuda is famous among Caribbean vacation destinations for its pink sand beaches. Ninety-five percent of the island\u2019s beaches — including most of the pink sand ones — are freely accessible to the public. The most famous is probably Horseshoe Bay<\/strong> in Southampton. Blue water laps up on rosy sand and swirls around the impressive chunks of limestone that create a natural border. Families, retirees and honeymooners relax on chaise lounges and snorkel the crystalline cove. Beach facilities include a sundries shop, snorkel gear rental, and a lifeguard in the summer months. Other beautiful public beaches include Shelly Bay<\/strong> (great for kids) andElbow Beach<\/strong> (popular with windsurfers and sunbathers alike). If you want something a bit more engaging than a lazy beach day, check out Snorkel Park<\/a><\/strong> in the Royal Naval Dockyard. Bermuda\u2019s newest big beachfront attraction, it features snorkeling, sailboats, kayaks<\/strong>, a giant water slide<\/strong> and all kinds of other aquatic entertainment. The onsite restaurant throws beach parties during the summer.<\/p>\n

\"Caribbean<\/a> Enjoy Old World Traditions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bermuda is the oldest existing British colony in the West. Thanks to this heritage, the island retains many British influences and traditions, from mid-afternoon tea & crumpets to the formal\/conservative dinner dress code still enforced at finer restaurants on the island. Both of the Fairmont hotels on the island do traditional afternoon tea service<\/strong>. The Fairmont Hamilton Pricess<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>is more of an occasion — it\u2019s been lauded as one of the ten best high teas in the world<\/strong>, in fact. This dressed-up mid-afternoon event features fresh-baked pastries, housemade sorbet, and a specialPrincess Bermuda Blend Tea.<\/p>\n

Go Luxe on the South Shore<\/strong><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s a luxury Caribbean vacation you\u2019re after, the stunning hotels on Bermuda\u2019s south shore offer all the barefoot bliss and Colonial-inspired elegance you could desire. Tucker\u2019s Point<\/strong> is the latest entry into the luxe market — and it is a stunner, with a 14,000 square foot spa, an 18-hole golf course (opened in 2002), a lounge dedicated to high tea service, and ensuite wet bars and fireplaces. However, established resorts continue to improve their offerings — just look at 2008\u2019s multi-million-dollar makeover of the kitchens and restaurants at The Reefs<\/a><\/strong>, or the new oceanfront spa at Elbow Beach Bermuda<\/a> by Mandarin Oriental<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Or Relax on the East<\/strong><\/p>\n

Modern hustle and bustle has not yet encroached too much on Bermuda\u2019s quiet Eastern shore — and hotels like Aunt Nea\u2019s Inn<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>in historic Olde Towne seem a throwback to yester-century. Snorkel Tobacco Bay, or visit the quaint Bermuda Perfumery<\/strong> in its new location at Stewart Hall.<\/p>\n

Consider a Cruise<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bermuda cruises<\/a><\/strong> have always been popular, due to the island's temperate weather and proximity to major northeastern cities. Cruising also tends to be agood value proposition, since even luxury liners have a packaged price that\u2019s much less than airfare plus multi-night hotel stays and meals at a four-star property. Since Bermuda is a single destination with multiple cruise ship ports, it lends itself to multi-night stopovers<\/strong>. This allows passengers to explore at a more relaxed pace — have a restaurant dinner, or play a full day of golf followed by drinks at the clubhouse. In 2009, Holland America<\/strong> introduces a new seven-day itinerary departing out of New York and staying for multiple nights in Hamilton and St. Georges. Royal Caribbean\u2019s<\/strong> Jewel of the Seas<\/a><\/strong> does a five-night trip from Boston that includes two nights at King\u2019s Wharf. April 2009 saw a second cruise pier named Heritage Wharf open adjacent to theoriginal King\u2019s Wharf pier at Royal Naval Dockyard on the West End.<\/p>\n

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