Bermuda Country

Introduction
Sunshine, cruise ships, Bermuda shorts and some 150 islands beckon you to the middle of nowhere. Think Bermuda and images of tidy pastel cottages, professional gents in ties and shorts, pink-sand beaches, and quintessential British traditions like cricket matches and afternoon tea spring to mind. For once the stereotype matches the reality.

Destination Facts
Capital: Hamilton
Governor: Sir John Vereker (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Premier: Ewart Brown
Government: parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Time zone: GMT -4
Area: 57
Population: 65365
Languages: Christian (28% Anglican, 15% Roman Catholic)
Currency: Bermudian Dollar (BD$)
Weight System: Imperial
Country Dialing Code: 441

Getting There
In terms of tourism the island has two seasons. The 'summer season' refers to the months of April through October, when Bermuda enjoys its warmest air and water temperatures and sees perfect conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving. It's also the most vibrant time on the island, with greater entertainment options and more visitors milling about. Midsummer is also the muggiest time of the year, and due to high humidity (which averages 84% in August) it can be a bit uncomfortable. The winter season (November to March) is a bit too cool for swimming, and many tourist-related agencies, like diving companies and boat tours, suspend operations for part of the season. However, accommodation can be up to 40% cheaper and you can escape the crowds and the colder winter of more northern climes. The best conditions for windsurfing also tend to be in winter.

Getting there and away
There are regular scheduled flights to Bermuda from the USA, Canada and the UK. Travellers arriving from other destinations by air will need to connect through one of these countries. Several airlines offer direct service from New York, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Washington DC. Air Canada flies daily from Toronto and weekly from Halifax. British Airways flies direct daily from London-Heathrow. The departure tax on all air flights is 25.00, which is usually included in the price of your ticket. Between April and October, some 17,000 cruise ship passengers sail to Bermuda each year. Most cruise ships sail from US East Coast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Newport, Wilmington, Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. They all suspend operations in the winter months. Cruise ship passengers pay a 60.00 departure tax, which is usually included in the price of your ticket.

Getting around
There are no car rentals in Bermuda. Visitors can ride public buses and ferries, rent a moped or scooter, use taxis - or even hire a horse and carriage. The island is so tiny and the public bus system so good that even the most independent travellers will not miss having their own vehicles. To ride the bus you need to have the exact fare in coins. Metered taxis can be found at the airport and most large hotels. Taxis can also double as tour operators if you want to piece together your own sightseeing tour of the island. Drivers turn off the meter in such circumstances and generally turn on the charm. Their knowledge and commentary can add plenty of local colour to a tour. Expect to pay an hourly rate. Bermuda's narrow winding roads can be challenging for riders not used to mopeds so make sure you're comfortable on two wheels before you hire a machine for the week. Enough visitors spill their mopeds for the term 'road rash' to be part of the island vernacular. To hire a moped you need to be 16 years old, wear a helmet and promise to drive on the left side of the road. Strangely bicycling is not a particularly popular way of getting round, though some moped rental stores do rent bikes. Be prepared to work up a sweat. Ferries are a scenic way to get around and, in some cases, are much faster than the bus. Ferries connect Hamilton with Paget, Warwick and the Somerset/Dockyard area. Walking is the obvious way to get around Bermuda's towns but walking between towns is not much fun since the narrow roads rarely have sidewalks. Horse and carriage rides are for romance rather than getting from A to B.

Visa:
Starting in December 2006, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all visitors to Bermuda to have a valid passport and proof of a return ticket. No visas are required.

Weather
While the name might conjure up torrential storms, rainfall on Bermuda is moderate and evenly distributed throughout the year. While there is a slight drop in rainfall around April, temperatures in the proceeding months tend to rise comfortably above 25° C (80° F), peaking in August and taking the chill off the nights of the earlier months.