Typical Costs
Accommodation – There are no hostels available in Bermuda. Hotel costs range from 225-500 BMD for a single or double room. A bed and breakfast for two in Hamilton can cost upwards of 180 BMD. Staying in an apartment may be the cheaper option, with starting prices around 120 BMD. You’ll have your own private space with a private bathroom, as well as a full kitchen to cook your own meals. You might (MIGHT) get lucky and find a room for as little as 80 BMD per night in the low season. Airbnb and privately rented rooms are going to be your cheapest paid option.
Average cost of food – Food is not cheap in Bermuda. You can find affordable burgers or pizza for 5-8 BMD from the food trucks near the beaches. Cheap restaurants with a full menu (appetizer, soup/salad, main entree) start at 10 BMD, but are often closer to 20 BMD. A meal at most nice restaurants (especially in Hamilton) begin at 30 BMD. If you are staying in a place that offers a kitchenette, you will spend about 100 BMD on groceries every 4-5 days. Even something like a McDonald’s combo meal will cost you around 12 BMD.
Transportation costs – Buses, ferries, and taxis provide a good portion of transportation throughout the islands. A one-way bus or ferry trip costs 4 BMD. All taxis are fitted with a meter and it will read 6.40 BMD when you first get in. You will be charged 6 BMD for first mile plus 2 BMD for each subsequent mile. A lot of bus lines stop running around 8 pm, and taxis become the only way to get around.
Money Saving Tips
Book early – If you want cheap accommodation, you’ll need to book rooms at least a month in advance. Avoid hotels and resorts, and instead stay at a bed and breakfast or home rental property. If you are staying with a group, definitely rent a large apartment as it is far less per person than a hotel room.
Couchsurf – There are only a handful Couchsurfing hosts in Bermuda, many of which have private rooms available, but if you want to succeed in reserving one, make sure you inquire really early in order to maximize your chances of success.
Rent a motorbike – Motorbikes are the most convenient and economical transportation on the island. Since buses are infrequent and taxis are expensive, having a motorcycle will give you more freedom to travel at a lower cost. Motorbike rentals begin at around 50 BMD a day but get cheaper the longer you rent them—four days will cost an average of 35 BMD per day.
Stay central – While Hamilton is not set on a beautiful pink sand beach, it’s the center for all the buses and ferries leaving the city. If you rent an apartment and aren’t careful, you can end up somewhere far from a bus stop (which means more taxis). Staying in or near Hamilton will ensure you’re near all the bus lines so you can avoid spending too much money on transportation.
Skip the fancy food – There’s good food to be found on Bermuda, but it’s expensive. Avoid all the big, fancy restaurants (ok, enjoy one nice meal), and go for smaller stalls and local restaurants where prices, though still high, are more economical. My two favorite places were Specialty Inn and North Rock Brewing Co. Additionally, the cafe at Cambridge Resorts is reasonably priced despite being at a resort. Most meals will cost between 10-20 BMD.
Cook – If you skipped the hotel and rented an apartment, you’ll have a kitchen. There’s an ever-growing local and organic foodie scene on the island, so you can find a lot of cheap fruits, vegetables, and meats at markets and shops that will help lower your costs dramatically.
Top Things to See and Do in Bermuda
Explore the Crystal and Fantasy Caves – These caves are small, and you’re not exactly on an adventure expedition, but they are pretty beautiful to check out. Other than the beaches, they were one of my favorite attractions on the island.
Visit the Devil’s Hole Aquarium – This is a small but unique aquarium, allowing patrons to ‘fish’ for reef fish and turtles (bait only, no hooks). You can also visit the Bermuda National Zoo and Aquarium. This zoo is unique because visitors can walk into the habitats of the animals due to the small nature of the facility. It’s a fun family activity.
Climb the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse – One the oldest cast iron structures in the world, you can climb to the observation deck for spectacular views of the island and the surrounding waters. There is also a tea room at its base offering drinks and snacks (but it’s overpriced). The entrance fee is definitely worth the view.
Explore the Royal Naval Dockyard – This area is where the cruise ships come in has the National Museum of Bermuda, restaurants, bars, and offers some great people watching. You can take the ferry over to Hamilton from here too. Since all the cruise ships come here, everything in the Dockyards is pretty expensive but I liked the area to wander around, grab an ice cream, and people watch. It’s very much an entertainment area, complete with snorkel area and mini-golf!
Walk the Bermuda Railway – This is a public walking trail that stretches from St. George Town in the east end of Bermuda, through Pembroke Parish near the City of Hamilton and on toward Somerset Village in the west end. It’s a long but very easy walk across the island. There’s not a lot of shade on the trail so be sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen. Don’t get burnt like me!
Visit the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity – If you’re looking for history, great architecture, or spectacular views, then you should stop by the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity. The church was built in an English style in the 19th century.
Explore the Fort St. Catherine – Located at the northeastern end of St. George’s Island, this 17th century fort offers many opportunities to learn about history, architecture, and take in beautiful views, but on top of that, you can see a replica set of the Crown Jewels. Along the way are some cool coves to cool off in and restaurants to eat in. Away from the “bustle” of the main Western beaches, I found it the most relaxing and quiet part of the island.
Relax on the many beaches – You can’t come to Bermuda without scheduling plenty of time to relax on the beaches and just do nothing. Some of the best beaches include Church Bay, Elbow Beach, and Chaplin Bay. There’s the famous Pink Sand Beach, which is definitely worth a visit but stay away from the main entrance as it gets super crowded with those coming in from the cruise ships. I head west to the more secluded beaches. There’s a trail that connects all the beaches in this part of the island allowing you to beach hop.
Play golf – As a luxury destination, Bermuda knows how to cater to high-end North American tourists with high-quality golf courses. I don’t golf but my friends have told me it’s some of the best courses in the region and any golf aficionado should hit the links while in the country! I guess with so many billionaires on the island, a quality golf course is no surprise!
Wander through Spittal Pond Nature Reserve – This nature reserve is Bermuda’s largest. Between November-May, it’s home to at least 25 species of waterfowl. You can take a guided tour or just wander the walking Trails on your own.
Go diving – Bermuda is a prime diving location, with stunning water and a great variety of tropical sea life. Moreover, it’s known as the shipwreck capital of the world (is that a good thing?!), which means there are plenty of wrecks to explore.
Tour the Tucker House – For an idea of what colonial life was like on Bermuda, you can tour the historic Tucker House. It dates back to the early 18th century and contains a wonderful collection of household items—silverware, porcelain, portraits, furniture, etc. Entrance is 5 BMD which includes admission into the Rainey Exhibit and Archaeology Exhibit as well.
Enjoy some Watersports – Whether you’re interested in kayaking, sailing, parasailing, yachting, or waterskiing, Bermuda has a lot of water-based activities to offer. Take advantage of them by booking a tour or renting equipment for an afternoon
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