Getting to Bermuda: Options for Traveling to the Bermuda Islands

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Bermuda

Getting There

Bermuda is easily accessible, just over two hours from the east coast; several carriers offer nonstop flights into Bermuda International Airport from most major Eastern and Midwestern US gateways (eg., Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, New York/Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC). Jet Blue (www.jetblue.com) is launching new service; other airlines such as American (www.aa.com) and Continental (www.continental.com) offer low fares to match. Delta (www.delta.com) recently added a late-afternoon flight from Atlanta to open up West Coast business. Other major players include Northwest (www.nwa.com), United (www.united.com), Air Canada (www.aircanada.ca), and British Airways (www.ba.com).

Package Providers
The best bet for air/land deals is via such discounters as Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), Expedia (www.expedia.com), and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com). The Bermuda Department of Tourism website (www.bermudatourism.com) offers occasional seasonal promotions; past examples have included "Compliments of Bermuda" ($300 off a companion's airfare) and, in tandem with TNT Vacations (www.tntvacations.com) a "Spectacular Sunday" long-weekend hotel package with $98 roundtrip charter flight from Boston and New York.

GETTING AROUND BERMUDA
In keeping with Bermuda's strict environmental regulations, there are no rental cars. But there's no shortage of transportation options, from horse-drawn carriage rides to water taxis. Bikes, scooters and mopeds are most traditional. You must be at least 16 to rent the latter two; remember to scoot on the left-side of the road. Ferries and buses provide excellent public transportation to every corner.

Oleander Cycles (441/234-2764 main office; Valley Rd., Paget, 441/236-BIKE; Gorham Rd., Hamilton, 441/295-0919; Middle Rd., Southampton, 441/234-0629; York St., St. George's, 441/297-0478; www.oleandercycles.bm) offers convenient locations, competitive rates, instruction and a private practice area for novices, as well as complimentary transportation to and from hotels. Prices run $50-55/day (helmets, locks, and first tank of gas included), with multi-day discounts; helmets are mandatory.

Taxis are metered; the fare starts at $5.75 for the first mile, $2 each additional mile. Rates increase 25% after midnight and on Sundays and public holidays. Cabbies -- most of them many-generation Bermudian -- are friendly fonts of information, happily dispensing advice and recommendations. A blue flag on the front indicates that the driver is an accredited tour guide. Reliable dispatchers include Radio Cabs (441/295-4141), Bermuda Taxi Operators (441/292-4175), and Sandys Taxi Company (441/234-2344).

The Sea Express Ferry leaves Hamilton's Ferry Terminal (Front St; $4; www.seaexpress.bm) several times daily according to season, plying the windy Great Sound on four routes: Blue (Hamilton-West End-Dockyard), Pink (Hamilton-Paget-Warwick), Green (Hamilton-Rockaway-Somerset bridge), and the seasonal (mid-April to November) Orange (Hamilton-Dockyard-St. George's). You can also purchase a Transportation Pass good for unlimited bus and ferry rides ($12/day; $28/three-day; $35/four-day; $45/week; kids are half-price).

Buses (441/292-3851; www.bermudabuses.com; $3–$4.50) are pink or blue (to reflect the beaches and sky) and run mostly every half hour. Roughly a dozen routes crisscross the island, divided into 14 zones, each of which is roughly 2 miles long. You must have exact change or tokens (no bills accepted) to board the bus; stops are marked by striped poles – a pink top indicates buses headed toward Hamilton, a blue one is out of Hamilton.