About Bermuda
Bermuda is a cluster of 138 coral islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean 564 miles off of North Carolina. There are six principle islands that cover an area of 21.6 square miles and are interconnected by 12 bridges and a causeway. Despite its geographical location so far north of the Caribbean Bermuda is entirely frost-free, snow-free and ice-free. Why? Because the warm waters of the Gulf Stream pass near Bermuda. The climate is sub-tropical, mild in the winter, spring and autumn (fall), but from late May to October hot and with especially high humidity.
Bermuda is divided into 9 parishes, from West to East:
Sandys
Southampton
Warwick
Paget
Devonshire
Pembroke (in which the City of Hamilton is located)
Smith’s
Hamilton Parish (not to be confused with the City of Hamilton)
St. George’s
capital and main port of Bermuda is the City of Hamilton. Hamilton overlooks the harbour and is compact so is therefore easily covered on foot. This is the main center for shops, bars, restaurants and most of the international businesses.
History
Bermuda is named after the man who first discovered it, Spanish navigator Juan de Bermudez. Who was shipwrecked on local reefs in 1503. Bermuda had no permanent residents until 1609 when the flagship "Sea Venture" from Britain was caught in a tempest and shipwrecked off of St.George’s. Today, Bermuda remains a completely self-governing British Overseas Territory biding by its own laws and not those of the UK.
Population
The population is approximately 68,500 of which 78% is Bermudian. Only the people that are born here with at least one Bermudian parent are considered Bermudian. Otherwise, conditional Bermudian status is granted to those who are born abroad and have a Bermudian parent or spouse. Work permit holders and their dependents are considered to be residents.
Transportation
Any qualified Bermuda resident can legally own a vehicle. The main modes of transportation are moped, scooter, automobile and cycle. Bermuda is considered to be one of the most expensive countries in the world to own and operate a vehicle. The import duty on motor vehicles is extremely high, as is the price of unleaded gasoline which averages at 3 times the cost of that in the US. There is an allowance of only one car per household in Bermuda, which is monitored by the assignment of an assessment number for each dwelling. Only medical doctors are allowed to own and drive a second car. Mopeds and scooters are a popular form of transportation as they are easy to maneuver and significantly less expensive than operating a car. A properly licensed motorbike may be used on Bermuda roads if it is insured and the required driver’s license has been acquired. Other than annual insurance and licensing, there are no other requirements for owning and operating motorbikes.
Beaches
Bermuda offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The variety ranges from small private beaches to larger public beaches. Although the most popular beaches are located on the South Shore of the island, there are extremely favourable beaches on the Northern coast. The white sand has a typical pink hue, which comes from the coral reefs surrounding the island.
Cost of Living
Bermuda’s cost of living rates as one of the highest in the world, with the price of food equaling 2-3 times more overall than in USA/Canada. There are many grocery stores located throughout the island that are generally open between 8am and 8pm. The overall quality of the food is very good although the selection of specialty items can be limited because everything has to be imported. There are a wide variety of restaurants in Bermuda ranging from casual and fairly inexpensive to formal and expensive. There are several choices for international cuisine, including Italian, Japanese and Thai. Restaurants can be found in all of the major hotels on the Island and these can vary from formal dining to casual beachfront facilities. Although we generally pay more for products it is all relative to our income which is due to our thriving economy. The establishment of international business has surpassed tourism as Bermuda’s main source of income and is the reason Bermuda’s has become so affluent.
Recreation
Water sport activities are popular and can be enjoyed by the entire family. There are 2 bowling alleys and 4 movie theaters. The mini golf course offers entertainment for both adults and children. There are several golf courses that offer an expensive yet fantastic outdoor pastime in Bermuda. Bermuda actually has more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. We will provide you with information on any other sports and recreational activities that Bermuda has to offer, including private clubs and Government funded programs.
For further information about life in Bermuda, please contact our Vacation Consultant, lburns@brcl.bm