Bermuda on a Budget

If you’re like me, I bet you’re already thinking about S.U.M.M.E.R. It could just be the teacher in me talking, but summer is a great time to reset. This past August, Ben and I planned a quick, last-minute trip to Bermuda. We spent July working and taking separate vacations to Europe to visit family. (Portugal and England). We literally had 4 days, so we knew the trip would have to be quick. We wanted something different from Cape Cod or Newport- two childhood favorites. Bermuda has always been a favorite vacation spot of mine since visiting as a child. A few quick Expedia searches and we were good to go!

In a nutshell- Bermuda is close, inexpensive to get to, beautiful, and extremely safe. A win-win in our book. We stayed in St. George’s which is on one end of the island. I would describe it as peaceful, serene, and almost sleepy (in a good way). If you are looking for lively nightlife- stay in Hamilton.

Flight, Ground Transportation, and Getting Around

We flew from JFK to Bermuda on the quickest flight ever. We were in the air for just under two hours. Our flights were super inexpensive- under $200 each roundtrip. Once we arrived in Bermuda, we decided to take a taxi to St. George’s- which is where we stayed. The city bus is a safe and reliable option, but they do not allow large luggage. Taxis are readily available outside the airport and cost around $30.

While in Bermuda, we used the city bus to get to and from Hamilton and some of the beaches. The bus routes are easy to follow and safe.

****We flew home on a Sunday and had a horrible time trying to find a taxi and almost missed our flight. We called an hour before we needed to leave and were barely able to get one. Most taxi drivers are at church all day on Sunday, which is why it can be complicated to get a taxi.

Where We Stayed

Both of the pictures posted above were taken about a 3 minute walk from the apartment we rented. We rented using VRBO and found this cute, super-budget friendly apartment called Forecaster’s Cottage. It is located in St. George’s, a short walk from town. The exact listing is linked here. It was clean, had air conditioning, and was a short walk from the market. It is also walking distance from a few great restaurants and low-key bars. About a 25 minute walk from a few very quiet and serene beaches (pictured above).

Where We Ate

The food in Bermuda is not cheap. If you are going to splurge on something- it is dinner. Renting an apartment allowed us to cook our own healthier breakfast and even pack lunch to bring to the beach. Since we were only in Bermuda for three nights, we decided to spend 2 nights in St. George’s and travel to Hamilton one night for dinner and drinks. Hamilton is about a 40-minute bus ride from St. George’s.

Great spots in St. Georges:

Wahoo’s is a must-visit. It was located right down the street from our rental. They have everything from salads, burgers, and sandwiches to cold drinks and nice wine selection. The best part is- the view. You can’t beat it!

Tempest Bistro was a short walk from our apartment. We had an incredible dinner there. Ben still talks about their deconstructed cheesecake.

We watched the most incredible sunset while eating dinner at The Beach House. It’s located near Fort St. Catherine’s Beach and St. George’s Club (which is where I stayed as a kid!) It is a bit off the beaten path, but the view makes it worth it. The food wasn’t spectacular, but the view was unforgettable.

Great spots in Hamilton:

After much deliberation, we decided to eat dinner at Barracuda Grill,. I’m glad that we did! It is a higher-end seafood restaurant with incredible service. We had a great dinner, but unfortunately they do not have outdoor seating.

After dinner, we enjoyed drinks at a few outdoor bars, including one with a fun rooftop.

Great Memories