Bermuda on a Budget
Bermuda doesn’t easily come to mind as a budget destination. No, Bermuda conjures up images of stuffy golf courses, rich men in Bermuda shorts, and moneyed couples lounging at $500-a-night resorts. But while I think it would be tough to do Bermuda on a true shoestring, it’s definitely possible to enjoy this civilized island on a less-than-princely salary, especially if you’re coming from the East Coast of the U.S., where short, cheap flights to Hamilton are abundant.
So, how to hack Bermuda?
Lodging
I stayed in this apartment, one of my favorite Airbnb experiences to date. It was spacious, gorgeous, had a private pool, and I was able to arrange transport from the airport via the owner. Split by two people, this is a great deal for a dream apartment, and Airbnb has lots of deals like this. I highly recommend staying in an area of Bermuda that you’d like to spend a lot of time in, because non-residents can’t rent a car on the island. Which brings us to…
Transport
As an avowed public transportation lover and renowned klutz, my options were few on Bermuda. I don’t rent cars while traveling anyway, and I wasn’t about to try my luck with renting a motor scooter. So I made sure to choose an Airbnb within walking distance to a few restaurants and other means of transportation. I was able to take the shuttle from a local hotel down to the legendary Horseshoe Bay (awesome, and free); took the public bus a couple of times (fine, but long wait times), used the Bermuda Railway Trail to walk off of the highway (convenient, but only use this during the day), and, on occasion, used a taxi. Although the island isn’t huge, if you stay on one end and are constantly wanting to go to the other side, it could become costly and/or time-consuming.
Food
Groceries in Bermuda have some of the most outrageous pricing I’ve ever seen—worse than Iceland! So while it’s great to find a place with a kitchen, cooking doesn’t really save you that much dough in Bermuda. Seven-dollar Cheerios, anyone? No thanks. Instead I recommend making pilgrimages to try some of Bermuda’s delicious signature dishes at local places…and maybe pack some Kind bars.
Beaches
Blessedly, the most compelling reason to come to Bermuda is its jaw-dropping pink sand beaches, which are completely free. So if you aren’t into pricey golfing or fancy hotels and you’re able to find reasonable flights and lodging, I can’t recommend this island enough. It’s a quick flight if you’re coming from the east coast, it’s English-speaking, and it boasts some of the most gorgeous beaches and architecture I’ve ever seen. Have a Bermudaful trip!
