The Bluest of Blue Waters in Bermuda
A week before we landed in Bermuda we weren’t even sure if or where (Bermuda or elsewhere) we would visit. It was a last-minute, quasi-2-year wedding anniversary and need-to-get-out-of-town-ASAP adventure. We originally were trying to find an island that neither of us had been to as Justin had visited 10 years ago for a wedding. But needless to say…I am beyond thrilled landed on Bermuda.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The island is a direct flight from Charlotte and approximately 2.5 hours. There’s [currently] only one flight each way per day: CLT>BDA 11:32>2:33p (local time) the same plane does the return BDA>CLT 3:23p>5:24p. The departure allows for a solid half day of relaxation, pool, beach, etc. before heading home. And we were home with plenty of time to unpack, grab dinner, and get to bed at a reasonable time before the week ahead. Neither flight was even close to full. The return flight had about 60 people on it!
Government protocols to get to Bermuda are not for the faint of heart: from COVID-19 testing to paperwork and vaccine verification it can get a little nerve wracking (shout out to hubs for getting this all sorted). At the time of our travel (September 2021) we were required: negative PCR test 48 hours prior to departure, submission of negative test along with vaccine card and an additional form to fill out that gets approved by the government.
When you land at the airport and go through customs (FINALLY got a stamp in my married-name passport), you take ANOTHER COVID-19 test (not rapid) and receive a red arm band to wear until the results come back before you’re allowed to go about the island (outside of your hotel). If you are not vaccinated, you are required to quarantine upon arrival for a set number of days.
We took our test at 3:30p on Thursday and did not receive the results until 10:45a on Friday. Slightly nerve wracking for sure because if you DO test positive then you are required to quarantine (someone did mention this happened to a friend). We definitely did our best to lay a little low the few days before the trip.
You receive an email from the Bermuda government with your test results and also a link to your SafeKey which restaurants may use to scan and contract trace. Save this one your phone! I screenshotted it. And yes, we were asked! While it was just once, we were not able to sit at the restaurant until we showed proof. Another two restaurants required us to fill out a sheet with our names and phone numbers for contact tracing.
For departure, you are required to show a negative test taken within 72 hours. Because our trip was Thursday to Sunday, our airport test from Thursday covered us, but had we stayed until Monday or Tuesday we would have been required to test again (we did not originally understand this and thought we had to test on Friday but further clarification was we did not need to). Additional paperwork is required to depart and you need access to a printer to do so (the hotel had but if you stay at an Airbnb I feel like this is an important detail).
You can visit and/or bookmark this link to help guide you through the process as protocols may have changed by the time you read this. https://www.gov.bm/applying-bermuda-travel-authorisation
Enough dreary, but important, details…let’s get to the good stuff. Like this note: Bermuda is 1 hour ahead of the U.S. so book reservations accordingly - we found ourselves eating closer to 8/830p ET.
THURSDAY
We checked into the St. Regis Bermuda and wow. This property is breathtaking. It’s the newest resort on the island in the parish of St. George’s so much further from downtown Hamilton which is where a lot of restaurants are. I will say we booked this on points and used an upgrade and that our suite was the most extra room we have both ever stayed in (and that is saying something). Like, it was as large as our home. It had a large dining room table, little butler kitchen, two bathrooms, two balconies, you get the idea. It would be an amazing wedding suite to get ready in with your best friends and family, or even like a family reunion if you wanted to have a chef come in for dinner.
After we walked the whole suite, it was down to very important vacation business. Champagne. Lunch. Drinks. Pool.
We had dinner at BLT Steak which is in the resort (my assumption is BLT contracts out dinner as the breakfast and lunch name is Lina and they occupy the same space). If you’re new around here, my husband has eaten at every major steakhouse and is le tired of them and their white table clothes and stuffy service… BUT. BUT(!) he loved this experience (as did I). The ambiance didn’t hurt either—we were seated on the ground patio overlooking the ocean and pool with these great little table lamps. Dinner was a delight. We were offered an amuse bouche and after mentioning I was gluten free, was served hummus and gluten free bread. Justin’s looked better though: beef pate with gelee. Sigh. The popover was also insane looking (did not eat). We split everything: the Caesar salad (#veggies), the cowboy ribeye (#protein) with mushrooms (#veggies) and fries (#carbs).
Went for a walk on the beach and then called it a night.
FRIDAY
As I mentioned, our test results arrived in the morning over breakfast and I’m not sure if it was the fact that we had only been in the hotel for <24 hours or the fact that we were good to go, but we definitely WENT.
We chilled at the pool for an hour before renting a TWIZY. Y’all i should probably create an IG highlight on this adventure. The TWIZY (check this YouTube video) basically felt like a bobsled rollercoaster seat on four wheels…but Justin drove it (on the LEFT!!!) like a boss. We adventured all the way to Horseshoe Bay (45-minute drive from hotel). It was absolutely stunning. We stopped in Hamilton on the way home for lunch, an ornament (our tradition), and some booze. The ride was such fun; I absolutely loved seeing the towns and taking our time. Lunch at Devil’s Isle was a SilbSquad rec and it was *chefs kiss*. Lots of gluten free options including a gluten free focaccia bread. I had the tuna sandwich on the focaccia because like where else can you find gluten free focaccia?! Justin loved his fish tacos.
Dinner was at their sister restaurant, Village Pantry which is located in the Flatts, about 25 minutes from the St. Regis. We took a cab and after dinner it was easy to ask our server to call another for us. I had a great quinoa bowl, we split some fries, and Justin had a pizza. We sat outside on a really nice covered patio.
SATURDAY
We went for our Saturday run which was beautiful, but also really tough. The hills were no joke. We ran 2.5 miles and walked back and took some photos on the way. I really just wanted to take it all in.
We booked massages and y’all i needed that hour so bad. While I was a little underwhelmed by the spa at the St. Regis as it was small and sort of felt like an afterthought, the garden area and plunge pool were nice. The locker room was probably 10 lockers, plus shower, steam room and sauna. The sitting area before treatment was a bench outside of the treatment rooms. My treatment however—was amazing and made up for the lack of pre/post spa.
We ended up taking a TWIZY again to lunch, this time staying in St. George’s over to Wahoo’s. It was a 4ish minute drive. Justin had the classic must-eat Bermuda fish sandwich and I had, you guessed it, Wahoo at Wahoo’s. It was excellent (and the patio was packed).
More pool time before we cleaned up for drinks and dinner in Hamilton. We pre-booked a cab to take us to The Birdcage where I think I drank some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. Ever. Y’all I’m not joking. The Birdcage is made out of old shipping containers and is situated on the roof almost overlooking the water. Stunning view and incredible hospitality.
We walked just a short way to Harry’s for dinner. I kind of blew it with dinner if we are being honest—it was a steakhouse of sorts and because it had started to rain we sat at the bar which was fine. But like y’all it was fine. And I ate salmon. And it was fine. (Justin really wanted a local lobster and i was shocked when they didn’t have). I would have picked differently for dinner but oh well. Next time ;)
SUNDAY
We spent the morning at the pool. We had planned to try to get down to Tobacco Bay for snorkeling but decided it wouldn’t be worth the rush before we needed to grab a cab to the airport.
I’m already itching to get back to Bermuda. The island was gorgeous and clean. The locals were kind and had hearts of gold. If Bermuda isn’t on your short list, it’s a fabulous long weekend trip. I said to Justin on the plane home, “this flight is shorter than a drive back home from Charleston on a Sunday!”
RECAP
Stay
Eat & Drink
The Birdcage (drinks only)
Harry’s (see above note)
Do
Rent a TWIZY
To note that we did not visit, again, you know, for next time 😉:
