Fast Facts

American Express -- The representative in the City of Hamilton, Meyer Franklin Travel, 35 Church St. (P.O. Box 510), Hamilton HM 12 (tel. 441/295-4176), handles travel itineraries for the company.

Banks -- The main offices of Bermuda's banks are in the City of Hamilton. All banks and their branches are open Monday from 9:30am to 4pm and Tuesday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Banks are closed Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Many big hotels will cash traveler's checks, and there are ATMs all around the island.

The Bank of Bermuda, 6 Front St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-4000), has branches on Church Street, Hamilton; on Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton; and in Somerset.

The Bank of Butterfield, 65 Front St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-1111), has several branches, including locations in St. George and Somerset.

The Bermuda Commercial Bank is at 43 Victoria St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-5678).

Bookstores -- Bermuda Book Store, 3 Queen Street, Hamilton (tel. 441/295-3698; www.bookstore.bm), stocks everything that's in print about Bermuda, including titles on gardening, flowers, local characters, poets, and other topics; some books are available only through this store. There are also many English publications not easily obtainable in the United States, as well as a fine selection of children's books. You can also buy that beach novel you forgot to bring. Open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm.

Business Hours -- Most businesses are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Stores are generally open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm; several shops open at 9:15am. A few shops are also open in the evening, but usually only when big cruise ships are in port.

Car Rentals -- There are no car-rental agencies in Bermuda because visitors are not allowed to rent cars.

Currency Exchange -- Because the U.S. dollar and the Bermuda dollar are on par, both currencies can be used. It's not necessary to convert U.S. dollars into Bermuda dollars. Canadian dollars and British pounds must be converted into local currency.

Customs -- Visitors may bring into Bermuda duty-free apparel and articles for their personal use, including sports equipment, cameras, 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of liquor, and 1 liter of wine. Certain foodstuffs may be subject to duties. All imports may be inspected on arrival. Visitors entering Bermuda may also claim a duty-free gift allowance.

Persons who are taking prescription medication must inform Bermuda customs officials at the point of entry. Medicines must be in labeled containers. Travelers should carry a copy of the written prescription and a letter from the physician or pharmacist confirming the reason the medicine is prescribed.

Bermuda customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Bermuda of items such as animals; arms, ammunition, or explosives; building sand, crushed rock, gravel, peat, soil, or synthetic potting media; foodstuffs (animal origin); fumigating substances; gaming machines; historic articles (relating to Bermuda); lottery advertisements and material; motorcycles or motor vehicles; obscene publications; organotin anti-fouling paint; pesticides, plants, plant material, or fruits and vegetables (living or dead, including seeds); prescription drugs; prohibited or seditious publications; and VHF radios or radar and citizens band (CB) radios.

When you're leaving Bermuda (if you're flying back to the United States) a customs inspector will ask to see a copy of the incoming Bermuda form that was stamped and given to you as you cleared Bermuda Customs. Make sure that you hold onto it and can produce it on short notice.

For additional information on temporary admission, export and customs regulations, and tariffs, contact Bermuda Customs at tel. 441/278-7422 or customs_valuation@gov.bm, or visit the Bermuda Customs website at www.customs.gov.bm.

U.S. Citizens: For specifics on what you can bring back and the corresponding fees, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov. (Click on "Travel," and then click on "Know Before You Go! Online Brochure") Or contact the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667) and request the pamphlet.

Canadian Citizens: For a clear summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: For information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

New Zealand Citizens: Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Dentists -- For dental emergencies, call King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, 7 Point Finger Rd., Paget Parish (tel. 441/236-2345), and ask for the emergency department. The hospital maintains lists of dentists on emergency call.

Doctors -- In an emergency, call King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, 7 Point Finger Rd., Paget Parish (tel. 441/236-2345), and ask for the emergency department. For non-emergencies, ask the concierge at your hotel for a recommendation.

Driving Rules -- Visitors cannot rent cars. To operate a motor-assisted cycle, you must be age 16 or over. All cycle drivers and passengers must wear securely fastened safety helmets. Driving is on the left side of the road, and the speed limit is 32kmph (20 mph) in the countryside, 24kmph (15 mph) in busy areas.

Drug Laws -- In Bermuda, there are heavy penalties for the importation of, possession of, or dealing of unlawful drugs (including marijuana). Customs officers, at their discretion, may conduct body searches for drugs or other contraband goods.

Drugstores -- Try the Phoenix Drugstore, 3 Reid St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-3838), open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm, Sunday from noon to 6pm.

In Hamilton, People's Pharmacy, 62 Victoria Street (tel. 441/292-4216), is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8:30pm, Sunday from 10am to 6pm. The Somerset Pharmacy, 49 Mangrove Bay, Somerset Village (tel. 441/234-2484), is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 8am to 5pm, and Sunday from noon to 2pm.

Electricity -- Electricity is 110 volts AC (60 cycles). North American appliances are compatible without converters or adapters. Visitors from the United Kingdom or other parts of Europe need to bring a converter.

Embassies & Consulates -- The American Consulate General is located at Crown Hill, 16 Middle Rd., Devonshire (tel. 441/295-1342), and is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. The Canadian Consulate General (Commission to Bermuda) is at Reid House, 31 Church St., Hamilton (tel. 441/294-3611). Britain doesn't have an embassy or a consulate in Bermuda.

Emergencies -- To call the police, report a fire, or summon an ambulance, dial tel. 911. The non-emergency police number is tel. 441/295-0011. For Air-Sea Rescue, Rescue Coordination Center, dial tel. 441/297-1010.

Etiquette -- Well-tailored Bermuda shorts are acceptable on almost any occasion, and many men wear them with jackets and ties. On formal occasions, they must be accompanied by navy blue or black knee socks. Aside from that, Bermudians are rather conservative in their attitude toward dress -- bikinis, for example, are banned more than 7.5m (25 ft.) from the water. Men are usually required to wear a jacket to dinner.

Eyeglass Repair -- There are at least a half-dozen well-recommended opticians and optometrists operating out of storefronts in Hamilton, but two of the most visible and best are The Bermuda Optical Company, 12 Church St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-6175); and Atlantic Vision Care, 66 King St., Hamilton (tel. 441/295-7300). Each is equipped to handle eyeglass repair and contact-lens replacement.

Gasoline -- Before you rent a moped, be very clear about what kind of fuel it runs on. Most of the mopeds available for rental by a nonresident of Bermuda have 50cc two-stroke engines that almost always require a mixture of gasoline and oil. Designated locally as "mixed" fuel, it's dispensed directly from specially designated pumps at service stations throughout Bermuda. Larger bikes (including some of the newer models with 80cc engines, and virtually all of the modern-day 100cc engines), as well as all conventional automobiles (which most temporary visitors can neither rent nor drive), require unadulterated gasoline. The octane level of all gasoline in Bermuda is designated as "high test," and all of it, by law, is unleaded.

Hospitals -- King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, 7 Point Finger Rd., Paget Parish (tel. 441/236-2345), has a highly qualified staff and Canadian accreditation.

Hot Lines -- Call tel. 441/236-3770 Monday through Friday and you'll be connected to either Bermuda Psychiatric Hospital's outpatient clinic (8:45am-5pm) or St. Brendan's Hospital (in the evening). Both can help with life-threatening problems, personal crises, or referral to a medical specialist.

Information -- For telephone directory assistance, call tel. 411.

Legal Aid -- The U.S. consulate will inform you of your limited rights and offer a list of attorneys. However, the consulate's office cannot interfere with Bermuda's law-enforcement officers. The Citizens' Emergency Center of the Office of Special Consular Services in Washington, D.C. (tel. 888/407-4747 or 202/501-4444), operates a hot line that's useful in an emergency for U.S. citizens arrested abroad. The staff can also tell you how to send money to U.S. citizens arrested abroad.

Liquor Laws -- Bermuda sternly regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages. The legal drinking age is 18, and most bars close at 3am. Some bars are closed on Sunday.

Specialty stores sell liquor, beer, and wine. Although it's legal for grocery stores to sell hard liquor, most limit their inventories to beer and wine. Alcohol can't be sold on Sunday. You can bring beer or other alcohol to the beach legally, as long as your party doesn't get too rowdy and you generally stay in one spot. The moment you actually walk on the beach or the streets with an open container of liquor, it's illegal. (The thinking behind this law is apparently that roaming gangs of loud, obnoxious drunks are more dangerous and disruptive than sedentary gangs of loud, obnoxious drunks.)

Mail -- Deposit regular mail in the red pillar boxes on the streets. You'll recognize them by the monogram of Queen Elizabeth II. The postage rates for airmail letters up to 10 grams and for postcards is 70? (35p) to the United States and Canada, 85? (45p) to the United Kingdom. Airmail letters and postcards to the North American mainland can take 5 to 7 days, to Britain possibly a little longer. Often visitors return home before their postcards arrive.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Bermuda has one daily newspaper, the Royal Gazette, a publication that's usually regarded as the newspaper of record for the island as a whole. There are two competitors providing alternative versions of the news, including the Bermuda Sun, which is issued every Wednesday and Friday, and the Mid-Ocean News, which is published every Friday. Major U.S. newspapers, including the New York Times and USA Today, and magazines such as Time and Newsweek, are delivered to Bermuda on the day of their publication on the mainland. This Week in Bermuda is a weekly guide for tourists.

For your media fix, go to the Washington Mall Magazines stand on Reid Street in Hamilton. They carry major U.S. newspapers and magazines.

Passports -- Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 3 weeks but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children 16 and under), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Pets -- To take your pet with you to Bermuda, it must be a minimum of 10 months of age. You'll need a special permit issued by the director of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Parks, P.O. Box HM 834, Hamilton HM CX, Bermuda (tel. 441/236-4201). The island has no quarantine facilities, so animals arriving without proper documents will be refused entry and will be returned to the point of origin. Some guesthouses and hotels allow you to bring in small animals, but others will not; so be sure to inquire in advance. Always check to see what the latest regulations are before attempting to bring a dog or another pet -- including Seeing Eye dogs -- to Bermuda.

Photographic Needs -- If you want to buy a camera or film, or develop Kodak or Fuji film, try the City of Hamilton's leading camera store, Stuart's, 5 Reid St., near the corner of Queen Street (tel. 441/295-5496). Film can be developed in-house in about 4 hours (sometimes within 1 hr., for a surcharge). Open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Police -- In an emergency, call tel. 911; otherwise, call tel. 441/295-0011.

Post Offices -- The General Post Office, 56 Church St., Hamilton (tel. 441/297-7866), is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 8am to noon. Post office branches and the Perot Post Office, Queen Street, Hamilton, are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. Some post offices close for lunch from 11:30am to 1pm. Daily airmail service for the United States and Canada closes at 9:30am in Hamilton.

Radio & TV -- News is broadcast on the hour and half-hour over AM stations 1340 (ZBM), 1230 (ZFB), and 1450 (VSB). The FM stations are 89 (ZBM) and 95 (ZFB). Tourist-oriented programming, island music, and information on activities and special events air over AM station 1160 (VSB) daily from 7am to noon.

The local television channel, 9 (ZBM), is affiliated with America's Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).

Restrooms -- The City of Hamilton and St. George provide public facilities, but only during business hours. In the City of Hamilton, toilets are at City Hall, in Par-la-Ville Gardens, and at Albouy's Point. In St. George, facilities are available at Town Hall, Somers Gardens, and Market Wharf. Outside of these towns, you'll find restrooms at the public beaches, at the Botanical Gardens, in several of the forts, at the airport, and at service stations. Often you'll have to use the facilities in hotels, restaurants, and wherever else you can find them.

Safety -- Bermudians are generally peaceful people, not given to violence. To be sure, the island has experienced racial tensions in the past, but right now relations between white and black residents seem to be harmonious, as blacks assume a greater role in Bermuda's affairs.

Crimes against tourists, violent or otherwise, are rare, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Crime does exist in Bermuda, as it does in any society. Take care to protect your valuables, especially when you're at the beach. Lock your moped each time you leave it. If you bring very valuable items with you (this is not advisable), place them in your hotel safe and never leave them carelessly in your room.

Smoking -- Tobacconists and other stores carry a wide array of tobacco products, generally from either the United States or England. Prices vary but tend to be high. At most tobacconists you can buy classic cigars from Havana, but Americans must enjoy them on the island -- they can't be taken back to the United States. Smoking in public places (such as restaurants) is generally permitted, but check before lighting up. Movie theaters set aside a section for nonsmokers.

Taxes -- Whereas Bermuda charges visitors a Passenger Tax before they depart from the island, it's hidden within the cost of an airline or cruise-ship ticket. Frankly, you might never know that a tax has actually been imposed, but if you're interested, $25 (£13) of the cost of your airline ticket, and $60 (£31) of the cost of your cruise-ship ticket, goes to the Bermudian government. Children 2 and under are exempt from paying this tax.

All room rates, regardless of the category of accommodation or the plan under which you stay, are subject to a government tax of 7.25%.

Telephone & Faxes -- Worldwide direct-dial phone, fax, and cable service is available at the Cable & Wireless Office, 12 Burnaby St., Hamilton (tel. 441/297-7022; www.cwbda.com). Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Prepaid phone cards may be purchased and used island-wide, and calling cards may be used from selected call boxes.

Cable & Wireless, in conjunction with the Bermuda Telephone Co., provides international direct dialing (IDD) to more than 150 countries. Country codes and calling charges may be found in the Bermuda telephone directory. Telephone booths are available at the Cable & Wireless office, and customers can either prepay or buy cash cards in $10 (£5.20), $20 (£10), and $50 (£26) denominations. Cash-card phone booths are available at numerous locations around the island. Making international calls with cash cards can be a lot cheaper than using the phone at your hotel, which might impose stiff surcharges. To make a local call, deposit 20? (10p) (Bermudian or U.S.). Hotels often charge between 20? (10p) and $1 (50p) for local calls.

Special phones at passenger piers in the City of Hamilton, St. George, and the dockyard will connect you directly with an AT&T, Sprint, or MCI operator in the United States, permitting you to make collect or calling-card calls.

Telephone Directory -- All Bermuda telephone numbers appear in one phone book, revised annually. The Yellow Pages (www.bermudayp.com) in the back list all the goods and services you are likely to need.

Time -- Bermuda is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Daylight saving time is in effect from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October, as it is in the United States.

Tipping -- In most cases, a service charge is added to hotel and restaurant bills. In hotels, the charge is in lieu of tipping various individuals, such as bellhops, maids, and restaurant staffers (for meals included in a package or in the daily rate). Check for this carefully to avoid double tipping. Otherwise, a 15% tip for service is customary. Taxi drivers usually get 10% to 15%.

Transit Information -- For information about ferry service, call tel. 441/295-4506. For bus information, call tel. 441/292-3854.

Useful Telephone Numbers -- On Bermuda, for time and temperature, call tel. 909. To learn "What's On in Bermuda," dial tel. 974. For medical emergencies or the police, dial tel. 911. If in doubt during any other emergency, dial tel. 0 (zero), which will connect you with your hotel's switchboard or the Bermuda telephone operator.

Water -- Tap water is generally safe to drink.

Weather -- Call tel. 977 at any time for a forecast covering the next 24-hour period or go to www.weather.bm.