Mark Twain once famously wrote: “You can go to heaven if you want. I’d rather stay here in Bermuda.” The acclaimed American writer visited the island a handful of times from 1867 to 1910—a prolific period, during which Bermuda’s natural beauty inspired some of his finest travel writing. Considering much of the island’s natural landscape has gone unchanged, this twenty-one-square mile archipelago continues to lure travelers by air and sea, all who have come to explore this jewel of the Atlantic. 

Often lumped in with the islands of the Caribbean, Bermuda is actually tucked away in the middle of the Atlantic. Fun fact: Bermuda lies closer to Nova Scotia than any nation in the Caribbean. That placement carries with it some important perks. It is one of the few islands near to the United Stated where the Zika virus has never been recorded. It’s also, in general, safer than many Caribbean isles, with a relatively hassle-free environment (no aggressive vendors selling their wares—or worse, drugs). If you’re into sunning and swimming, it doesn’t get much better than Bermuda between May and September. Pink sand and turquoise seas—it sounds like a corny travel poster, but it’s for real. As Mark Twain also wrote, “Sometimes a dose of Bermuda is just what the doctor ordered.” 

This is also a nation with uniquely British roots. It’s not uncommon to spot judges and barristers wearing white wigs as they walk through the City of Hamilton (pity them in the hotter summer months!); right-hand drive vehicles operate on the left side of the road; and pictures of Her Majesty the Queen can be found hanging in most public buildings (and until recently on bank notes, which are now adorned with tropical flora and fauna). Tea is still taken by many, come afternoon, and people mind their manners. If you don’t say “please” and “thank you” with almost every interaction, you’ll get dirty looks. Some visitors find all the British decorum rather silly on a remote island that’s closer to Atlanta than to London. But many others find the stalwart commitment to British tradition colorful and quaint, enhancing the unique charm of the lovely place that is Bermuda.



Did You Know?

  • Unlike most Caribbean islands, Bermuda is Zika free, making it one of the most popular tropical destinations in North America for babymoons. 

  • Bermuda inspired William Shakespeare’s 1610 play The Tempest.

  • Somerset Bridge is the world’s smallest drawbridge. At only 32 inches wide, the opening is just large enough for a ship’s mast to pass through.

  • Sir Brownlow Gray, the island’s former chief justice, played the first game of tennis in the Western Hemisphere on Bermuda in 1873. 

  • Bermuda has no source of fresh water, which is why most of the water its residents use to wash dishes, bathe, and flush down the toilet is rainwater collected on stepped white roofs that funnel the flow to underground cisterns. 

  • Bermuda has no billboards. There is a ban on outdoor advertising and neon signs. 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.