Afraid of the Bermuda Triangle? It may be time to face that fear and visit Bermuda!

National Geographic Traveler recently published their must-see destinations for 2016. For those who have already discovered Bermuda, it isn’t at all surprising; for those who fear the Bermuda Triangle, maybe this will help build up the courage to take a chance and face the mystery head on!

We thought it might be fun to publish their travel tips, offer our own, and then ask readers to add their 2 cents on our Facebook page. Are you in?

NatGeo’s Bermuda Travel Tips  vs  Our Travel Tips

When to Go:
NatGeo: March and April for whale-watching; May through September for beaches and festivals; November through April for lower rates and fewer tourists (April through November is peak cruise ship season)
AhhBermuda: The best time to go? “Anytime” is the correct answer, but to help with your travel planning, here’s what you need to know: If your vacation goal is to lay in the summer sun, play on the beach all day, and swim in warm ocean water, book your trip for June, July, and August. Prices will be a little higher and the beaches more crowded during the summer months, but we seldom hear a complaint! Here’s a tip though, if you’re not limited by the kid’s summer vacation schedules, try May and September.  Rates are lower and the crowds have thinned, while the sun and water temperatures are even more perfect than in June, July and August (in our opinion).

What about the rest of the year? Golf enthusiasts, don’t be so quick to store your clubs for the winter! As leaves are changing colors and the snow begins to fly in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Toronto, Bermuda turns into a Golf Paradise! More moisture and milder sunlight means greener fairways, and the condition of the greens? Can you say “magic carpet ride”? If you’re a golfer, be forewarned; booking the 2 hour flight from the East Coast to take care of your winter golf fix might just become an EVERY WEEKEND activity!  

How to Get Around:
NatGeo Ride the pink and blue Bermuda Breeze buses and the public SeaExpress ferries. Tourists can’t rent cars, but motorized scooters and hybrid electric bikes or mountain bikes are available.
AhhBermuda:  With so much to see and do, transportation efficiency is critical. While the convenience and affordability of traveling via Bermuda Breeze and SeaExpress is perfect for those not comfortable on two wheels, our favorite way to experience Bermuda is on board a motorized scooter (we recommend renting from Oleander Cycles). With a well-planned route, it’s possible to experience all of the major landmarks from end to end in just three days.

Where to Stay:
NatGeo Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa is Bermuda’s first and most famous cottage colony. Founded in 1923, the resort has four private pink-sand beaches and 87 luxurious rooms and suites in its classic pink cottages (including a restored 17th-century sea captain’s home). Guests ages 13 and up are welcome.
AhhBermuda: We couldn’t agree more. While it’s not uncommon to hear “oh, all the way out there!” in reference to Cambridge Beaches west end location, keep in mind that the distance from one end of Bermuda to the other is only about 20 miles.  Once you’ve arrived at this secluded 30 acre peninsula, you may just pretend you’ve been lost in the Bermuda Triangle and stay a few extra days before finding your way back to real life.

What to Eat or Drink:
NatGeo Spiny lobster season (September through March) is Bermuda’s culinary equivalent to Christmas morning. In season, try the clawless (the meat is in the tail) spiny lobster either stuffed or served in creamy tomato sauce at Wahoo’s Bistro and Patio in St. George’s. The rest of the year, order the signature wahoo (mild white fish) grilled, beer-battered, on salads, or in tacos and chowder.
AhhBermuda: We have immense respect for many of Bermuda’s fine restaurants, but when it comes right down to it, we’ve planted our flag firmly in the kitchens of Chef Livio Ferigo’s 3 restaurants, Cafe Amici, Bella Vista Bar & Grill, and Bone Fish Bar & Grill.

What to Buy:
NatGeo Island-made products and crafts—pepper jams, hand-turned cedar bowls and candlesticks—and Bermuda rum cakes are sold in the shops at Clocktower Mall, located in the Royal Naval Dockyard.
AhhBermuda: NatGeo has you right where we’d send you (Dockyard); in addition to their list, be sure to check out the glass blowing demonstration and look for original paintings, prints, and photos by local artists sold inside several of the shops. As far as consumable Island-made products, no vacation is complete without stopping by the Bermuda Duty Free shop in the airport to pick up a Goslings Rum travel case!

What to Watch Before You Go:
NatGeo Based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, the 1977 underwater thriller The Deep (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2003) is set in Bermuda and includes several scenes shot on the island.
AhhBermuda: We suggest first watching the 1978 fictional mystery film,  The Bermuda Triangle.  Then when you’re sufficiently freaked out, refer to more recent facts proving that there have been a total of ZERO disappearances of commercial airlines or cruise ships, and the rate at which private planes and boats disappear is no different in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other heavily traveled waterway. In other words, the only legitimate fear you should have of the Bermuda Triangle is the fear that your fear of it will prevent you from visiting this National Geographic recommended Island paradise!

Cultural Tip:
NatGeo The unwritten island dress code is a more formal take on casual (e.g., no swim attire beyond the pool or beach and collared shirts instead of T-shirts). When in doubt, wear a pair of TABS (The Authentic Bermuda Shorts).
AhhBermuda: While the more formal, “proper” dress code is adhered to by locals, don’t be intimidated. In most cases, what you would wear at home will be just fine, maybe just step it up a notch or two as you’re packing your bags.  Oh, and while we agree that a pair of TABS would look great on you, leave the high socks, loafers, jacket and tie look to the locals. They can pull it off…tourists not so much!

Helpful Links:
NatGeo Bermuda Tourism
AhhBermuda: AhhBermuda.com of course 🙂

Fun Fact:
NatGeo Submerged off the coast of Bermuda are over 300 shipwrecks, including a Confederate blockade-runner. The side-paddle-wheel steamer was built in England and smuggled guns and other supplies into Wilmington, North Carolina. In 1864, she hit a reef and sank near the island’s south shore. Today, divers who visit the site can see the steamer’s two paddle wheels: one standing upright and the other lying on the ocean floor.
AhhBermuda: Google “Johnny Barnes, Bermuda”.  This cheerful man (now in his early 90s), can be seen every morning at Crow Lane circle waving and cheering at all the commuters heading for Hamilton City. Johnny will be there at 3:45 a.m. every weekday without fail, with his backpack and radio, and wearing a straw hat. As the daylight breaks and commuters on two and four wheelers start approaching Hamilton through the Crow Lane round-about for their days work, Johnny starts their day off with a smile and a friendly waive!

Click Here To Read The Article On NationalGeographic.com >>>