Planning my trip to Bermuda was a lot of fun: looking at the photos, scoping out where to stay and obviously the anticipation. .. but the real fun part happened when I actually got to take the trip!

Coral Beach Club, View from 2 Bedroom Cottage

I was overwhelmed by how beautiful Bermuda is and also how convenient it is to get to from New York. It's only an hour and 30 minutes from Newark, so going for a long weekend is totally doable.

The best time to go is May-September. Keep in mind, September and October can be the best time to go, but it is also Hurricane Season: so it may be a last minute trip based on weather patterns.

The first night was spent in Hamilton at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. They had a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the harbor. They've recently opened a great new bar and restaurant called Marcus'. If you plan to come to Bermuda for business, you may stay in Hamilton for the convenience and if so there are a few nice spots in town.

Infiniti Pool at Fairmont Hamilton Princess

Restaurants to try: Harry's, Pickled Onion, Swizzle Inn, Red Steakhouse

We stayed on the other side of the island the last few nights and it was spectacular. If you know someone who is a member at the Coral Beach Club, I highly recommend having them vouch for you to stay. It's understated beauty. Nothing is over the top, but everything is beautiful. This is the spot if you play tennis as well. They have two levels of courts, so bring your tennis whites! If you don't know a member, don't fret: the Elbow Beach Club is right next door.

If you have the chance, eat at the Long Tail restaurant at Coral Beach Club. You will have fabulous views of the turquoise ocean. Wear a classic Bermudian Navy Blazer with slacks and you will be good to go.

When you are in Bermuda, do not miss Horseshoe Bay Beach! The fine, pink sand is breathtaking. I recommend climbing to the top of the cliff. There are two peaks, and it is visually worth walking up the the peak of both. You will have a great birds eye view of the beach and great photo op. To make things easy as well, there is a Fairmont Southampton close by.

After, take a stroll to the other end of the beach, you will see plenty of caves and hidden gems. Make sure to look closely at the sand to witness the "pink coral" blended in, creating a pink tint to the sand.

There are several gorgeous beaches to check out, but depending on the length of your trip: Horseshoe Bay is a must. Just make sure to avoid the Man o' War Jellyfish: they hurt like crazy.

Other things to check out are the Crystal and Fantasy Caves, located 6 minutes from the airport. The tour takes about 30 minutes each, you can opt to just see one as well. They were discovered 100 years ago by two teenage boys playing cricket. They jumped into the caves while exploring and witnessed this amazing natural phenomenon. The water from above crystalizes in the caves creating long, protruding points from the top of the cave. What is even more fascinating, is that it takes 100 years to grow one inch. *(Recommend if it's a cloudy day or on your way to the airport)

Bermuda will be hosting America's Cup in 2017, so if you are big into sailing this might be a great chance to experience it! There are several golf courses in Bermuda, but I've been told Mid Ocean Club and Tucker's Point Golf Club are great.

Keep in mind, Bermuda is a bit dressier: so boys make sure to pack slacks, Bermuda shorts, and a blazer. Ladies, think floral and a bit more conservative attire. If you forget; however, don't worry too much, there are a few stores in town selling blazers and Bermuda shorts!

Like always, enjoy yourself and take lots of photos! (You can always delete photos, but its hard to go back in time and take more!)... OH, and make sure to enjoy the turquoise waters and pink beaches!

Until Next Time, Safe Travels!

Planning a trip to somewhere I've never been. This will actually be fun because I can walk you through how I plan a trip. For all of us living in the Northern climate, I know we are all thinking the same thing. When is it going to be warm, and if its not going to come any time soon, where can I take a getaway?

This might be because I'm from the East Coast, but I've always saved vacation days for the summer, because the East Coast has the best summers on the ocean. I used to be in the habit of giving up one or two days of vacation days to have long weekends-but it would be criminal of me to waste summer vacation time off for an escape before then.

You will notice, I like to take long weekends or 5 day trips through November to May, then I take longer trips in the summer. I pull up a a calendar of the year and map out all the holidays creating long weekends and build those up to make a longer trip without using vacation days.

Itinerary: Bermuda in the end of April--Perfect! Thursday-Sunday Long Weekend, plus a day getaway! Just what I will need by April! To ensure I don't waste a day of travel from Chicago, I've made it so I'm flying from NYC, and will spend days on either end in the city.

Where to Stay:

After looking at Conde nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and Tablet, I've nailed down some places that seem to be trending hotels. Now, if you are looking for the best deal, I recommend Kayak-which will search for you to find the lowest price, or even Trip Advisor.

I prefer boutique hotels, but I also search for the highest quality hotels, then I decipher based on my budget for the trip and decide what I'm going to spend. This is why I rely on magazines like Conde nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and Departures. I trust their insight and this is why I use them and the site Tablet (focuses on luxury boutiques) to start my research. It's always good to find inspiration! I follow them on instagram as well, always giving me trip ideas on new desitinations

Elbow Beach
Rosewood Tucker's Point
Pompano Beach Club
Pink Beach Club
Reef's Resort & Club
Fairmont Hamilton Princess
Fairmont Southampton
Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa

Why Bermuda?

This is an easy trip from the East Coast. Protected beaches from the Coral Reef, Pink Sand Beaches, and a caribbean like blue ocean escape. Seems perfect. I haven't been, so there isn't a better time to check it out. Plus the Beach Boys have a song about it.. how bad could it be...

"Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go"

Exactly, pretty mama, why shouldn't we go!!

What to do:

Snorkel, Swim, Golf, Sail, Horseback Ride along the beach, Rent a Party Boat in the Harbor, Scooter around the island, enjoy the Crystal & Fantasy Caves... most importantly, enjoy a Dark & Stormy overlooking the caribbean blue-like waters.

Horseback Riding along the Pink Sand Beaches

The island is surrounded by a coral reef which protects the beaches, creating a very calm snorkeling experience.

Most Beautiful Beaches:

Horseshoe Bay Beach
Warwick Long Bay Beach
Tobacco Bay Beach
Elbow Beach
Hog Bay Beach
John Smith's Bay Beach
Jobson's Cove
Astwood Cove
Shelly Bay Beach
Clearwater Beach

What to pack:

Yes, you may think this is a funny factor. It's an island right? Well, it is; however, this is a dressier island. Think Bermuda Shorts, colorful shorts for men, that is where the term comes from.

I always want to make sure when I travel, I'm dressed respectful I don't want to be "that American slob" in yoga pants and sneakers-- I would stick out like a sore thumb. On the other end of the spectrum, I don't want to look like I tried too hard and end up being over dressed. I take pride in my appearance and I promise you I'm treated better because i'm not slacking around in gym clothes. *I've actually spoken to many people in the service industry who will admit to this.

What you will want to pack: More conservative bathing suits and cover-ups. This is probably not the island you want to show up in short-shorts and mid-drift showing tops.

Not necessarily formal, but more cleaned up. *Think golf attire. In the cooler months, bring sweaters and rain gear in case of a storm. When unsure of the weather, focus on layers. This will also help with your suitcase weight and not having to overpack. Ladies-a cute dress with a cardigan. Gentleman, think linen or khaki pants (shorts) with a collared shirt and a sport coat.

I will be there in a few weeks and will be able to tell you exactly what I've experience. ie. dining, hotels, excursions in case you want to take a trip for yourself.

Get excited! It's officially Spring and time to escape the cold! I will be posting a few Spring Getaway ideas in the upcoming week.

Until Next Time! Cheers!

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