48 Hours in Bermuda with Erik Conover

Day 1                      

Book a Fairmont Gold room then and head straight to the Fairmont Gold Lounge for a private check in at Bermuda’s landmark hotel, The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. This gorgeous, relaxing living room setting is shared with just a few guests, and is a wonderful place to unwind with fresh coffee, tea, complimentary snacks, laptops and iPads.

Grab lunch overlooking Hamilton Harbour at 1609 Bar & Restaurant. The name is a nod to the year that Sea Venture sailors shipwrecked on the island. The lofty restaurant offers crowd-pleasing fare, such as fish tacos, flatbreads, bright salads, signature sangria and Dark ’n Stormy® on tap.

Afternoon: K.S. Watersports has three branches on the island; one is conveniently located on the eastern waterfront of the Hamilton Princess marina. Their Jet Ski Island Adventure tour will take you through beautiful bays, harbours and exclusive private islands. Turn up the throttle and skim past pink sand beaches, sea gardens and historic landmarks such as Somerset Bridge, the world’s smallest working drawbridge.  Feed fish at the H.M.S. Vixen shipwreck and spot green turtles, longtails and manta rays.

Evening: On Wednesdays the City of Hamilton hosts Harbour Nights, a vibrant street party with local vendors, artisans, music and Gombey dancer displays.  The city’s main drag, Front Street, transforms into a pedestrian-only area. You’re a 7-minute stroll from the action from the Hamilton Princess.

After you’ve taken in the length of Front Street, grab a spot on the patio of Astwood Arms, a Victorian era-style pub and restaurant that has a lively atmosphere. Order classic pub fare with a Bermuda twist — ginger beer battered fish 'n' chips followed by English trifle with loquat liqueur.

Day 2

Morning:  Turn right as you leave the hotel. Pitts Bay Road turns to Front Street and the Hamilton Ferry Terminal is a quick five minutes. Grab a cup of coffee from D’Angelini’s next door and catch the 9 am to Royal Naval Dockyard, a scenic trip that gets you across the harbour and to the westernmost point in 20 minutes. The Island Tour Centre is Bermuda’s go-to excursions provider. Check in for the Hidden Gems Excursion in the pale blue building just inside of the cruise port entrance. This all-day tour will take you on an ecological adventure through Tom Moore’s Jungle and Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve for hiking, snorkelling and cave swimming. Take an exhilarating dive into Blue Hole, a serene lagoon surrounded by dense foliage and unmarked paths.

Evening: Take a taxi back to the City of Hamilton from Dockyard and ask the driver to make a quick stop at Horseshoe Bay’s Rum Bum Beach Bar for a classic Rum Swizzle on the South Shore. Be sure to book a table on the patio for dinner at Marcus’, the hotel’s signature restaurant, for a gorgeous sunset over the marina.

Day 3

Morning: Do not miss a glorious photo opportunity – get up before the sun to watch it rise over a pink sand beach. Warwick Long Bay on the famed South Shore is a good place to start. You can walk the trails to Jobson’s Cove, Stonehole Bay and all the tiny bays and inlets in between.

Back in time to rent a two-seater, electric car from the hotel’s Twizy rental office, enjoy a final sight-seeing session zipping around the island for a couple of hours before checking in for a 1 pm flight.  

As for the hue of the sand, get out here and see for yourself.