USVI-On-Line

Hey guys!

I work with a woman who recently took a cruise to Bermuda & actually got to stay on Bermuda for 2 days. She said it is absolutely beautiful, with nice people, awesome beaches & no signs of the type of poverty that she has seen in the Caribbean & Mexico.

So, has anyone on this forum been to both St. John & Bermuda? What did you think? Would my husband and I who are die-hard St. John lovers (the views, the laid-back vibe, the beaches, the hiking) enjoy Bermuda?

Thanks in advance for any & all opinions.

RJ

I've been to Bermuda just once---we loved it and I keep thinking about going back. Very clean, nice beaches, pretty water (but not as pretty as St. John). I wouldn't call it laid-back, although it seemed less formal to me than its reputation. A little fancier than St. John at most restaurants, though. Bermuda has its own unique culture---and thats a good thing.

My husband and I went to Bermuda many years ago and loved it. It is true that there is no poverty. It is very British and does not have that caribbean vibe. I don't know about hiking. It's much larger and unless it's changed, tourists can't rent cars, only motor scooters. If I remember correctly, it is flat and the roads are not hard to navigate. The beaches are beautiful but there is no view of other islands. It is an isolated island so there is nothing to look at except water. There are wonderful gardens and parks and it is very clean. I think they limit the number of cars their residents can own per family, so traffic is kept to a minimum. The climate can be much cooler because it is due east of Charlotte. I prefer St. John because it owns a part of my soul that I did not feel for Bermuda, but Bermuda is a wonderful island that I think anyone could enjoy (with enough money).

I've been to both multiple times. I like both but prefer St. John.

The vibe's not as "laid back" in Bermuda, it is more formal--you dress for dinner in most places. The beaches are beautiful, especially on the South Shore, Warwick Parish in particular. The snorkeling and food are both much better on St. John. There is good diving off Bermuda because of all the shipwrecks.

There is crime in Bermuda just like everyplace else. In particular, the island has problems with drugs. But again, find a place that does not! Your friend did not see the more rundown (and by rundown I mean rundown for Bermuda--there's nothing like the poverty that you find in some areas of the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.) areas of the island because they are all inland, and the main roads run around the perimeter of the island, North and South Shores. Most people stay on those roads.

In general, Bermudians are very friendly, and appreciative of the tourists. The older residents are very proactive about reminding younger residents that tourists and their dollars are most welcome, even if it is not their number one income generator any longer.

The Bermuda architecture is beautiful, there is decent shopping, lots of historical sites, forts, gardens and so on, to explore.

You can't rent a car on Bermuda. There are motor scooters for rent if you are so inclined, I highly recommend you not rent one. The roads are steep, narrow, there are rotaries, you are on the wrong side of the road, and increasingly, people are driving faster and more aggresively. There are lots of taxis and a good bus system to get you where you need to go.

If you have any questions, feel free to pm me.

I agree with the others ... Bermuda is lovely, clean, and more proper than St. John. If its the lowkey vibe you love about St. John then its definitely not the same in Bermuda. I feel completely comfy in St. John kicking back in shorts and flip-flops. In Bermuda, you rarely would see a local in flip-flops. They were very kind and friendly, but not casual. IF that makes any sense!

I would definitely return to Bermuda especially for a short getaway since it only takes 2 hours to get there vs. the entire day to get to St. John usually. If I really want to decompress and unwind, St. John is where I have to head.

I've been to both and I agree that Bermuda is more "formal" than STJ. It is clean and beautiful and the people are very nice. If you like an upscale resort atmosphere, its great!

Okay, you guys are great!!

Sounds like Bermuda is beautiful, but in a different way than St. John. We could gaze at the majestic views from St. John (especially Northshore) for hours. We love seeing those island gems rising up in the ocean. It is almost unimaginable that such natural beauty exists. And, we especially love to see those views from up high.
So, Bermuda is much flatter & no other islands in view - score one for St. John.

We like to snorkel (you mention that snokeling is better on St. John) - score two for St. John.

We are not resort people - score three for St. John.

We like to drive around from beach -to- beach bar (in very informal attire) (no jeeps to rent on Bermuda) - score four for St. John.

We like how we feel (what it does for our spirit) after a trip to St. John - it doesn't sound like we'd take that feeling with us after visiting Bermuda. (I am not kidding here - I am in such a good mood at work for several days after returning from St. John. I just slow down so much & don't let stress/pressure get in at all. It's like a good drug!) Score five for St. John.

So, I think you all have answered my question about this comparison very well. Maybe someday, we'll check out Bermuda, but for now, our thoughts are always about St. John.

Thanks a million!

RJ