Babymoon In Bermuda: A Jaunt To Paradise

As if babymoons didn’t already pose a few extra challenges apart from regular travel, I was recently confronted with a new obstacle in the planning realm: the Zika virus. Le sigh. Everywhere I wanted to visit (sun, beach and warm weather were non-negotiable criteria) had a warning — from the Caribbean and southern US states to South America. And while I’ve never let travel advisories interfere with my jaunts around the globe, I’m now making decisions for two and just couldn’t bring myself to ignore a potentially harmful virus for the sake of hubby and I squeezing in one last getaway together. So I spent countless hours searching the internet for a “zika-free” destination. I finally found ONE country that suited the bill in November: Bermuda! Thrilled that I found a warm, sunny and beachy spot that didn’t appear on the CDC list, I headed to tripcentral.ca to browse hotel properties — one of my fave hobbies (I’m being serious: I love going through the descriptions and deciding on “the one”). Oh, and did I mention this paradise is only a 2.5 hr flight from Toronto?!

After perusing through countless photos and reviews, I landed on a property that was perfect for our babymoon: Fairmont Southampton. Perched on Bermuda’s south shore (that’s where all the famous pink sandy beaches are), the resort sits on nearly 100 acres and is a relaxing, quiet getaway for ma and pa-to-be. I loved the towering palms that dotted the property…

Add to this great service (this is a time to be pampered folks so no compromises here), fine dining restos (the best steakhouse on the island just so happens to be onsite) and beautiful ocean views and you’ve got a dreamy home away from home. As we sat in bed each morning I took a moment to really appreciate my last vacay with hubster sans bebe. Very well aware that our lives are about to change BIG TIME, we charged our relationship battery and spent some much-needed one-on-one time together.

For those of you considering a babymoon in Bermuda, I have two words of advice: DO IT. Don’t even hesitate for a minute. It’s the friendliest country I’ve ever visited (and I’ve been to almost 40 now): a place where locals still greet one another on the bus when they board (public transit always tells all). The beaches are insanely beautiful. The food is incredible — a bit pricey because they need to import so many ingredients to the middle of the Atlantic, but the portions are ginormous so you can share many dishes. It’s super safe and did I mention no Zika? I harp on this point because it really was a challenge finding a hot spot that didn’t place on the CDC list. The only – and I mean only – thing we didn’t like was the fact that only locals are allowed to drive cars. But after visiting and seeing the roads (they drive Brit styles on the left btw), we realized it may be a good call. You can, however, rent a scooter if you feel that you and bebe want a dose of adventure…

Although most people would be perfectly happy staying put and being pampered in a luxe hotel, you guys know me — too curious for my own good — so I spent a good portion of the week exploring the country and feasting (more on that in an upcoming Eating With A Local post). Our itinerary was pretty packed, but relaxing. Here are a few of the babymoon-friendly things we did so you can put them on your list too:

What To Do On A Babymoon In Bermuda

1. Mother-To-Be Massage – A massage in a cave. Need I say more? This once-in-a-lifetime experience at Nature Spa is one that I think everyone should add to their bucket list (they offer different types of massage for the non-pregs). Just imagine being surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites, floating on turquoise water and listening to water drip from the ceiling as you’re soothingly massaged in a serenity cave. Sounds dreamy, right?! It is. I felt such a strong connection to nature as we received our couples massage. My therapist was specially trained to deliver a prenatal massage (my very first!) — one that relieves backache, swelling, fatigue and improves circulation. If you need to release tension and find some inner peace, this spa is the perfect place to do it. It is one experience I’ll never forget…

2. Dinner With Hubs – Knowing that our date nights (minus bebe) are limited, I searched high and low for the best resto in Bermuda and repeatedly came across Marcus Samuelsson’s signature restaurant at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Since it was also personally recommended to me by a few travel writers and friends, I made sure to book a spot as soon as our trip was confirmed. Located in a space that used to be a grand ballroom, Marcus has a striking, central bar, floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the ocean and an open concept kitchen with a passionate crew at its helm. And the food? Exceptional. Globally-influenced cuisine with a nod to classic Bermudian ingredients and dishes. The Fish & Grits 2.0 made with local Wahoo was my favourite!

3. Retail Therapy – A visit to Hamilton (the country’s capital) isn’t complete without a bit of shopping along Front St. Church St. and Reid St. You’ll find plenty of little shops to explore with local and designer goods. I headed straight for Marks & Spencer and did a bit of damage. If you’re looking for traditional Bermuda shorts definitely visit The English Sports Shop (an iconic store on the island since 1918). And make sure you stop by Lili Bermuda perfumery for unique scents — they’ve been around for over 85 years and hand-bottle each fragrance. They also offer an afternoon tea service on Wednesdays and Saturdays! Oh, and Bermuda Rum Cake Company. Because: rum. Located inside an old machine shop at the Royal Naval Dockyard, the micro-bakery only uses the finest Bermuda Black Seal Rum in their cakes. Bonus: the shelf-life of their cakes is 6 months (if refrigerated) so you can indulge after baby is born and reminisce about your trip.

4. Leisurely Lunch – I rarely get a chance to eat lunch with hubby, so I jumped on the opportunity to indulge at the island’s most sophisticated property: Rosewood Tucker’s Point. This luxury hotel is truly a gem — and one I’d recommend staying at if you’re looking for the best in the country.

We slipped into The Point for a fine dining experience and were blown away by exquisite cuisine and service. Every single dish was beautifully-composed and well-balanced (they also had the best Bermuda Fish Chowder we tasted on the island). One thing is for sure: I know I’ll be dreaming of the Tuckers Farm Goat’s Cheese Fritters and Flourless Chocolate Cake for years to come…

5. Long Walks On The Beach – Regardless of whether you’re visiting Bermuda for a babymoon or not, you should allow for plenty of beach time. The country has over 30 spectacular spots to choose from — from the popular, pink sandy beaches dotting the south shore to natural, untouched beaches like Cooper’s Island (my personal fave)…

We also made sure to stop by some spots recommended to us by locals. Like Admiralty House Park which has a secluded beach and gorgeous caves (a great spot for cliff jumping on my next visit)…

Sad to leave this paradise, but I’ll be reliving the trip by sharing more of my journey here on the blog and on Trip Sense soon. Hope this recap inspires you to visit the beautiful country — if not for the beaches, then for its people. The locals truly made an impression on us — one that will have us coming back over and over again. And next time: with bebe!!

A huge thanks to tripcentral.ca for this incredible experience. Our babymoon in Bermuda would not have been possible without their support. If you’re looking for vacation packages that include flight, hotel and transfers for a budget-friendly holiday, definitely check them out! As always, reviews and opinions are my own.