chris@rlgvax.UUCP (Chris Meurer) (05/16/85)
I am in the process of making plans to go to Bermuda for our honeymoon and was wondering if anyone in netland had some info on whether I should go for a package deal from a travel agent or try to book it myself. Which is less expensive? Are the packages worth it? Are they all that the travel agents crack them up to be? I have spoken to a few different travel agents and all of the packages seem pretty much the same. What differences should I look for? Are you treated differently(meals,service,etc.)if you are involved in the packages or are they a good deal WITH good treatment? We want to relax and enjoy ourselves, but also enjoy the things the island has to offer(snorkeling, boat trips, etc.) It seems that some of the packages have these features. Has anyone visited Bermuda through one of these packages? If so, how was it? Any information or past experiences about Bermuda would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance, Chris (seismo!rlgvax!chris)
karl@mtu.UUCP (Karl Ottenstein) (05/22/85)
> > I am in the process of making plans to go to Bermuda for our honeymoon > and was wondering if anyone in netland had some info on whether I should go > for a package deal from a travel agent or try to book it myself. Which is > less expensive? Are the packages worth it? Are they all that the travel agents > crack them up to be? I have spoken to a few different travel agents and all of > the packages seem pretty much the same. What differences should I look for? My wife and I honeymooned in Bermuda in summer 1977 in part because I had very nice memories of the place from a visit in around 1963 or so as a kid. My negative feelings are a combination of fouled expectations and a rip-off package deal. First, expectations: On my first visit, only motor bikes were allowed on the narrow roads and the island was VERY British, high teas, the works. Not that there weren't many US tourists, but that there were many OTHER tourists and a lot of British charm (I won't define British charm :-) ) In 1977, on the other hand, the place was ALL American, not charming in the least...even the money was pegged to the US dollar! And, the small roads were teeming with motor vehicles, making it risky going on a bike or moped (which was such a pleasant activity previously). The rip-off package: it was an Eastern Airlines deal at the Sonesta Beach hotel at $125 per day (1977, remember): many things went wrong which I won't go into here...but we arrived to find the hotel overbooked, and were then placed in a room over the boiler room which was quite shabby and stunk; the "gourmet dining" was "gramma's fried chicken"...for which you had to dress in coat/tie! > Are you treated differently(meals,service,etc.)if you are involved in > the packages or are they a good deal WITH good treatment? We want to relax and > enjoy ourselves, but also enjoy the things the island has to offer(snorkeling, > boat trips, etc.) It seems that some of the packages have these features. Has > anyone visited Bermuda through one of these packages? If so, how was it? Yes, you are treated differently!! Like a stuck pig!! We could not move to another hotel, or get any other accomodations because we had paid in advance! Now, if you like to golf (very big there), aren't out for charm, don't mind crowded roads and are willing to risk biking to the Forts and taking a boat tour of the island, you might like it. There is a Club Med there now (just openned...bought out an existing hotel with golf course)...and while I am furious with Club Med now [flaming letters pending] for the way they screwed up the transportation for our vacation last month, the ground accomodations (room and food) at a Club are quite good and seem to be consistent from Club to Club (except for places like the Dominican Republic with import restrictions on food and wine!)... If this Club matches the others with ground services, I'd recommend finding your own transportation to Bermuda and booking ground-only at the Club. (If you really want an island getaway with snorkeling, boating, etc. but little civilization, try a different island.) Hope you enjoy whatever you decide on! -- Karl Ottenstein Michigan Technological University uucp: {lanl, ihnp4, glacier}!mtu!karl arpa/csnet: karl%mtu@csnet-relay