Fancy Bermuda? Lots of Avios availability has appeared in Business Class

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• John T says:

  21 Oct21 October 11:07

  Yeah unless you are visiting family or friends it’s hard to see a reason to go there. If you are looking for some Caribbean sun there are far better options.

  • KevinS says:

    21 Oct21 October 11:09

    I get the impression some people pick their holiday destinations based on points per Avios etc though rather than somewhere they actually want to go

    • Rob says:

      21 Oct21 October 11:15

      It’s not unreasonable to think ‘I’d like to go to xxxxxx but I’m not prepared to fly there in Economy and can’t afford to pay cash for Business, so I will compromise and go to yyyyyyy on Avios’.

      If you really want to go to, say, Japan then, yes, you might suck it up. Bermuda vs similar destinations is less clear cut.

      • KevinS says:

        21 Oct21 October 11:22

        I’m talking about people basing their decision entirely on points per Avios and going somewhere which they wouldn’t even have otherwise considered, which almost certainly happens based on comments on here

        • Roberto says:

          21 Oct21 October 11:29

          That was my thinking. I had a 241 that was expiring shortly and wanted to travel for 6 or 7 nights between fixed dates AND wanted to fly First Class to a destination I had not been to before. Seat Spy did all the heaving lifting finding award seats that fitted my narrow criteria and it was a choice between Bermuda or Lagos, I chose the former.

        • rob keane says:

          21 Oct21 October 12:58

          That’s two posts where you used the phrase “points per avios”. What does that even mean ?

        • Colin MacKinnon says:

          21 Oct21 October 15:35

          @KevinS That’s exactly what I do – I have a good number of points (around 700,000) but a limited amount of money. It’s not the points for Bermuda, it’s those extra fees that’s the deal breaker.

          And I like surprises and the unusual, rather than yet another international resort which – while lovely – would look the same in the holiday snaps whichever country it was in. I’ve just been to Albania, for instance. And in the Spring may go to the Stans.

          For the first time in c15 years, I haven’t worked out where to spend a month or so in winter this year. A return to either Argentina/Uruguay or Panama is one options – thanks to Iberia.

          Otherwise, Far East – liking the idea of Vietnam/Cambodia, especially if all the Chinese are still locked down, so it is quieter! No real points options, but affordable fares.

          Not fussed about Africa – Tanzania has priced itself out of the market, and I just never felt really comfortable in South Africa. Lovely people, but there was just – I felt – an uncomfortable undercurrent.

          You know, this year a three or four month lease on a flat in the Algarve is beginning to appeal – and I can pop home in a few hours whenever I want. Or family pop over to visit.

        • Hbommie says:

          21 Oct21 October 18:08

          Hi Colin, good shout re Vietnam.

          I’m hoping that the Chinese travel market stays quiet for our upcoming Thai trip, but I believe that flights have resumed or will soon and Bangkok looks busy.

      • k says:

        21 Oct21 October 12:54

        Hilarious. If one can’t afford the cash price of the flight, trust me, they can’t afford to stay in Bermuda. It’s an expensive (wholly unmerited) place.

        • Rob says:

          21 Oct21 October 13:23

          You may be able to afford the hotel but not two Business Class flights on top!

        • roberto says:

          21 Oct21 October 15:13

          @k , the cash price for the flights was about £16,000, award flights were circa £1300 plus
          a couple of hundred thousand avios & six night accommodation was only $1600 so I fail to see your logic on what I can afford or not.

          I do agree it’s an expensive place, not eye-watering but prehaps more than most would be prepared to spend. An evening meal in a pub in Hamilton was about £100 for two plus drinks in an average place. You could spend much much more of course but thats not really my thing.

  • Chas says:

    21 Oct21 October 11:38

    I had a rugby tour there a couple of decades ago (I know, not the normal destination you’d associate with such a trip). Fun, but pricey! Glad I’ve been, don’t think I’d go back.

    • KevinS says:

      21 Oct21 October 13:03

      Good spot. I meant pence per Avios

• Felix Flyer says:

  21 Oct21 October 16:30

  I live and work in Bermuda. Yes it is very expensive – and gratuity at 15-17.5% is automatically added to your restaurant/bar bill. Bermuda regularly tops lists of the most expensive countries to live and work in. Prices shared by other posters are accurate. A pint of lager will typically be $10+ without gratuity. The $40 Tax referred to is actually a COVID-19 Travel Authorization which needs to be applied for online before departure. However it will now cease on 30 November (websites are not yet updated). What may replace it is not yet known.
  Only major points redemption hotel is the St. Regis. Fairmont Southampton is closed awaiting a costly (and controversial) renovation, best guess 2024 for completion. Hilton Bermudiana is slated for June 2023 opening but may well slip.

  • Ariel says:

    21 Oct21 October 16:49

    Slated opening of Fairmont Southampton is April 2024. Fairmont Hamilton is still open. Prices probably worse than usual at the moment given weakness of sterling (Bermuda uses USD). More affordable option is Aribnb and self-catered.

• swifty says:

  21 Oct21 October 18:03

  Business return to Orlando was £1699 for taxes and that was with a 241 and on a non peak time i think, 125000 avios and the hotels are 300pn in Miami in March. Still, I think it’s probably better fun than Bermuda for us. So went with that

  • k says:

    21 Oct21 October 22:41

    Definitely Miami wins versus boring Bermuda

    • Londonsteve says:

      25 Oct25 October 14:45

      I always had the impression that Bermuda was like Canary Wharf (minus the skyscrapers) transported to a Caribbean island. Good for a holiday in a banking district for those that like to wear stripey blazers for sundowners.

• Wallaj4 says:

  21 Oct21 October 19:51

  I decided to jump onto this one and use one of my vouchers which were expiring . If I am flying first to Bermuda , it’s flying from T3 Heathrow , can I use Cathay Pacific First lounge ?

  • Rob says:

    21 Oct21 October 20:08

    Yes

    • Ian H says:

      22 Oct22 October 06:40

      Thanks Rob. Just booked flights for June. Somewhere different and as you’ve indicated above, we don’t do long (er) haul unless club class. We will now research hotels. Looking forward to it. Once again, many thanks.

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