Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
generally too late. On the boat, stay as low and near the center of the boat as possible.
Stay out in the fresh air and watch the horizon. If you start to feel queasy, drink clear flu-
ids like water, and eat something bland, such as a soda cracker.
Cuts
All cuts obtained in the marine environment must be taken seriously because the
high level of bacteria present in the water can quickly cause the cut to become infected.
The best way to prevent cuts is to wear a wet suit, gloves, and reef shoes. If you get a
coral cut, the topic
All Stings Considered
recommends gently pulling the edges of the
skin open and removing any embedded coral or grains of sand with tweezers. Next, scrub
the cut well with fresh water, and then press a clean cloth against the wound to stop the
bleeding.
Hospitals
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital,
7 Point Finger Rd., Paget Parish
(
&
441/236-2345;
www.bermudahospitals.bm), has a highly qualified staff and Canadian
accreditation.
Insurance
Although close to the United States, a visit to Bermuda is, in essence,
“going abroad.” You can encounter all the same problems in Bermuda that you would in
going to a more remote foreign destination. Therefore, it's wise to review your insurance
coverage, especially concerning lost luggage or medical insurance.
For information on traveler's insurance, trip cancelation insurance, and medical insur-
ance while traveling, please visit www.frommers.com/planning.
Internet Access
Most of the larger hotels in Bermuda have some Internet service. If
your hotel does not, there are a few places where you can go. The following places will
allow you to log on for a fee:
Logic Internet Cafe,
10-12 Burnaby St. in Hamilton (
&
441/
296-9600
), provides fresh coffee for Internet users who pay $5 per half-hour. Open Mon-
day to Friday 6am to 6pm.
TeleBermuda International Custom Centre,
at the corner of
Reid Street and Queen Street in Hamilton (
&
441/296-9000
), allows you to surf the
Web for $2.50 per 15 minutes. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Legal Aid
Your consulate will inform you of your limited rights and offer a list of
attorneys. (See “Embassies & Consulates,” above.) However, the consulate's office cannot
interfere with Bermuda's law-enforcement officers.
For Residents of the U.S.
The
Citizens' Emergency Center
of the Office of Special Con-
sular Services, in Washington, D.C. (
&
888/407-4747
or 202/647-5225; http://travel.
state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html), operates a hot line that's use-
ful in an emergency for U.S. citizens arrested abroad. The staff can also tell you how to
send money to U.S. citizens arrested abroad.
For Residents of Canada
Contact the
Operations Centre of Foreign Affairs
via its
24-hour emergency hot line (
&
888/949-9993
toll-free from Bermuda or 613/996-8885
collect).
For Residents of the U.K.
Because Bermuda is a British territory, Britain doesn't have an
embassy or a consulate in Bermuda; local authorities deal with requests for consular-type
assistance.
For Residents of Australia
Australians should contact the
24-hour Consular Emergency
Centre
(
&
2-6261-3305
) or their consulate (above).
LGBT Travelers
Think twice before planning a holiday on Bermuda. Although many
gays live in and visit Bermuda, the island is rather repressive to homosexuals, and for
most of its existence, Bermuda had laws making sex between consenting legal-age males
a crime subject to imprisonment. That is no longer the case, but displays of affection by
same-sex couples will be frowned upon at public beaches and most hotel pools, restau-
rants, and attractions. If you want really happening gay beaches, bars, and clubs, head for
South Miami Beach, Key West, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, a series of islands
that are much more accepting of homosexual relationships.
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