Bermuda
Capital: Hamilton
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US) (about 0.3times the size of Washington, DC).
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
U.S. citizens may register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General, located at Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DV03, telephone 1-441-295-1342, where they may also obtain updated information on travel and security in Bermuda. Office hours for American citizens services are 8:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M. AND 1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M., Monday-Friday, except Bermudan and U.S. holidays. American citizens in need of after-hours emergency assistance may call the duty officer at 1-441-235-3828.
Consular Access:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Bermudan authorities are required to notify the U.S. Consulate General in the event a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained.
Background:
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Ethnic Groups:
black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
Language:
English (official), Portuguese
Currency:
BMD
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Climate:
Subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Population:
63,503 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Medical:
Good medical care is available. There is only one quality hospital, where general surgery is performed and intensive care units exist. Serious or complex medical problems will likely require medical evacuation to the United States.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the U.S. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you that incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Bermuda is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
excellent
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
poor
Under Bermudan law, non-residents are not allowed to own, rent, or drive four-wheeled vehicles. Non-residents must rely on taxis, the excellent local bus system, or motor scooters. Traffic is moderate and Bermudans generally follow the rules of the road. Licensing and registration are strictly enforced, as are driving and parking regulations. Because Bermuda does not allow the importation of used vehicles, most vehicles are in good condition. Driving is on the left side of the road and the maximum speed limit in the capital city of Hamilton is 25 kph (15 mph) and 35 kph (21 mph) on the rest of the island. Those unused to driving on the left are likely to find the roundabouts and regulations for yielding at junctions confusing and dangerous. In addition, vehicles often stop on the side of the road, blocking one lane of traffic. Main roads, while generally in good condition, are extremely narrow and tend to be bordered by heavy vegetation or low stone walls.
There are pedestrian crosswalks, marked by white lines on all roads. Vehicles must, and do, stop when a pedestrian is seen approaching a crosswalk. Horns are seldom used aggressively or as a warning. Instead, horn honking is used as a general form of greeting in Bermuda. As almost everyone knows everyone else, horns are heard honking all the time, for no apparent reason.
Motor scooters are the greatest road peril, as local operators tend to abuse the speed limit more than other drivers, and will pass on the left or right with no warning. Renters should be aware that there are frequent scooter accidents - sometimes fatal or involving very serious injuries - involving visitors. Rental motor scooters are readily available and the required helmet is provided. Renting a scooter for daytime activities in good weather should be reasonably safe. However, visitors should carefully consider whether or not it is worth the risk to ride a scooter during rainy weather or at night. Taxis are readily available and the excellent and relatively inexpensive local bus system services the length of the island and stops close to most beaches, hotels, the downtown shopping area, and other points of interest. In addition, water ferry service to a variety of stops around the island is available seven days a week and is a very safe and enjoyable mode of transportation.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Bermuda driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Bermuda Department of Tourism offices at 310 Madison Avenue, Suite 201, New York, N.Y., telephone (212) 818-9800, or via the Internet at http://www.bermudatourism.com.
