Bermuda Travel Forum

I'm entertaining a job offer on this fine isle, or so I've heard...I've never been there. Does anyone know the pros and cons of Bermuda? Esp. interested in mundane, normal life, things like how one shops for food (are there supermarkets or is it like small European shops???).

Many thanks in advance.

I only spent 4 days there in October and while it was truly as lovely as the travel brochures and postcards depict it, I would really get island fever quickly. I could see doing a 3-6 month stint but like Hawaii, as an example, when you want a change of pace or scenery, it's not an easy or inexpensive trip. Definitely not for anyone that likes to move around but definitely THE place for someone looking for a safe, laid back and laissez-faire time.

The Travel Slut

The main thing that will make or break your time in Bermuda is your job. Your work permit is tied to that and it is a very risky proposition to change jobs while staying on the island. It's possible, but rarely within the first two years. You must give notice at your old job before you can apply for your new job work permit, and each permit is reviewed on a case-by-case basis; there is no such thing as an automatic approval. If the new one is denied, you need to crawl back to your old employer or leave the island. Therefore, you must be very sure of your new job, 100%.

The only way you can truly attempt to find this out is for them to fly you down beforehand for a site visit, a common procedure. If they will not do this, they either have something to hide or are too cheap to do so. In either case, a good reason against working for them.

Another thing to do is to research the salaries thoroughly. Although your new almost-tax-free $US salary may seem attractive compared to your existing heavily-taxed $CDN salary, compare it with what others are offering for similar work on the island. It's hard to remain satisfied after a year or so when you know that others are making double to triple what you are, all other things being equal. It happens.

You can make and save a lot of money in Bermuda, but you must have the right employer to do so. Rent, utilities, food, and almost everything else is outrageously expensive compared to Canada.

Don't let the name put you off; check out the forum at www.bermudasucks.com. It is not all negative and has a mix of locals and ex-pats posting there, though mostly ex-pats. Search through the archives for this information, for example:
http://bermudasucks.com/forum/index.php/topic,152.0.html

or you may ask this question afresh for answers by residents.

Another good site for a local feeling, albeit more concerned with Bermudian politics, is www.limeyinbermuda.com

See the Local Customs tip on my Bermuda page for a lesson on how to wear Bermuda shorts.

As others have said, Bermuda is wildly expensive. If you don't know anyone there, finding an apartment can be a nightmare. Changing jobs while there is virtually impossible. I lived there for 5+ years, and worked for a large mainframe and software manufacturer. I had to get certified in almost every product the Company manufactured (which was fine - it's certainly helped my career back in the US). Bermuda has large grocery stores (The Marketplace) and is by no means a 'Third World Country'. As far as 'safety', well, the crime has risen steadily since I lived there - and no, I had nothing to do with it. Traffic is insane, and getting worse (it is, after all, only 21 square miles on +/- 300 islands).

The big thing, though, is if you don't know anyone there, the transition can be brutal. As also said, your income should be about the same as you would expect living in Midtown Manhattan, NY. I started work with 6 weeks of vacation/year, it was barely enough.
Jeff-