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Hamilton Basics

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Time

Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from first Sunday in April to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. US two-pin plugs and round grounding pin are used.

Money: The Bermudan Dollar (BMD) is divided into 100 cents, and is tied to the US Dollar (US$1=BD$1). US currency is accepted almost everywhere and other major currencies can be exchanged at banks and bureaux de change. Banking hours vary, though most are open weekdays from 9am to 4.30pm. Visa, MasterCard and American Express, and travellers cheques are widely accepted and ATMs are available. To avoid additional charges, it is best to carry tavellers cheques in US dollars.


Currency Exchange Rates
BMD 1.00 = A$ 1.27 C$ 1.06 IRR 9.00 NZ$ 1.49 £ 0.56 US$ 1.00 R 8.32

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: English is the official language.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: A valid passport is required for US nationals, but no visa is necessary for stays of up to six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).
Entry requirements for UK nationals: A valid passport is required by UK nationals. A visa is not required for stays of up to of six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals do not require a passport providing they have other documents with proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, driver's licence, an old passport or a certificate of naturalisation, and they do not stay longer than six months. A photo ID is required. A visa is not required; immigration officials will decide on the length of visa exempt stay depending on reason for travel.
Entry requirements for Australians: A valid passport is required for Australian nationals, but a visa is not required for stays of up to six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a valid passport for entry to Bermuda. A visa is not required for stays of up to six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a valid passport. A visa is not required for stays of up to six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealanders require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for stays up to six months. (Immigration officers will decide on maximum period of stay depending on reason for travel).

Passport/Visa Note: All visitors must hold a return or onward ticket and any documents required for further travel. From 23 January 2007 all US citizens travelling to and from Bermuda by air will require a passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well.

Health: There are no specific health risks for visitors to Bermuda and medical care is of a high standard. Health insurance is recommended because of the high cost of medical treatment. Food and water are considered safe for consumption.

Tipping: If not included in the bill, a 15% tip is generally expected at restaurants and hotels. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10%. All Bermuda hotels add a hotel tax of 7.25% to the bill at check-out.

Safety: Bermuda is relatively crime-free but visitors should exercise the necessary precautions to safeguard personal possessions. Care should be taken after dark, avoiding quieter, poorly lit streets in particular. The use of 'date rape' drugs is on the increase. Hurricane season normally runs from June to November.

Customs: As a general rule, dress conservatively. Bathing suits are acceptable only on the beach, and it is considered an offence to appear in public without a shirt. Casual sportswear can be worn in restaurants during the day, but in the evening men may be required to wear a jacket and tie. Good manners are expected, and asking a question without first offering a proper greeting is considered extremely rude.

Business: Bermuda's economy is dominated by tourism and international financial services. Business etiquette is conservative, and businessmen and women should stick to dark suits. For meetings, punctuality is important, people are greeted with handshakes, and business cards are exchanged. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Communications: The international access code for Bermuda is +1, in common with the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 441. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); no outgoing code is needed to call the US. Mobile phones operate on a GSM 1900 network. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty free: Travellers to Bermuda over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 5kg tobacco; and 1 litre liquor and 1 litre wine. Duty may have to be paid on perfume and gifts. Spearguns are prohibited.