gracie3

I have Colin booked for November! He seems really nice, and Duke seemed really nice as well when I had emailed him.

Were going to be there for 3 days but I decided that I still wanted a tour guide, because who knows when and if we will ever get back to Bermuda!

I will say that Duke does respond rather quickly. I sent Colin an email a couple weeks ago and have not yet heard back. I sent Duke an email and heard back within 24 hours. And I have sent multiple emails to him with questions and he answers very promptly.

Host Caroline.....how many hours did you have Colin? I gave Duke a list of places I wanted to see and then the places he would recommend seeing and he recommended the tour be about 6 hours. Even though we are going to be there for 3 days, I am still thinking of adding on the Caves and having him take us there. That is still undecided.

Any advice or recommendations??

Sorry!:o. I need to spend a little more time on details when I respond. Here goes....

 

There is no public (Bermuda's famous "Pink" buses) to Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. The only ways to get there are either by foot, scooter or taxi, or cruise excursion bus. The bus will leave you off at the road, at the bottom of another long and very winding and rather steep road that leads to the base of the lighthouse. Probably a good 10-15 minute walk uphill, depending on your state of fitness.

 

At the base is a small parking lot, a 360 degree grassy area for picture taking, a small but great gift shop, 2 restrooms in a bunker-like building a little away from the base, and the small cafe inside the giftshop building.

It is not a huge outside area. I'm guessing but I think that 100 people would cover the entire grassy area. The giftshop has room for MAYBE 25 at most, at one time. The entire giftshop is maybe 25' x 20'. You buy tickets to walk to the top of the lighthouse (I think it was $2.50 US in September 2010, when I was last there.) You walk about 50' to the base of the lighthouse, drop your stub ina box and start the climb. There is no attendant at the base. It's strictly the honor system.

 

I'm trying to remember but I think there are 183 steps to the top. There are landings along the walk with pictures and stories about the History of Bermuda and the lighthouse itself. (No benches to sit on,though). At the top there is a small, square opening to bend over and step out onto the walkway around the top. It is only wide enough for two to pass each other, with a high wrought-iron railing. THE VIEW IS SPECTACULAR!!!

 

If you had just walked up the hill from where the bus stopped, I think you would be exhausted (I know I certainly would be). However, if an air-conditioned taxi has dropped you off at the base, then the climb is very "do-able". When you descend, (in my case) Colin is waiting there for you in his air-conditioned taxi (where I have already left my gift shop souvenirs) with a drink I purchased in the gift shop and off we drive to my next sightseeing spot!

 

I hope I cleared this up a little! If not, let me know and I'll try again! :D

 

- Miriam

Thank you! It doesn't take much to confuse me sometime:D

Are there long lines to get out to the top? Or atleast has anyone experienced that?

Thank you all for your information. I have decided it is worth the money to just pay the tour guide to take us to everything and wait for us. I think that will be the best. Plus I just think you will get a better overall view of Bermuda. Any other advice or info is greatly appreciated:)

Here is a copy of a post that I put on another Bermuda board.

 

""""""""

You should be aware that a bus to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse does not go to the base of the lighthouse, only to the bottom of the "steepish" winding road that leads up to it. Unless you have a lot of time, or are in great shape, this is something that you definitely skip. Climb to the top of the lighthouse instead! Easy to do, with landings along the way, and the view is unbeatable!!""""""""""""".

 

The ligthouse is wonderful to see and the best picture taking spot on the island (just my opinion ;)!) but if you don't climb it, it'll only take you 20 minutes to look, shop and picture take. There is a little cafe there as well, but it has very limited hours.

 

Yes, the cost does add up to have a driver wait while you shop, sightsee, swim etc. The convenience is definitely worth it. It saves carrying ALL your belongings, souvenirs, beverages, etc while you visit tour, eat, shop etc, especially if you are only there for 30 -32 hours. You want to maximize your time.

 

Check out this link for other ideas of what you might want to do.

 

Click here: Bermuda Attractions

 

Hopes this helps! - Miriam

Okay, you confused me a little on this one! If the bus does not take you to the lighthouse, you recommend that if you are not in good shape to skip it. However, you say to climb it in the next sentence?? You still have to go down to the base to climb it, right?

So basically if your not in good shape, don't plan on doing the lighthouse, unless you have a taxi take you to the base.

gracie3 wrote: ....So the bus goes to Hamilton but you have to do the ferry to St. George? Where are the Crystal Caves, in St. George or Hamilton?....

 

Yes, you could take a bus from the Dockyard to Hamilton; however, that ride takes just over 60 minutes :(. The ferry from the Dockyard to Hamilton takes about 20 minutes. You could take the ferry from the Dockyard to St George, a trip of about 40 minutes; or you could take a combination of ferry and bus to get to St George, a trip of about 70 minutes (ferry to Hamilton, bus to St George).

 

The caves are located closer to St George than Hamilton.

 

And asked: ....Are there taxi's outside of Crystal Cave in case you want to grab one back?....

There may be taxis waiting at the caves, but it would be easy enough for one to be summoned for you. The fare from the caves to the ferry terminal in Hamilton would be at least $20.00 for 1 to 4 passengers, weekday travel.

 

and asked: ....(by reading bermudian websites they say to allow an hour basically for bus rides) Is this true?....

According to the bus schedule, the time from/to Hamilton to/from the caves is about 35 minutes each way.

 

Any times for buses and ferries exclude waiting time

 

 

SBtS

Thank you for all your help!! Do you want to go to Bermuda with us and be our tour guide?:D

I have pretty much decided on hiring a tour guide to take us around the island. If I do the 7 night cruise, then I will use public transportation to go ahead to the Crystal Caves and Gibbs Lighthouse. If we do a shorter cruise I will just have the tourguide take us to the places and do them there.

Thank you for all your help and information!!!!

All these decisions are personal of course, so it's difficult to choose. I would not go through the Crystal Caves while on a cab tour...takes too much time, and tick, tick goes the clock. Take a good long look at Horseshoe Bay beach, Gibbs Lighthouse, Mangrove Bay, and then let the driver be your guide...he will point out all the interesting spots (so many), make note of any you want to return to on your own. You could have him go from Dockyard, out and around St. George, then end your tour in Hamilton (just not on Sunday)...you could then shop and take the bus or ferry back to Dockyard from there. So many choices!!

 

Happy planning!!

Thank you for your suggestions! They are a big help to me! So the bus goes to Hamilton but you have to do the ferry to St. George? Where are the Crystal Caves, in St. George or Hamilton?

Are there taxi's outside of Crystal Cave in case you want to grab one back? I honestly would rather get a taxi than have to take an hour to get there and an hour back (by reading bermudian websites they say to allow an hour basically for bus rides) Is this true?

I also would be interested in some must visits....

 

unfortunately we could not get colin nor duke for our day in bermuda, duke did recommend someone else....

 

they have asked us what we want to see but i am not too sure what to pick.... can some of you recommend a good itinerary

 

joanne

This is the problem I am having!! Trying to figure out what is a must see! lol. We are probably going to do either a 5 night cruise to bermuda or the 6 night. The only thing, is with the 6 night you don't get into port until 3pm (and most things close at 5), you are docked the whole next day and then leave at noon the 3rd day. On the 5 night you atleast get there at 9am one day and leave at 5pm the next day. So we really have more time in port on the 5 night cruise.

Decisions, decisions.

Glad to hear about all these reviews on Duke and Colin. I think it would be so much easier to get a tour guide than jumping from bus to bus and ferry to ferry.

Did you guys hire the private guide to show you St. Georges and Hamilton? I am trying to get a list together of what we would definately like to see. I definately want to go to the Crystal Cave and Gibbs lighthouse. I hate to pay him to sit there and wait, but we will see. If we were going to do that, how many hours should we book him?

If were able to do the 6 night or 7 night then we would just book him for a tour and go back to Gibbs lighthouse and the Crystal Caves on our own.

Hi, just got back from Bermuda and I'm here to report about Duke Soares. A little background of him. He's an older gentleman who is a history buff. He knows his island very well. Was born in Bermuda but he has Portuguese roots and married to an English lady who mans the docks in St George's.

He was there at the pier waiting for us with our name. He asked if there are any particular places we want to see and we told him he's the boss. We went to most of the island attractions stopping at St George to look around ourselves and did a little shopping.

We are very happy we did his tour. Took 5 hours and worth every penny.

What did you get to see on the tour? I am contemplating doing this as well. Did you have a lot of shopping time?