bermuda

Our first visit was when our eldest, Ben, was just 18 months old. I had recently returned to work after a 14-month maternity leave, and we were finding the juggle of daily life with a small child stressful. We needed to get away and regroup.

It was on that trip that we discovered the true power of a family vacation. The stresses of home melt away, and suddenly it’s all about being present in the moment.

We spent five nights at a lovely family-run resort that we have continued to return to — most recently just a year ago. Pompano Beach Club has truly become our home away from home.

We love it for its intimate, family-owned atmosphere, friendly service, and stunning, unobstructed ocean views overlooking a private white-sand beach. Bermuda itself feels unique — one part Caribbean, one part British — with a slightly more traditional and formal tone than many other island destinations. Pompano, however, offers a relaxed and welcoming balance to that formality.

The resort features a mostly “all-inclusive” meal plan option. If you choose this package, it includes a full breakfast buffet and a multi-course dinner each evening (lunch and beverages are additional). There are three dining venues on the property: the Cedar Room Restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner; the Ocean Grill, open for dinner with sweeping ocean views; and the Coral Reef Café, perfect for casual lunches and poolside drinks.

Over the years, we’ve watched some of our favourite staff members retire — a reminder of how long we’ve been coming. Yet the owner, Larry, remains onsite daily and greets us each visit as if no time has passed. Lynn is also a constant presence who brings us so much joy whenever we see him. It’s these people who make our stays so memorable and who continue to make us feel like part of the Pompano family.

Since that first visit, we’ve returned seven times. We truly feel Bermuda is a special place to our family.

In the early years, we travelled in April and noticed many multi-generational families who came back at the same time year after year. That inspired us to start bringing extended family with us as well. We’ve spent a couple of Easter weekends at Pompano — such a special time to visit. The resort hosts an Easter egg hunt for the children, and it’s just a lovely, relaxed atmosphere.

For our past three visits, we’ve travelled in November, which works well now that the boys are older and on school break. This timing also coincides with the World Rugby Classic held in Hamilton. Both of our boys play rugby, so we love watching retired players from around the world come together for spirited matches and plenty of fun off the field.

There was one October when we returned to Bermuda with Jim’s parents to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They had honeymooned there and wanted to mark the occasion by returning. Our beloved Pompano was fully booked — so we were forces to find an alternate.

We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton, a much larger property with multiple restaurants, its own golf course, and a shuttle to the beach. It was lovely, but we realized we truly prefer smaller, more intimate accommodations.

On another occasion where we were not able to stay at Pompano, we found Elbow Beach Resort. The expansive grounds, beautiful accommodations, and excellent dining made it a wonderful experience. Sadly, the hotel never reopened after the COVID closures — a real loss, as it truly rivalled our favourite, Pompano.

Typically, when we visit Bermuda, we stay close to “home.” For us, heading south is about reconnecting as a family — building sandcastles on the beach, splashing in the pool, and holding endless ping-pong tournaments.

That said, there are some absolute must-sees on the island:

• Golfers should visit Port Royal Golf Course, located right beside Pompano.
• Families (and really, all ages!) will enjoy the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
• The Royal Naval Dockyard offers shops, restaurants, and waterfront walks — and is home to the National Museum of Bermuda.
• Horseshoe Bay is one of the island’s most famous beaches and makes for a beautiful beach day.
• St. George's, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features over 400 years of preserved architecture.
• The Bermuda Railway Trail is 28 km (18 mile) car-free walk stretching almost the entire length of the island on an abandoned railway. Depending on where you stay, you may need to research the best entry onto the railway. https://www.bermudarailway.net/trail/taking-trail/

Bermuda is an easy, direct flight from Toronto, which makes it incredibly appealing for a quick escape. Only a handful of cities offer service to the island, which perhaps adds to its quiet charm. While weather is never guaranteed outside of high season (May through September), we’ve travelled in both the spring and fall and have been fortunate to enjoy sunshine and warmth each time. One Christmas visit brought cooler temperatures and rain — not our favourite experience — but we went knowing that was a possibility.

Bermuda is undeniably an expensive destination. That said, from our perspective, it is absolutely worth it. Its proximity to home, unique blend of Caribbean beauty and British tradition, sense of safety, and genuinely warm people make it special. The fact that we continue to return, year after year, says everything. For us, Bermuda isn’t just a vacation spot — it has truly become our home away from home.

Hotels:

Pompano Beach Club: https://www.pompanobeachclub.com/

Fairmont Southhampton: www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/bermuda (temporary closed for renovations)