Deal of the Day

For the sake of brevity I'll keep this short and sweet. Looking for a bargain-basement priced room at one of the fanciest (and historic!) hotels in Bermuda? Well, look no further. The Fairmont Hamilton Princess just announced a fantastic deal good for travel until April 30th: 50% off all rooms, if booked from now until February 3rd. That means harborfront rooms that normally cost around $260 a night, now cost $129. Can you say deal? A Saturday night stay is required and a few blackout dates apply, but if you're looking to visit Bermuda this Spring and would like to be within walking distance of Hamilton's many shops and restaurants, this is the deal for you. For more, check out the 50% Off Bermuda Pink Sale.

Mitt's Bermuda Millions

Bermuda Shorts has never gotten too involved in politics, but I thought it was necessary—especially given the current state of American presidential politics—to point you to an interesting article currently running on Politico. It's about Mitt Romney and how the presidential candidate avoided paying taxes while at Bain Capital by sheltering his assets in, yes you guessed it, Bermuda. Interested? Then check out Mitt Romney's Bermuda (tax) Holiday to learn more about how Mitt made his millions (rather, kept his millions from being taxed in the U.S.). I'm not sure what's more surprising, that he did it in the first place, that we're just finding out or that it happened in Bermuda.

It's a Staycation Y'all

Sometimes you've just gotta take your own good advice. Case in point: Last week I spilled the beans on an amazing deal at The Reefs Hotel & Club—nearly 70% off an ultra-luxe two or three-bedroom suite, good through mid-March. And while the pull to vacation right here in Bermuda has always been strong, the Reefs' rockbottom rate combined with an increasingly-crazed holiday season proved much too powerful, so I booked in for the weekend. The result? Today's story about Winter Deals and Sunny Skies currently running on Huffington Post Travel. In it you'll get my take on my two-night stay and my indulgent experience at the La Serena Spa (spoiler alert: It was all fantastic!) plus can learn about other seasonal deals and specials in Bermuda right now (like the island's first-ever restaurant week or how to get your third, fourth or fifth night free at a handful of hotels and resorts). So in case you're wondering what's it's like to stay in a gorgeous oceanfront two-bedroom suite with unending views of the Atlantic, read Winter Deals and Sunny Skies in Bermuda on Huffington Post Travel now. And yes, that's me lounging beside the Reefs' gorgeous infinity pool last weekend. I know, life's tough.

Cruise News

While rescue crews continue to search for survivors of the Costa Concordia tragedy on the Italian coast, Bermuda believe it or not, will soon be feeling the smack of the ship's wake. According to Bloomberg, Bermuda's XL Group is one of the cruise line's lead insurers, and along with insurance firms Generali SpA and RSA, faces up to $1 billion in potential damages. In case you're wondering that would be a new record for a ship wreck, dwarfing the claims that followed the sinking of Exxon Valdez, which ran aground in Alaska in 1989 costing insurers $500 million. And although the final bill will be shared by 12 other insurers from the London market and likely won't be definitively known for months or even years—at the moment losses are estimated to be between $600 and $800 million—it's amazing to think how one rock could simultaneously rip a gaping hole in a ship and an industry. Risky business, indeed.

Deal of The Year

Every so often a travel deal crosses my desk that I just can't ignore. This is one of those times. Because apparently 2012 has brought with it a wave of affordability right here in notoriously pricey Bermuda. Got holiday fatigue? Well do I have the getaway for you! From now until March 15th The Reefs Hotel & Club is offering super-low rates in its brand new, ultra-luxe Club Condos. How low you say? Currently two guests can stay in a 2,000-square-foot, two-bedroom condo for just $299 a night, down from $849 normally. It's a whopper of a deal, especially when you consider the luxurious amenities that you'll have at your fingertips including a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen, oversized spa-like bathrooms with gigantic soaking tubs and rain showers, an oceanfront veranda with private Jacuzzi plus flat-screen televisions, Wi-Fi and your own washer/dryer (to rinse off your swim trunks after a dip in the ocean or the Reefs' heated infinity pool, of course). You'll have full access to its sumptuous La Serena Spa—complete with an ocean view relaxation room and body treatments galore—in addition to a private lounge where you can play billiards while sipping your Dark n' Stormy with a view of the turquoise Atlantic. My kinda place! Still on the fence? Current island forecasts call for monthly temperatures in the high 60's, low 70s, which is perfect for a game of golf, long strolls on the beach or relaxing poolside with a great book. And really, what's better than golf, the beach and relaxing poolside? Just one note: Due to minor renovations in the hotel's on-site restaurants, food and beverage services will be unavailable, but a pre-arrival grocery shopping service is available for guests who'd like to stock their in-room kitchen (and of course, the concierge can make reservations at all island restaurants). To book you can call The Reefs directly at 800/742-2008 or go the The Reefs website and book online. And yes, that'll be your living room. I told you it was deluxe.