BMF 2010: Reggae Review

You know when you wake up with a song in your head? Maybe it’s random, maybe it’s from the night before—whatever the reason, you just can’t shake it? For me that song is Love is My Religion, one of the many reggae hits played by Ziggy Marley at the Fairmont Southampton beach club last night. So you see, I really don’t have much to complain about. As expected the first night of the Bermuda Music Festival was off-the-charts good. At least Ziggy was, but I’ll get to him in a moment.

The night kicked off with a performance by Uzimon, Bermuda’s own self-described “reggaelutionary.” If you don’t understand what that means, well, that’s just the point. With a faker-than-fake Jamaican accent, Uzimon was squarely at the crossroads of comedy and reggae, performing songs like “Nasty Foot Gal” and “Steven Seagal,” purportedly about his childhood idol. Some of it was amusing, some off-putting, but at least I could sit through his schtick. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for the next Bermuda-based act—an abrasive group of dance hall wannabes called Homegrown. Now before you go jumping down my throat for trashing local artists let me say this: Ziggy Marley was the headliner. Ziggy Marley plays what’s called conscious reggae. So why not tap an opening act that has a similar style? Was Mishka not available? He’s from Bermuda. And he plays the exact same style of reggae Ziggy does, which really would’ve been perfect. Instead, the crowd endured the tired rap of another lead singer with a faked Jamaican accent plus a tweaked out bass that was so loud and so uncomfortable I physically had to leave my seat.

Ahh well, they all can’t be as good as Ziggy.

And so we get to the main act: the legendary Son-of-Bob. To say he didn’t disappoint would be a vast understatement. Ziggy rocked it, on a stage dare I say, is Bermuda’s finest open-air venue. Note to concert promoters: Putting ticket holders on the sand, under palm trees, next to the ocean is a very good thing. Job well done. As for Ziggy, he played just about every hit in his collection including True to Myself, Tomorrow People and the aforementioned Love is My Religion, which is still in my head in case you’re wondering. Of course, the reggae superstar couldn’t leave the stage without performing a few of his father’s tunes, and for that, the crowd roared. We got This Is Love, Get Up Stand Up and about a half dozen others that kept the audience swaying on its feet. All in all a fantastic start to the beachside festival, but if anyone has any suggestions for a new song to stick in my head, I’m all ears.

Deal of the Day

Summer may be over but for travelers to Bermuda that means lots of fair weather bargains throughout the fall, like this amazing deal from the luxurious Fairmont Southampton on Bermuda’s stunning south shore. Incredibly, rooms at the oceanside resort are 50% off for reservations through January 2011, including holiday stays over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I’ll get to the details in just a bit, but first, here’s why you should consider an autumn stay at one of the island’s most elegant hotels.

You'll Sleep Soundly

The sprawling resort boasts 593 spacious rooms and suites, all of which have private balconies, marble bathrooms and elegant British colonial décor. Relax on your very own Fairmont Bed with Egyptian cotton sheets or take in the endless ocean view from the comfort of your room. You might want to leave at some point to explore the island, but your mornings, nap times and nights couldn’t possibly be more comfortable.

You'll Be Pampered From Head to Toe

By far the largest and most luxurious wellness facility in Bermuda is the 31,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Southampton. Yes, it’s that good and here's why: The spa features 15 well-appointed treatment rooms, multiple relaxation lounges, a state-of-the art ocean view fitness center, indoor heated pool, beauty salon plus private men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam inhalation rooms, sauna and signature Willow Stream Energy bath and beauty products throughout. You’ll be pampered with dozens of island-inspired treatments administered by trained professional therapists and best of all, you won’t have to book days in advance to get an appointment. Hands down, it’s the best place for a massage in Bermuda.

You'll Have Your Own Beach

In fall, the temperature tops out at a blissful 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you can spend long days lazing on a chaise lounge at the resort’s private beach club. Rent snorkel gear and explore the rock formations at the water’s edge or stroll the long, private pink sand beach. It doesn’t get much better than that.

You'll Eat Well

Sure, some of the hotel’s restaurants, including the Newport Room, Wickets and the Ocean Club close temporarily during the fall and winter season, but rest assured you’ll be well fed at three of the Fairmont Southampton’s most beloved places to eat. Enjoy thin crust pizzas, tapas and other light fare at Jasmine Lounge (where you can also listen to live jazz and sip signature martinis); rustic Italian cuisine that’s perfect for the whole family at Bacci; and classic steakhouse fare, like Kobe beef ribeyes and Caribbean lobster tails, in a traditional 18th century Bermuda cottage at the Waterlot Inn.

You'll Play Eighteen Holes

With its very own oceanview Executive Par-Three Golf Course, the Fairmont Southampton is the perfect hotel to practice your swing. Take your short game to new levels and when you’re done, consider booking a tee time at nearby Riddell’s Bay Golf Club—through an exclusive partnership with the Fairmont Southampton, guests of the hotel can play Bermuda’s oldest private course.

You'll Be There In a Flash

Bermuda is less than a two-hour flight from most east coast gateways including New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Orlando and Halifax, Canada. Just under three hours away is Miami, Charlotte and Atlanta. Yes, paradise is that close.

You'll Save Money

Did I mention that rooms at the Fairmont Southampton were 50% off through January? Here’s what you need to know: Moderate rooms start at $149 a night for Sunday through Wednesday stays; Fairmont rooms, which overlook the harbor or golf course, are $179 a night for stays any day of the week; and Deluxe Ocean View rooms are $239 a night, also for stays any day. There are a handful of blackout dates—for those and more about the deal, which runs through the end of January visit TravelZoo—but you must book by October 5.

So, what are you waiting for? Check into the Fairmont Southampton today!

Bermuda for Budget Travelers?

It was back in September 2009 when the New York Times Travel section published my story, 36 Hours in Bermuda. In case you missed it I covered the island’s best and brightest: Dinners at Mickey’s and Port O Call, golfing at Port Royal, happy hour at Newstead, snorkeling at Church Bay, plus a handful of others like scoping out paintings at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art or where to get Bermuda’s best fish chowder (for my money, it’s still a toss up between Hog Penny and the Lobster Pot; discuss). Well, it looks like the Grey Lady has struck again, this time with a story from it’s newest reporter, Seth Kugel, who recently took over the Frugal Traveler column from budget-traveler extraordinaire Matt Gross. Frankly, I never thought Bermuda had a chance of landing in the column titled "Hurricane Season, Bargain Hunting in Bermuda," what with $40 dinner entrees and hotel rooms hovering around $250 a night, but Kugel does point out a few inexpensive winners. He raved about The Commissioner’s House in Dockyard, a bonafide piece of nautical history that I love taking visitors to and for $2.50, you can’t get a better view from the top of Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, a site that he also seemed to enjoy. I also agree that the island's public bus system is one of the best and cheapest ways to get around. But the rest of the story just seems, let’s say, a bit off. Who comes to Bermuda for bacon and egg toast at Angeline’s, then has the gall to call it “soulless?” Or a hamburger lunch at New Traditions, a meal he later called “mediocre?” The one meal he did enjoy was at Breezes at Cambridge Beaches, a dinner he didn’t even pay for, which makes sense since there’s no way the beachside restaurant’s $31 sea bass fits within his Frugal Traveler budget. And what about that room he rented on the east end? I’m sure it’d be great for college kids or backpackers, but that’s just my point. The island doesn’t cater to college kids or backpackers. Or even budget travelers for that matter. Look, there’s nothing wrong with attempting to squeeze more value out of your vacation dollar—as a former editor of Budget Travel magazine, saving money while on the road has long been one of my tenants of travel—but Bermuda’s not really a budget travel paradise. It’s just paradise. Period.

Just Back: Scotland

You might've noticed a serious lack of posts about Bermuda last week. Well, that's because I was in Scotland, covering the golf-crazed nation for Outside Television. If you're at all into fine single malt whiskeys, coastal links golf courses and towering medieval castles, I strongly encourage you to head on over to my Outside Television blog, The Life Outside, and read all about my trip to Scotland. If not, well, that's fine too. I'll be back tomorrow with your regularly scheduled Bermuda Shorts programming. In the meantime, thanks for reading!

Got Ziggy?

It’s Monday, which means you’re probably angling for something to do this weekend. If you’re into warm weather, cool drinks and reggae superstars like Ziggy Marley then why not consider Bermuda? That’s right folks, it’s time for this year’s Bermuda Music Festival, a three-night event that kicks off on Thursday with none other than the world-renowned son of Bob. Those who were reading last year might remember my report from the 2009 festival’s first night, which included an electric performance by Wyclef-I-wanna-be-president-of-Haiti-Jean and Erykah-neo-soul-diva-Badu. (Wanna see for yourself? Watch this 50-second YouTube video for a small taste of Wyclef’s high-energy act). Then there was night two when Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Patti Austin and Siedah Garrett were joined by the Bermuda Mass Choir for a rousing rendition of We Are the World. And finally, night three when Siedah Garrett, who wrote many of Michael Jackson’s tunes, got the crowd to its feet with her performance of the MJ hit Man in the Mirror. This year’s lineup is solidly in the R&B corner—after Ziggy on Thursday, singers Angie Stone and Estelle perform on Friday, then Grammy-Award winner Toni Braxton takes the stage on Saturday—and the festival will make its debut at a smaller, more intimate beachside venue at the luxurious Fairmont Southampton. So, how do you get your tickets? For single night, two-night or three-night passes check out BDATix. And if you’re flying in—because roundtrip airfare from New York is $289 on American Airlines this week and gets only incrementally higher from other east coast gateways—visit the Fairmont Southampton’s deals tab for Bermuda Music Festival hotel packages (three-night stay plus three nights at the festival for $929). As for me, well, I'll see ya at the show!