New low-cost flights to Bermuda

Another reason to make the paradise island your number one destination for 2007, Zoom Airlines last week announced that it will launch its first, new, low-cost direct flights from London to Bermuda on 8th June 2007, breaking British Airways’ 40-year monopoly on the route.

Bermuda’s Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr. The Hon. Ewart F. Brown. JP. MP. said of the news:

“I am delighted by the news. Zoom Airlines’ introduction of new low-cost flights from the UK will be a great boost for Bermuda. The Department of Tourism and the whole Bermuda government welcome this competition in air services on the London route as it will create choice, an increase in seat availability and ultimately lower fares for visitors. The impact of Zoom’s new low-cost flights will be extremely positive for the island as it will inevitably bring more people to Bermuda, for both business and leisure, on a more frequent basis.”

Reached, by air, in only six and a half hours Bermuda really is the UK’s closest paradise and on behalf of the Bermuda Department of Tourism we are delighted to bring you ten top reasons to visit this idyllic island in 2007.

1. NEW LOW-COST FLIGHTS
Zoom Airlines (flyzoom.com) is launching twice-weekly direct flights between London and Bermuda on 8th June 2007. Starting prices are £199.00 one-way including all taxes, fees and charges - approximately half the price of an average economy flight with British Airways, which has held a monopoly on the route for the past 40 years. British Airways will remain the only airline offering daily direct flights to Bermuda during the summer season. However, the airline has already started to slash prices on its Bermuda route during selected periods, so flying to Bermuda is become more affordable all round.

2. SPEEDY ARRIVAL
Only a six and a half hour flight from the UK with British Airways or Zoom Airlines, the sweeping pink sand beaches, intoxicating year-round sunshine, enticing restaurants and captivating atmosphere of Bermuda are closer than you think!

3. CITY TO BEACH
The new flights from Zoom Airlines offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy a twin centre ‘city to beach’ holiday, combining the hustle and bustle of New York with the laid back culture and powder soft, pink sand beaches of Bermuda. Fly with Zoom Airlines direct to New York JFK from £129.00 and back via Bermuda.

4. PILLOW TALK
Bermuda offers a wide variety of accommodation to suit all tastes, ranging from large full-service resort hotels with spas, swimming pools and beaches to bed & breakfasts, tiny guesthouses and uniquely Bermudian cottage colonies which combine private separate cottages with all the services and facilities of a resort hotel. With such an array of choice, there is something to suit every budget.

5. CLIMATE CONTROL
With intoxicating year round sunshine, Bermuda benefits from a semi-tropical climate and only two seasons. In spring during the ‘Golf and Spa’ season temperatures reach a satisfying average of 65 degrees Fahrenheit while in the summer during the ‘Beach and Sizzle’ season temperatures hit a perfect 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. SPA - TACULAR
Relaxation is Bermuda’s national pastime, and the spas are a haven of wellbeing and relaxation. The island offers the finest treatments and therapies to help you escape the harsh reality of winter and immerse yourself in the calming atmosphere of the island. Spa highlights include, ‘The Spa at Elbow Beach’, ‘Ocean Spa’ at Cambridge beaches and the ‘Willow Stream Spa’ at Fairmont Southampton.

7. TEE – MENDOUS
Bermuda offers more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world and each with a sea view, making the destination a golfers’ paradise. The island boasts eight spectacular courses with something for everyone from novices to pros. Furthermore, visitors to Bermuda in 2007 will have the opportunity to see some of the world’s top golfers compete in The PGA Grand Slam of Golf hosted by The Mid Ocean Club and The Fairmont Southampton from 16th – 17th October 2007.

8. DEEP DOWN BELOW
Nicknamed “Shipwreck Alley,” Bermuda offers an impressive array of sites and includes 365 documented shipwrecks (one for every day of the year!) dating from the 1500s, ranging from Spanish galleons to Confederate steamers and 20th century cargo ships. Considered the wreck diving capital of the Atlantic, Bermuda is a dive haven for travellers of all interests and skills with year-round temperate waters and an impressive array of both underwater and topside attractions.

9. A FRIENDLY BUNCH
To say that the warmth of the sun is matched only by the friendliness of the welcome you’ll receive is certainly no understatement in Bermuda.
Its rich heritage is a mix of many historic influences, from English colonials, Caribbean blacks and Native Americans to pirates and even US and British military. Tourists have also contributed to the mix, with artists, poets and royalty helping produce the uniquely Bermudian identity, characterised by British tradition and warm, friendly people.

10. A BITE TO EAT?
From simple and inexpensive to elegant and speciality dining, Bermuda has more than 150 restaurants. Fresh fish is in abundance on the island but visitors are encouraged to try the signature fish chowder and wash it down with a delicious ‘Dark and Stormy’ or ‘Rum Swizzle Cocktail’ made from the island’s famous Gosling’s rum. Bermudian’s are so proud of their culinary heritage that they celebrate the best in local food and drink with the annual Gourmet Getaway festival, October 2007.

Bermuda, just six-and-a-half hours from London and just under two hours from New York, stretches for 21 miles along crystal blue waters, surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau. Bermuda's activities offer a range of holiday options, including wreck dives, horseback riding and smooth pink beaches to relax on till dusk. Accommodation ranges from luxury resorts to intimate cottages, all incorporating the hospitality unique to the Bermuda experience.

For more information, visit Bermudatourism.com.