The 21-square-mile island oasis - one that’s less than two hours from the East Coast of the US, and a 7-hour direct flight from the UK* - promises to feel like another universe this festive season. Widespread Covid-19 testing from the outset has kept the virus in check, and Bermuda’s can-do community spirit is in full effect. You’ll hear the local motto quo fata ferunt - Latin for “whither the fates carry us” or “what will be will be” - often on the island, and this positive Bermudian spirit is particularly reassuring during these unprecedented times.

Whether you’re looking for a quick Christmas getaway or a longer winter stay, Bermuda is making escape easy with just a few quick steps. After following the government’s practical travel protocols - producing a negative PCR Covid-19 test pre-departure, testing upon arrival and adhering to a quarantine for 24 hours until a result is delivered - visitors can then enjoy an island paradise minimally affected by the pandemic. And with an infection rate of less than 1%, Bermuda is one of the only places where travellers are not required to quarantine upon re-entry to either the United States or the United Kingdom* which makes it ideal for anyone seeking sun, sand, or a sail - without being homebound after a relaxing vacation. It isn’t only the immediate Covid-19 health benefits that entice visitors; the benefits to the mind, body and soul of escaping the frenetic pace of city life are positives as well. “There is an astounding amount of kindness and openness to invite strangers to participate in Bermuda. Many say it is because there are quite a lot of transplants from all over and the people before them were also quite enveloping and inclusive. I have been meeting people daily who offer their numbers to help me with everything from groceries to kiteboarding instruction. it really is astounding. In New York this would not be the case,” says Carole Reed, a journalist and temporary resident who moved to the island from Manhattan.

The holiday calendar is as packed as ever and offers a unique opportunity to spend the holidays a little differently this year. For those seeking a more traditional approach, Christmas Eve will see the oldest Anglican church in the western hemisphere, St. Peter’s, celebrate with a service that has been conducted since the first settlers worshipped under palmetto thatch. For those who see the festive period as a time to be spent with old and new friends alike, on Christmas Day, hundreds of expats, tourists and locals gather on the soft sand of Elbow Beach for a sunrise swim and a picnic brunch that often lasts until sunset. Golf tournaments and New Year celebrations are followed by Restaurant Weeks in January - ones that highlight the island’s unique cuisine that’s a fusion of local seafood with Creole and traditional English touches.

For those interested in a lengthier visit - through the cold winter months, or for the remainder of the school year - the new Work from Bermuda Certificate allows for an extended stay of up to one year. With a world-class business infrastructure and a selection of both public and private schools to choose from, a temporary move to Bermuda during the pandemic can be looked at as an adventure for the whole family - and one that’s sure to inspire creativity, new relationships, and a healthy work/life balance. “While living in the UK, I felt trapped in a small space and would sometimes go days without going outside,” says recent “resident” Abbie Sheppard, Chief of Staff for US tech firm, Cameo. “Bermuda is so stunning and so warm that you feel guilty not taking advantage of the ability to work outside. And I now have time for exercise; my days begin with a run to the beach, followed by meetings from 11 am-7 pm, and I finish by cooking with friends - something I never had time for in London.” Equally alluring are the recreational pursuits that haven’t been hampered by Covid-19. “Diving, going to the beach, kiteboarding, paddle boarding - these are all things that I can enjoy at the weekends, regardless of the health crisis,” says Sheppard. And Carole Reed agrees. “The ability to walk outside into the sunshine while working or learning remotely is just incomparable. My teenage son starts his day with a swim in the warm ocean water before he begins the school day, and we play a lot of multi-generational tennis in the afternoons,” she says of the new-found health benefits her family is enjoying in their home away from home. 

Whether you’re staying for a fortnight or four months, the choice of accommodations is excellent with many of the island’s hotels offering the perfect home office or study space - complete with a pool and gentle ocean breezes. From the Rosewood Bermuda at Tucker’s Point with its stunning harbour views and spacious residences, to the iconic cottages at the Coral Beach & Tennis Club on the island’s south shore, to the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club in the centre of it all, Bermuda’s varied hotels suit solo travelers and extended families alike. If you want to live like a local, enlist one of the island’s brokers to find a quintessential ocean front villa in the classic shades of lemon, fuschia and coral. 

For productive working days combined with year-round outdoor sports and fitness, not to mention vibrant culinary and arts scenes, now is the time to relocate - if even for a brief time - to blissful Bermuda…

Bermuda has long been an alluring island to work and live. Now you can experience it for yourself. Ready for a change?

*NOTE: At time of publishing, travel from the UK is restricted to 2 December 2020. See current information here