Coral Casual in Bermuda: Travel Guide Part 1

Kevin and I recently traveled to Bermuda for the first time together and I think I’ve officially won him over on a great island in the Atlantic! I had been going for many summers for work so I was looking forward to sharing this special place together to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary.

If you’re not familiar, Bermuda is a British Island territory located less than two hours by flight from NYC in the Northen Atlantic!. It can make for the perfect weekend getaway if you’re craving some tropical feels and the most amazingly clear beaches, pink sands and turquoise waters everywhere. The warm weather climate makes it a great tourist destination where lowest temperatures drop to just 50 in the winter and is in the 70’s by early April. I’ve always traveled in July and August, so if you travel then be prepared to be in the high 80’s and to never rely on the weather report. It rarely rains as much as it may say, and when it does it’s frequently a sun shower than is refreshing then clears quick. Even the thunderstorms on the island are beautiful to watch. Bermuda is also very accessible by cruise ship with Norwegian Gem and Royal Caribbean. Most leave right from NYC and NJ.

We’ve loved wandering the streets of the different parishes during our stay. Each home is more breathtaking than the last, all painted in different vibrant colors. The overflowing abundance of flowers had me wanting to landscape paint for days! I made a point to bring my sketchbook along to paint some.

We took some photos on our way to the grocery store early because it would get so hot by 11 am! Be forewarned, food is very expensive in Bermuda since it’s all imported in from each side of the Atlantic if you plan on grocery shopping. But, hello Digestives Cookies and Mars Bars! The most reasonable way to stay if you’re trying to plan your trip on a budget would be an air bnb , but plan on renting a twizzy or figuring out the bus schedule. The resorts are hands down amazing and worth it for the convenience of having private beach access, pools, and delicious restaurants.

The transportation system is efficient, but you cannot rent cars as a tourist nor is a camping type of spot. And if you try the electric twizzy’s be prepared to drive on the left side the road. So much fun! We rented ours from Current Vehicles which are located at many of the hotel resorts. I highly recommend doing this or a moped if you want to see as much as you can throughout the island. I’ll be putting together my Bermuda Travel Guide soon and will feature more tips on travel here. I’ll be rounding up the resorts, restaurants, what to do and what to see for a short or long stay. I can’t recommend this sunny island enough for a warm weather get away, you can’t take any bad photos because it’s all so breathtaking!

Outfit Details

Bodysuit, Aritzia / Denim Shorts, Levis / Sandals (great Valentino dupes!) / Hair Clip / Scrunchi Anthropologie/ Sunglasses Gucci

Must Haves for a Beach Getaway

This 4th of July my husband and I are traveling to Cape Cod to stay with friends and will see my best friend perform in a musical that’s running at the Cape Playhouse. It’s our first time adventuring to the Cape, though I’ve frequented Martha’s Vineyard and loved it there. I’m looking forward to exploring and enjoying some beach time with friends as we celebrate in red, white, and blue !

Outfit Details

Dress / Sandals / Oh Hey Vacay (old) similar here

I’ve simplified my packing and just bringing some basics since we’ll be spending most of our time lounging around at the beach. I’m bringing mostly swimsuits, sandals, casual outfits and using my go to travel cubes for packing. I like how they keep your clothes all separate and organized with little wrinkling. I love this Lilly Pullitzer version but there’s larger and more budget friendly ones on Amazon that work great! I recently put together a packing guide blog post for when we travel so you can read more about how I pack and what I use to organize everything here. I’m also bringing my favorite roll up sun hat that is my go to for keeping the sun off my face and this travel beach blanket. We’ve had one for years and it’s lasted so long. If you’re in the market for any beach essentials these have been on the top of my list this season.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and fun 4th of July!

Travel Essentials for Organized and Easy Packing

Knowing what and where I packed my things from shoes, to tops, and bottoms is essential to keeping organized once I unpack at my destination. One of my biggest passions is traveling and I’ve loved the opportunities I’ve had to do so, whether it’s for work or personal trips. I used to get so overwhelmed with packing, procrastinate, and then end up over packing or forgetting the essentials I need.

When I used to nanny I was always impressed with how organized the mama was with keeping all of the children’s items organized in their suitcases by color coded zip storage pouches. This also made things easier for me when packing up! Though those days have ended I still swear by the zip around pouches and have used them for years to keep my garments sorted, making everything easy to find. They’ve become more popular now and usually come in a pack and in various sizes.  

After some trial and error with what to bring or leave behind I feel like I finally have a handle on my packing lists and if you’re traveling this summer I hope these tips can help you too! There’s nothing worse then arriving to your vacation spot and realizing you forgot something you need, then as you dig to locate it everything gets all mixed up into what looks like a dirty laundry pile! Sounds like a night mare right? So I started to make little investments over time for various items that I keep stored away in my suitcase for when I’m ready to pack up.

Something new I’m trying is this purse organizer because I always use a larger tote when traveling and it keeps me from having to dig to the bottom of my bag for lost lip glosses ! I love the use of see through pouches for my electronics/charging cords, headphones, mints, and pens. I’ve also used a similar one for my makeup that I don’t check with luggage. This option from amazon is great and keeps everything safe whether in a suitcase or carry on. I keep a smaller pouch with me for in flight items (tissues, hand sanitizer, mints, sleep mask, lotion, chapstick, eye drops)  

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Luggage

I have honestly gone through so much luggage in the travels I’ve had and many time the airlines don’t always handle your prized pieces as carefully as you make hope for. I do think investing in a feather weight suitcase is a great idea because why have extra weight before you even begin packing?! My favorite brand is always Delsy Luggage bu I do love the Calpak version and my tried and true Diane von Furstenberg that’s sadly discontinued! I love my hardshell suitcases lately because they’ve really held up and don’t snag. I’ve been fortunate to just have some scrapes happen or wheels needing replacing, but fortunately most are covered under a manufacturer’s warranty. Always check for that shelling out cash on sometime pricey!

Don’t forget about luggage tags for your carry on and checked bags. I love the leather or silicon ones because they last much longer.

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Carry On

Whenever possible I try to get my carry on items into a larger tote. I love how this one can be personalized too with so many prints & monogrammed. When traveling I pack and organize my totes particular to what I’ll need with me. Things like my ipad, headphones, charging cords, makeup, snacks, or books. I use this bag for an overhead carry on, it’s great quality and doubles as a beach bag and gym bag. I have used it over and over and the bottom of the bag is finished well so I couldn’t recommend more at this price point!

Be sure to check out the widget below to see some of the pouches and other items I pack into my carry on to stay organized.

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Travel Outfit

As much as I like to look put together and feel my best when I look my best I do tend to lean toward comfort and ease when traveling. My ankles usually swell on flights so I try to avoid tight clothing. I always end up cold on airplanes or want to sleep so I often bring a shawl or scarf that could double as a cover up or beach blanket for warmer trips, or scarves for cooler trips. This is of the easiest way to pack smart and functional.

What are your travel essentials for your bucket list destinations? I’d love to hear what you use or anything I should try for my next escape in my comments section!