Hi there,
I am seriously considering the Bermuda 10K this October and am wondering if anyone has gone there with their child. I have a seven-year-old who LOVES the St. Croix swim I've done the last several years. I am having trouble finding accommodations for the Bermuda swim that are under 400+ a night, and am wondering about the quality of Beaches, ease in traveling around with a child when you can't rent a car, etc.etc. It seems a very expensive island, which is okay if you find the right place to stay, but I am having trouble wrapping my head around it all.
I would love to do the swim, but was alarmed when I read things about the Grotto Bay not having a great beach, and being across the street from the airport. Any advice from anyone who's done it? (We also looked at 9 Beaches, which sounded great initially, but I'm not keen on being across the harbor from the smell of slaughterhouse.)
Any comments welcome.
Thanks!
Sydne
Parents
Former Member
Hey! you should bring your kid to Bermuda, there is plenty for him/her to do. If they swim there are plenty of distances to compete in, including the 800 meter. Think the youngest swimmer I have seen is 5. As far as leaving your child at the Aquarium or at the Palmetto while you swim, that should be fine, the organizers probably would put him/her to work at the finish area doing something or other while you are toiling out on the course, everyone that is affiliated with the swim is a parent & are first & foremost there to encourage the local children to swim the course & have a good time, so that said your child will be very safe thereabouts; the swim is actually a local aquathon that is run every year to raise $ for anything from an ambulance, to funding for a reading clinic, Habitiat for Humanity, etc.
Have been going to the swim since 2000, this coming year will be 8 times, I think. Took one of my kids 2 years ago, he swam & he had a blast! Think he came away with some hardware. The main thing I can offer you as advise is to book your flight in June to save $. Second, the Grotto is fine for children, you will never know you are close to the airport as there isn't that much traffic in & out. If you really want to go on the cheap, check out Brightside cottages, or a couple of guest houses in Hamilton for very reasonable rates, but you will not be with the main group & not waterside, etc. Travel is pretty easy in Bermuda, if you don't want to do the scooter thing with your child, there are always taxis, which are always about, especially at The Grotto or any other hotel. Bermuda can be VERY expensive, that is true, but the way that the organizer, Randy Nutt, has things setup with the locals it is pretty reasonable for what you get! The 10K swim is probably one of the most challenging venues currently available, worldwide, as it is a true navigational type course that will challenge even highly experienced open water competitors during the circumnavigation of Harrington Sound. This is not a point to point similar to St. Croix, it is a swim all the way around an almost completely enclosed flooded caldera.
What else do you need to know?
Hey! you should bring your kid to Bermuda, there is plenty for him/her to do. If they swim there are plenty of distances to compete in, including the 800 meter. Think the youngest swimmer I have seen is 5. As far as leaving your child at the Aquarium or at the Palmetto while you swim, that should be fine, the organizers probably would put him/her to work at the finish area doing something or other while you are toiling out on the course, everyone that is affiliated with the swim is a parent & are first & foremost there to encourage the local children to swim the course & have a good time, so that said your child will be very safe thereabouts; the swim is actually a local aquathon that is run every year to raise $ for anything from an ambulance, to funding for a reading clinic, Habitiat for Humanity, etc.
Have been going to the swim since 2000, this coming year will be 8 times, I think. Took one of my kids 2 years ago, he swam & he had a blast! Think he came away with some hardware. The main thing I can offer you as advise is to book your flight in June to save $. Second, the Grotto is fine for children, you will never know you are close to the airport as there isn't that much traffic in & out. If you really want to go on the cheap, check out Brightside cottages, or a couple of guest houses in Hamilton for very reasonable rates, but you will not be with the main group & not waterside, etc. Travel is pretty easy in Bermuda, if you don't want to do the scooter thing with your child, there are always taxis, which are always about, especially at The Grotto or any other hotel. Bermuda can be VERY expensive, that is true, but the way that the organizer, Randy Nutt, has things setup with the locals it is pretty reasonable for what you get! The 10K swim is probably one of the most challenging venues currently available, worldwide, as it is a true navigational type course that will challenge even highly experienced open water competitors during the circumnavigation of Harrington Sound. This is not a point to point similar to St. Croix, it is a swim all the way around an almost completely enclosed flooded caldera.
What else do you need to know?
