Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

Sick of the never-ending winter? Get this race in paradise on your calendar.

The 2018 ITU World Triathlon Series Bermuda race is one month from today—and we’re pretty freaking excited about it. It would be easy to overlook the Bermuda race as one of eight races on the sometimes hard-to-understand World Triathlon Series circuit, but the weekend (April 28-29) offers what could be the coolest race-cations of the year.

With no WTS stops in the United States this year, this race represents one of the closest opportunities for Americans to compete and then watch the fastest triathletes in the world. Age-group athletes kick off the sprint- and Olympic-distance action at 6:45 a.m., with elite men, then women competing on an elite Olympic-distance course later in the afternoon. We can’t overstate the awesomeness of watching these elites compete in person. We promise their performances will amaze you and ultimately inspire you to go home and kick some swim/bike/run butt.

It’s not too late to compete! There are still plenty of affordable flights, race registration is open (but only until April 7!), and there are several places to stay. If you’re considering booking the last-minute trip, keep these things in mind (and get stoked!).

How to Get There

Flights to Bermuda are not as expensive as you might expect—especially if you’re coming from the East Coast of the United States. As of the publication date of this article there were options from New York City for less than $300, and it’s only a two-hour flight. Cost and travel time go up as you move west, but you can still find decent flight options from places like Los Angeles and Phoenix for less than $700.

Where to Stay

Bermuda is a 21-square-mile island, so the accommodation options are somewhat limited, but as of now all of the hotels still have vacancy. The official event hotel, the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, overlooks the swim start at Hamilton Harbour and will be the central hub for all things triathlon for race weekend. The hotel has recently been renovated and features a luxury spa (for that post-race massage), a private beach club (for that post-race drink), and a restaurant created by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. It’s an expensive option at more than $400 a night, but its location alone makes it worth the splurge. There are options that are a bit more affordable, but nothing comes in at less than about $350 per night. Coco Reef, a few miles from the race site, is currently the most affordable one. Race organizers are offering options through travel site Nirvana, but there are still plenty of options at the individual hotels as well. Bottom line: Spending the weekend in Bermuda won’t be cheap!

What Do I Do About a Bike?

When it comes to getting athletes to come race in Bermuda, this has to be the biggest challenge. “Paradise? Check! Quick flight? Sweet! Luxury accommodations? Awesome! Mingling with the elites? Yes! Oh, I have to bring my bike? Forget about it.” That’s pretty much what went through our minds when we were considering whether or not to race. The cheapest solution is to fly Jet Blue, which only charges $50 per bicycle each way. If you’d rather not deal with the hassle of flying with your bike, then race partner Racedaytransport.com has a few options, but they’re not cheap. They’ll get your full-assembled bike to the race site and then back home for $300. They also offer triathlon and road rental options, ranging from “standard” at $279 to “premium” at $339.

If You Can’t Pull It Off

If this isn’t your year to make it to Bermuda, don’t stress! This is the first of a three-year commitment from Bermuda to host the WTS event, so you’ll also have the opportunity in 2019 and 2020.

If you’re headed to Bermuda, be sure to check out our travel guide, which features tips from three-time ITU world champion and Bermuda native Flora Duffy.