Huge expenses racked up by a diplomat while in Bermuda have hit the headlines in Canada.

The London Free Press wrote about Pamela Wallin who billed taxpayers $800 a night for a spring stay.

Wallin, Canada's consul-general in New York, claimed $4,159 in expenses for the four-day trip to meet with Government and business officials, including $1,280 for the airfare, $2,391 for accommodation and $447 for meals.

Ken England, a spokesperson for Canada's consulate in New York, said Wallin's role includes diplomatic relations with Bermuda. Hotel prices are “astronomical” in Bermuda, he said. “It's just a very expensive place to be, first and foremost,” he said. “Hotels run in the range of $300 US a night and it goes up from there.”

The consulate traditionally deals with the Fairmont Hamilton Princess because it's a member of the Canadian-owned hotel chain, England told the newspaper.

Wallin's Bermuda expenses were disclosed in travel and hospitality expense reports posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

The Hamilton Princess refused to comment about the story.