Ariel Sands disappoints

October 18, 2004

Dear Sir,

My wife and I have recently returned from a holiday in Bermuda, our second visit to the island this year. We have been regular visitors since 1995 and have always enjoyed our holidays, until our last visit when we stayed at the Ariel Sands Resort. Over the years we have stopped at several hotels including Ariel Sands which we enjoyed so much we were looking forward to a return visit. Unfortunately we were disappointed in the standard of accommodation and food being offered at this once famous resort.

When we voiced our opinions to a businessman resident in Bermuda he advised us to contact your newspaper to express our dissatisfaction. My wife spoke on the telephone to a member of your staff who advised us to write to you in person. While waiting for our flight home we were approached by a gentleman from the Bermuda Department of Tourism, who noted our complaints and also advised to write to his department.

We stayed for eleven nights on a bed and breakfast rate of 93? per person per night which amounted to approximately $3,680.00 , a sum which we consider to be quite exorbitant in view of the accommodation on offer. As well as this letter I am sending one to the Bermuda Department of Tourism quoting in detail our complaint regarding the accommodation and services provided by Ariel Sands and also one to the travel company I booked our visit with demanding a reasonable sum in compensation.

In conclusion we will be visiting Bermuda again next year, but will not be staying at Ariel Sands as this once fine resort, in our opinion, is a shadow of its former self and has become nothing more than a motel style resort catering for people staying no more than two or three nights and the food and service being offered cannot be compared to the many other restaurants we frequented during our stay.

JERRY COLLINS

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Encourage bus usage

October 19, 2004

Dear Sir,

I don't know what caused those two recent accidents, but the one that I had on July 11, 2004 had nothing to do with speed or the driving habits of others. I was not adequately trained, but of course I did not realise that until afterwards. I was given instructions on how to start, ride in a straight line about 20 feet on level ground, then stop. After I had done that once correctly (after three or four attempts), I was sent off. I was not able to handle the curves in the road, and simply lost my balance and fell off.

Fortunately there was not other traffic in either direction at the time because it was early on a Sunday morning, and other motorists quickly stopped and directed the traffic so that nothing would hit me while I waited for the ambulance. I was lucky, I only broke three bones in my hand and had a badly bruised shoulder and black eye. I was still able to tour around the island, although I could not swim.

In retrospect, I should have had some off-road practice that included weaving around markers. That is what they have on the learn-to-ride motorbike/scooter course in Toronto where I live. My one regret is not learning to ride in Toronto before I went to Bermuda. I may well have declared myself incompetent! I tell everyone I meet now that the public transport in Bermuda is just great ? air-conditioned, frequent, helpful drivers. Forget the scooter thing! I hope you can pass this information along to the inquiry. And by all means publish it if you wish.

LOLA B. SKELTON

Toronto, Ontario