According to a survey, conducted by a US marketing company, the Island topped 10 other major tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico in terms of overall pricing.

Bermuda's hotel rates, service charges and currency exchange rates ranked among the highest, along with Nassau and Bonaire.

And its gasoline and diving prices were almost twice as much as the other islands polled.

But the survey, conducted by the Dallas-based William Cline Group last summer, also showed that airfare from New York to Bermuda was the lowest and the Island's electricity fees were significantly less than that of the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos.

The study, commissioned jointly by the Cayman Islands Hotel, Watersports and Restaurant Associations last July, compared Bermuda's hotel, water sports, transportation, restaurant and utility prices -- in US dollars -- to those in Aruba, Bonaire, Cancun, the Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Jamaica, Maui, Nassau, St. Thomas, and Turks and Caicos.

The objective of the survey, which was conducted between July 20 and August 31 last year, was to determine if the Cayman Islands was more expensive than other competing markets; to supply three Cayman hospitality associations documented evidence of specific areas that may need attention in competing globally; and to provide the Cayman government indicators when evaluating adjustments to duties or other taxes on goods and services.

Findings included in a 125-page report, submitted to the associations last November, were recently disclosed in the Cayman Islands' national weekly newspaper The New Caymanian.

Breaking down hotel rates into three categories of economy, moderate, and luxury, they showed one night's stay in a double occupancy room at an economy-class property in Bermuda would cost $102 in the off-peak season and $174 during the high season.

Such rates were only surpassed by the Cayman Islands whose economy properties charge $110 for one-night's stay in the low season and $203 during the high season.

For a three-night stay, rates at such properties in Bermuda during the low season ranked the second highest at $171 -- $4 less than the Cayman Islands which topped the list.

Double occupancy rates during the high season at Sonesta Beach, which was classed as a moderate hotel in the survey, were listed as the second highest.

The $228-a-night rate was only outpriced by the $249-moderate-hotel-rates in the Cayman Islands.

The survey showed that one US gallon of gasoline cost $3.10 in Bermuda, compared to $1.82 in the Cayman Islands and $1.45 in Cozumel which ranked the lowest.

And while Bermuda's electricity rate of $20 for 100 kilowatts was less than the Cayman Islands' rate of $33.80 and Turks and Caicos $27.80 rate, it was considerably more than rates in Bonaire ($17.68), Maui ($13), and Aruba ($12.80).

However, the survey showed that it would cost a visitor almost twice as much, or $366, to travel from New York to the Cayman Islands as compared to the $188 ticket price to Bermuda.