New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has hit the headlines of The New York Times for his lifestyle in Bermuda.

Mr. Bloomberg is said to visit the Island for two weekends a month, spending time at his Tucker's Town home and various restaurants around the Island.

His favourites include Rustico, Greg's Steakhouse and Port O'Call.

According to the story, when Mr. Bloomberg didn't show up for a while at Rustico last summer, the manager asked the mayor's housekeeper if everything was all right.

The newspaper refers to him as "the king of Bermuda, basically".

He has been criticised for being on the Island too much, instead of being in the Big Apple.

According to Planning documents, Mr Bloomberg lives in a five balcony, four bedroom, seven bathroom home with an in-ground pool and space for four cars, all hidden by a gated driveway.

The newspaper said Mr. Bloomberg's golf buddies claim he is "slow" and his neighbours say he is quiet.

According to the article, he is only comes if the weather calls for sunny skies.

Former Premier John Swan said in the story: "We provide him with a place to unwind for a day or two, and then go back to a very important job, not just to New York, but to the world."

Sir John is a frequent lunch guest of the Mayor.

According to the story, Mr. Bloomberg's aides know better than to schedule public events after Friday mornings, allowing the mayor to make his getaways to Bermuda on Friday afternoon and be back in New York by Sunday evening.

Of the 17 Fridays since December 31, he had no public events scheduled after 10 a.m. on 13 of them.

But because of the short distance — two hours — between Bermuda and New York, Mr. Bloomberg can fly back if he is needed.

And while in Bermuda, the newspaper said he also brings Police officers, flying two officers on his private plane and paying as much as $400 a night to put them up at a hotel near his house.

The article said the city pays their wages while they are there, as it does whether Mr. Bloomberg is New York or not.

His guards have permission to carry weapons, the newspaper claimed.

The Atlanta Post had an article citing Mr. Bloomberg's "construction woes" and said when renovating a storage room on his property, after 13 inspections, the work on the storage room was completed and met Bermuda's building code.

In New York, he has taken a harsh line against builders whose work is not up to code, beefing up inspections and levying hefty fines for violations.