Malcolm Tottingham went waterskiing the last time he visited Bermuda.

For an 85-year-old, that’s no small feat.

His wife, Roberta, is just as fearless.

“We rode mopeds up until two years ago,” said Mrs Tottingham, 85. “We rode on separate bikes, I followed him. Then we decided that, at our age, it was time to stop.”

Regular exercise has allowed them both to stay active, she said.

Mr Tottingham walks four miles a day, five days a week; his wife hits the treadmill for 30 minutes at a time.

The Massachusetts residents have been visiting Bermuda for 38 years.

They stayed at the former Sonesta Beach Hotel because they could not get a room at Elbow Beach for their first visit in 1977.

For their next trip they got smart — they booked their stay at the Paget property before they left the Island.

“Elbow Beach Hotel was recommended by all our friends,” Mr Tottingham said.

“It’s a beautiful spot, a beautiful view of the Island, the pool is wonderful, the people are wonderful, the Island itself is so clean ... everything you can think of in Bermuda, we’ve done.

“We went to a couple of the other islands and they weren’t so good at all.

“We tried St Thomas and Puerto Rico in addition to Bermuda, but Bermuda is in a class by itself, so we decided, ‘why waste time and money on other islands?’.”

The pair consider Elbow Beach their home away from home.

They especially appreciate the kindness shown by the people working there. MEF owner, Jacky Di Meglio; the hotel’s general manager, Edmund Burns; waterskiing instructor, Kent Richardson; and Dolores Thomas, of Elbow Beach Cycles, are among the many people who have made them feel special.

“They make you feel like family,” Mrs Tottingham said. “It’s unbelievable. We really and truly enjoy Bermuda so much.

“It’s a beautiful Island no matter where you go”

The couple, who celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary today, said they hoped to return to the Island for many years to come.

“We have so many wonderful memories there,” Mrs Tottingham said.

“We’ve seen the Talbot Brothers and the Bermuda Strollers. Entertainment would then come to you in the lounge at Elbow Beach.

“You didn’t have to go anyplace except, we being us, we did.”