September 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter in reference to your newspaper article of Wednesday August 4, entitled "Plane diverts for medical emergency".

My son Gregory was the young man mentioned. Your readers can imagine the distress that each member of my family was going through when we landed in Bermuda.

We were transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where treatment and diagnosis were quickly undertaken. My wife and I were at a loss as to the seriousness of my son's illness, how long we would be in Bermuda and where we would be accommodated.

The airport operations manager organised our accommodation, the hospital staff reassured my family as to the future wellbeing of my son and facilitated contact with our UK insurance company. We were amazed at the hospitality and care of every one we came into contact with.

Later that evening in a somewhat bewildered and exhausted state, my wife, daughter and I took a taxi to the hotel arranged for us, the Grotto Bay. We were met at this resort by the same kindness and hospitality that we had received at the airport and hospital and I was beginning to realise that in Bermuda everyone genuinely cares.

Over the next three days we shuttled back and forth to the hospital whilst my son recovered and we had the pleasure of meeting such friendly taxi drivers and hospital staff. A diagnosis was reached that his seizures were as a result of anti-malaria drugs taken in the UK prior to our anticipated holiday in the Dominican Republic. Could you imagine our relief!

Once my son was released from hospital he was nauseous and suffered headaches for a number of days and we were told by our insurance company that we would be repatriated to England with a UK doctor flown out to accompany us. This gave us a number of days to explore your Island by bus and ferry. Although not the holiday we had expected we could not be anything but impressed by your beautiful Island and the wonderful Bermudian hospitality and friendliness shown everywhere we went.

My family and I want to say thank you to the people of Bermuda and in particular the staff of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for all your kindness. We probably won't be able to return to your Island, much as we would like to, due to the high cost of living but we will always remember our short time there. God bless and protect you all.

PAUL LINDEN

Kenilworth, Warwickshire

England

Shame on you, Michael

September 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

This has been a long planned revisit to Bermuda. My last visit to Bermuda was in 1977 when I stayed at the Inverurie Hotel.

On preparation to return once more to this beautiful Island, I researched the internet extensively to gather information on accommodations and facilities. I wanted to bring my very special lady and share with her the memories and the magic of Bermuda. Among the various options of intimate smaller hotels, the Ariel Sands appeared to be a promising choice. The information advertised tastefully furnished rooms, well groomed grounds and a dining room.

Instead, upon arrival we spotted a very tired worn out mat at the front door which was in need of TLC. Inside the lobby the stench of cigar smoke overwhelmed our senses and produced an obviously negative effect. They took us to our room in a dilapidated golf cart past a destroyed Tennis Court, past broken balustrades to an uninviting room. Though large inside it was barren and unadorned; not a picture in sight, poor lighting and a soiled area rug. Terrible choices of colour for pastel Bermuda. The bathroom did not even contain a soap dish.

We couldn't wait until the morning to check out. We did attempt to eat breakfast. The unappealing restaurant offered nothing better. Tired looking fruit, lousy coffee and mushy bacon greeted us.

Mr. Michael Douglas should be ashamed to allow such misleading advertising. Ariel Sands is a disgrace to Bermuda and damaging to its image.

WILLIAM LOKAY AND PHYLLIS ROWEN

Los Angeles, California