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I have been going to Bermuda at least once a year since the early seventies. In the last ten or so years I have made the trip in early December to see the Holiday Boat Parade. It is now an every other year event, but the timing still worked for me so last week I was in beautiful Bermuda. This is a lovely time to visit. Bermudians take the holidays very seriously so there are wonderful decorations and lots of holiday activities. The weather is not really beach weather; but, it is generally mild. A few days of high winds and somewhat chillier than normal temps didn't spoil this trip.

Where I stayed: I stayed at Fourways Inn. They offered a deal of stay two nights get the third free. I stayed six nights for the price of four. Merry Christmas, cmcfong. You have money left to squander on other pleasures. The room was a large one with a balcony and view of Hamilton harbor. Breakfast and a newspaper are delivered to the room every morning. Freshly baked pastries (the on site restaurant is one of the top tables in Bermuda), big pot of coffee and a platter of fresh fruit. It is presented on a pretty silver service with fine china for a lovely start to the day. This is a small property (11 rooms) with an adult atmosphere. Each room has a fridge and a microwave. Fourways is well positioned a five minute walk to the ferry, a grocery store, the bus stop or the Bermuda Railway Trail. They have beach privileges at Coco Reef. I am a repeater here and look forward to returning.

Where I dined:
Ascots: truly a favorite. They feature a very broad menu with excellent seafood choices. Service is unobtrusive, professional and friendly. Dress is smart casual. Recommended.
Splendido: most romantic hilltop setting with views of the South shore beaches. Probably the best sandwich on the planet is their lobster blt. The service is very polished and personal. Recommended
the bar at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess: I stopped in after a shopping expedition. Although I was one of only three customers, service was very poor. The food was OK but not remarkable. Not recommended.
Hog Penny Pub: A nice surprise. Last year the food was not particularly good and I was disappointed with the service. The food this year was quite good and the service was much improved. Recommended for casual pub lunch or dinner.
Mad Hatters: Well, I tried to book it because it was highly recommended by a local but it is very popular. Maybe you will have better luck. Next year I will make my reservations earlier!
Pub at the Fairmont Southampton Princess. I stopped in here twice. Once to meet a friend and once after spending a day at the Willow Stream spa (did I mention there were a couple of not so great weather days). The food was very good and the service was professional, fast and friendly. We were not rushed during a leisurely late lunch. Oh, and they have great smoothies. It is hard to beat the view from the Princess and with the added attraction of the holiday decorations, this was a good choice. Recommended.
Fourways: This is truly one of the best restaurants in Bermuda or anywhere else. The brunch is amazing and an excellent value if you want to try a wide range of food. Service is very polished and professional. Highly recommended.
Cambridge Beaches: I don't know what's going on here. Last year I had a delightful meal which was very well prepared and presented. This year the food was marginal and completely forgettable. Not recommended for now.
Spas: Since it was raining several days during my stay I spent some time in the spa at Cambridge Beaches and Willow Stream at the Fairmont Southampton Princess. I planned to book services at Samedi Spa at Newstead but did not because of the very poor service by telephone (no return of messages left, unable to answer basic questions about services, etc).
Ocean Spa at Cambridge Beaches is small and very well operated. I called before my visit with some questions and received immediate answers including a confirmation of my phone questions by email. Staff is knowledgeable and polished. The pool area is upstairs with a hot tub (which for the second year in a row was out of operation). the pool has french doors opening out on to the lawn and gorgeous sea views. It is very quiet and a lovely place to relax before a treatment. The dressing area and locker room are small but certainly adequate. There is a resting area between the dressing room and reception but there is a lot of foot traffic through here. The treatment I received this time was up to the standards set on previous visits. These therapists are very professional and I highly recommend the spa. Prices here seem to be generally lower than elsewhere on the island even though this is one of the top tier properties. They always have specials so be sure and ask.
Willow Stream at the Fairmont Southampton Princess: This is a big spa with all the bells and whistles. Beautiful indoor pool with some ocean views, outdoor hot tubs, steam and sauna, etc. The dressing area is surprisingly small and was congested (the spa is very popular with locals as well as visitors and was busy even mid week). It is kept very clean and neat. The treatments were fantastic. I will return. I did not see anything I wanted on the spa lunch menu but was able to enjoy an excellent lunch in the pub when I finished.

What I did: Not much. I love Bermuda and can happily spend the entire day just walking the railway trail or the beaches. While I stopped in the shops the days of bargains and specialties (like fabulous sweaters, china, crystal) are gone. I went on a walkabout with the Bermuda National Trust. If you are considering a visit, go to www.bermudatourism.com or friend them on Facebook for good information about lodging specials, activities, and events.
Bermuda is another world.

Sounds like a great trip!

We,too,love Bermuda and try to go twice a year! (easy flight from Boston) I've been going there since the late 50's, and my husband and I have been going since the early 70s' -- a few changes! How I miss the old Front Street! But the people and the island are still much the same -- absolutely wonderful!

Unquestionably the hardest change for me to accept is that giant hole where the beautiful Waterloo House stood for over 100 years. It brought me to tears to see that. But, it is still Bermuda. How I love it.

We thoroughly enjoyed our mini-GTG with you, will be in touch once we get to England!!!

The pleasure was all mine! Your companion was adorable and completely enchanted me.
Travel safely...and stay warm.

topping for drshelly

Thank you.

This is very helpful

Glad it helped. Bermuda is another world and I am counting the days till my next visit.

cmcfong, ahh I thought this was a new trip for you. Looking forward to your next trip report!

Awww, man - I was all excited for some fresh news and updates!!

Hi All,

I'm contemplating a Bermuda trip 2nd week in August. How is the weather at that time?
Also, I'd rather not rent a car but want oceanfront access. Is there any place you can recommend or is that just the wrong vacation to expect in Bermuda?

I want ocean view, not harbour or golf courses. :) Walking distance or a place that provides shuttles or other transportation.

Thanks for any information you can share. It's two women and going for relaxation, not adventure.

Hi geanster -
August is hot and humid. High 80's, with humidity 70-80%.

There's no car rental on Bermuda, so you'll be limited to taxis and the bus/ferry system. Public transport is excellent.

Oceanfront access - if you want to leave your room and stroll to the beach, look at Coco Reef, The Reefs, Cambridge Beaches or Pompano. Fairmont Southampton is a nice property, but the hotel itself is situated on top of the hill, so your gorgeous ocean views overlook a (beautiful) golf course. And you'd have to walk or take the trolley down the hill to the (private) beach. Fabulous spa there. And they have a free shuttle ferry to their sister property in town, good for shopping!

Hope that helps - you might want to start a new thread if you don't get a lot of responses from this one, as old trip reports might not get lots of attention. Let me know what other questions you have!

Sorry to disappoint, Ladies. I have to wait until December for my next trip (unless that lottery thing comes through!).

txgirlinbda has given you good advice, geanster. Thank goodness she saw your question!

Thank you for this. $5-600 per night for Cambridge, the Reefs, etc. which is quite pricey. Looking for very last minute now and making contact to see if anyone has last minute offers.
I appreciated the information. Coco Reef is more affordable but looks like the rooms are outdated. have you stayed there?

I've gotten the idea that it's quite safe in Bermuda? Is the bus line fine for a couple of women travelers? Thanks again.

We were in Bermuda in June and went to Pompano for lunch couple times. The sea is absolutely stunning at this hotel, cannot say what the rooms are like though but the sea is amazing, probably the most beautiful I've seen and I have been to alot of islands. The beach at the hotel is rather small but stunning. Try bermudarentals.com, apart from apartment rental they can help with hotels according to their website.

Bermuda has to be one of the safest places we've been to, would not walk around back streets of Hamilton at night or do stuff like that, but standing at the bus stop is definitely ok or taking a taxi to/from a restaurant at night is perfectly ok. We were careful to lock our belongings in the scooter, out of sight.

You're not going to find deals this time of year. You might start looking at other options, you might get chepaer but you're not going to get your ocean view AND cheaper, esp last minute.

Bermuda is relatively safe, but like anywhere, you need to be aware of your belongings when you're out - bag snatchings on the street are not unheard of - particularly because the local punks KNOW that tourists let their guard down and make themselves easy targets. The bus system is fine. Taxis are better at night because you'll get dropped at your door.

Haven't ever stayed at Coco Reef, but it was a regular lunch spot for us. It's in an excellent location, at the end of their driveway is a bus stop and a grocery store.

I toured the rooms at Coco Reef on my last visit. They were fine and had great sea views. If you have found an affordable package there, I recommend it.
Ted Gale rented a property on Harbor Road
http://www.bermudagetaway.com/indexBL.html# which he liked. You might take a look at that site and the bermuda rentals site mentioned earlier. Give Fiona Campbell a call if you decide on Bermuda rentals and see if you can negotiate a good price. another option is the Clairfont apartments. Not beachfront but very accessible. You might also want to join the President's club of Fairmont. I have received some good email specials for the two Bermuda Fairmonts in the past. Bermuda is a little island. Do go, but consider the possibility of staying off the beach if you are looking for a price advantage. It is very easy to reach the beach by bus. Three of my old "budget" standbys are the Rosemont apartments, Edgehill Manor, and Watercolours (a bit more upscale than the others, on the harbor). Give them a call.

Can you tell me anything else about Cambridge Resorts?

I have an option for a waterview standard room one night and a suite for the rest of the stay.

Is there anything I need to take into consideration? It looks like a wonderful place to stay.

Flights have increased over 100% but I don't know when I'd have the opportunity to stay there again.

I just read this... could be a problem for my mother: Had a wonderful stay at the Cambridge. The biggest problem we had was you need to be aware that there is a lot of climbing up and down hills due to location of the cottages. If you have physical problems this is probably not the place to go.

I love Cambridge Beaches, very old Bermuda. I would suggest you call the concierge to confirm this, but I believe they will provide a golf cart ride for your mother should the hills present an issue for her. The resort is charming. On each visit to Bermuda I make a point to go to their spa. It is very small, but well run and the treatments are better priced than at many of the Bermuda spas.

Thank you for all of the help. I'll try to make this my final question though I usually don't feel too guilty because I know someone will benefit from nearly every thread. I so adore fodors forums.

So food options at Cambridge? ARe there fridges and a grocery nearby or are you eating all of your meals at a restaurant at Cambridge.

I read somewhere that they had a shuttle into hamilton 3 days a week. Once you arrive by ferry, are you able to walk around or are you still taxi-ing or bussing? (This is a huge positive factor for me). Any other suggestions for travel? We're pretty happy settling in somewhere as long as we have food and drinks. Taking the ferry into Hamilton will provide an activity.

Do you know if they provide transport to the Dockyards too? I think I may have read that somewhere.

Also, I see kayaks in the photos. Are water sports included or additional fees?

I'm so upset that I missed the $300 flights and it's now $700 for the same flight but if we want to go, that may be what happens.

I saw there are 4 different beaches. The weather shows 10-20% chance of rain like every day. Does it usually pass quickly there or do you think we may stay overcast the entire week?
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...rport+BDA:9:BD

I'm so excited! Thanks!

Glad to help you visit my favorite place in the world.
a. There are I believe three dining options on site at Cambridge, one of which is room service. They also have dine around privileges at the Reefs and Pompano Beach, which are gorgeous properties with excellent restaurants. Also it is very easy to reach Dockyards where there are several good restaurant choices.
b. The best resource about the inroom amenities will be the concierge, because as I recall the fridges are not in every room.
c. there is a grocery in Somerset, but I suspect you will choose to take the bus there not walk.
d. I don't know if the hotel provides transport to Dockyards, but it is not a far bus ride and very easily reached.
e. I don't know if they include the water sports rental, but think they do. Probably best to call the concierge with that one, too.
f. I am a walker and would be comfortable walking to the little town of Somerset and its shops and restaurants. I would also be fine walking all over Hamilton. But, there are some hills in Hamilton, especially if you choose to visit Ft.Hamilton (which offers a splendid view) and you mentioned your mother's mobility issues.
g. Forget the rain. It is in most forecasts. If it happens it is over fast. Take a light rain jacket and rock on through.

Have a wonderful visit. It is another world.

My wife and spent some time in Bermuda in late May 2012
1st Hotel - Coco Reef, nice hotel, rooms are rather old, great ocean views -Cafe Coco really good restaurant for lunch and dinner (eat on the veranda, one of the best ocean views on the island)
2nd hotel = Salt Kettle Inn (B&B) - very small, but great (we will definitely return), nice breakfasts, hosts are incredible.

Restaurants:
Cafe Coco - small menu, but very good food and service

Fourways Inn - excellent food and service, but we felt a bit rushed

Tom Moore's Tavern - excellent in every way possible

Mad Hatters - a bit cramped, but excellent food - interesting service

Hog Penny - nice pub, excellent fish chowder, rest ok - good in a pinch

A small bakery next to the ferry in Hamilton, you can get a good sandwich, drink and a pastry for about 10 dollars (hard to beat)

Frog and Onion - food just ok, but freshly brewed beer is served (ask for a beer menu)

Get a transportation pass either at the Hamilton ferry or some hotels sell them (be careful, if you want to sail on the pink ferry, there is a separate pass that costs about 7 dollars per week extra)

Beer & Wine - small store on Front Street has good prices (they also have snacks and sodas) - forget the name but it is about three blocks from the ferry, near the Hog Penny

cmcfong, I can't believe the waterloo house is gone!!! I am in shock! that was a favorite restaurant and excellent food and service. This is the place on the water, part of the southampton fairmont, the really nice restaurant? Love that place.
I will never forget the time you had us sign up for fairmont club and we stayed in Bermuda, one of my favorite places, for 199 per night with out two teens. Great price!!!

Love the railway path for bike riding. Miss Bermuda. I haven't been in a few years...

Girlonthego, I believe you are thinking of the Waterlot Restaurant. It is still there. The Waterloo House was a great small hotel in Hamilton, very near the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. I loved it. Very old Bermuda, lots of cedar and charm...it was a special place. But things change. Fortunately Bermuda is still a beautiful place to be so I will be headed back in December. Check out the Facebook page operated by Bermuda tourism, it often has specials like that great one at the Fairmont. Gotta love a deal!

fbyrne, thanks for your trip report. The next best thing to being in Bermuda is reading about it!!!!

Oh you are right! The Waterlot!
Still sorry to hear the hotel Waterloo House is closed. :( I didn't know it, but I have noticed over the years the changes on the Main St area, the closing of many of the old charming stores.
I remember when I was 12 and my family went to Bermuda. We thought it was so exotic. We had never travelled anywhere tropical before. My mom wore gowns to dinner every night. We stayed at the Sonesta which of course is gone now too.

But I also remember shopping in town and buying mohair sweaters and scarves. They were so itchy when we got home that I never actually wore them! Ha!
My dad loved to wear his Salmon colored sports jacket!He had so many cool Bermudian colored jackets!

Oh and we were all scared to fly over the Bermuda triangle...
Thanks for the memories!

I will bet you would remember the Waterloo House if you saw a photo. Old sea captain's house on the water, all gorgeous pinks with huge gardens. It was very special.
I used to love to shop Bermuda but sadly that time is long past. I could still spend hours in Blucks' but it is about the only one of the wonderful shops still around.

But, it's still Bermuda, another world!

Smiths and Triminghams are both gone, arent' they?

Yes. Nothing similar in their place. There are a couple of cute small shops but unfortunately their pricing is not competitive with the USA even without the tax. I used to love Cecile because they carried unique European lines. It is still there, but the selection is relatively limited (unless you are a huge fan of Lily Pulitizer).

No never paid for bright pink Lily. It is not my style really. So sad to see them go to the status quo on island shops.
There was an irish linen shop too. It was nice to get some specialty items from England. I always felt like Bermuda was the most british of all the islands we have been too. It carried on all the traditions. I know it still does for some stuff, but liked the shops with character and uniquness.

I loved the Irish Linen Store, next to the Birdcage. It is still there, but the stock has changed dramatically. Very high end bed linens and children's wear upstairs, downstairs pretty random stuff. Used to be beautiful French tableclothes and lovely table ornaments (napkin rings, placemats, etc).
I know Bermuda merchants are struggling. Sales to cruise visitors are very low and people who stay on the island aren't buying a lot. So they have to focus on Bermudians, many of whom fly to PHL, BOS, or ATL and do much of their shopping there. Very tough times for Bermuda.

cmcfong: We are headed back to Bermuda tomorrow for a 3rd visit.

Five nights -- just a short jaunt, to take advantage of a great seat-sale on WestJet, a Canadian carrier. (They had prices as low as $339 return, incl. tax and the connecting flight Ottawa-Toronto)

We're staying again in the apartment we have rented twice before, in a house called Barrule on Harbour Road in Paget parish. It is listed through Bermuda Getaways

The owners have become friends, so we're invited to dinner Saturday night. I expect we'll see his brother and sister in law, whom we connected with in Provence last year. We even visited the family's French property, the Chateau de Lascours, near Uzes.

Dinners planned at Blu and at Fourways - but we also like shopping at Lindo's on Middle Road (10 minutes on foot) and cooking dinner at home. Saves wear and tear on the nerves, since going anywhere after dark from that location is rather daunting - narrow roads, no sidewalks, very dangerous.

Temps will be low 20s C/ low 70s F. I plan to do plenty of walking on the Railway Trail, a bit of historical sightseeing (Verdmont, Tucker House) and perhaps, at long last, an exploratory mission to St David's....

tedgale, I am so jealous! have fun!!!

girlonthego, there are some major deals on the Bermuda Tourism website. Three nights for the price of two. Go!!!

Ted, have a grand time. I am headed down in about three weeks and would love to hear your reviews. I have been told Lindo's has closed, so let me know about that as well!

bon voyage.

Cmcfong:
Lindo's on Middle Road is definitely open. They have a website with info on opening hours, etc for all their locations.

The country looked lovely, as always, though we had quite strong winds and clouds some days. Here is a link to an album on Bermudian flora, which are spectacular in this season:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/se...1&notif_t=like

I hope you can open this

It was White's which recently closed. Lindo's on Middle Rd. was packed when we were there in October.

Ted,
Beautiful photos! Bermuda seems to have been on my must go list forever. I'll have to look at those deals!

I cannot open your link, Ted. I guess I will just have to fly down there and see it in person!!!

Thank you and Bette for the update on Lindo's. I usually walk there to stock my fridge at the hotel. I also love to get the prepared foods at Miles, they are very good.

Welcome home!