Bermuda: Ariel Sands??
Apr 12th, 2000, 05:49 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Bev:
I stayed at Ariel Sands about six months ago. It was excellent. The staff were friendly and professional. There is a great seapools area by the beach. Did not have dinner at Caliban's but the breakfasts were good. Request a cottage close to the water.
I stayed at Ariel Sands about six months ago. It was excellent. The staff were friendly and professional. There is a great seapools area by the beach. Did not have dinner at Caliban's but the breakfasts were good. Request a cottage close to the water.
Apr 12th, 2000, 06:33 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nadine...Thanks for your reply.Which building were you in? I am looking at Wild Waves, Prospero (too close to the tennis?) and Tempest Haven.Also...where did you have dinner if not at the Hotel? Any recommendations? How were the rooms themselves and tea in the afternoon...Thanks...Bev.
Apr 12th, 2000, 08:02 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bev:
We ate at Caliban's for dinner. Very good food, prices higher than those at comparable restaurants in Chicago.
We ate on the terrace that overlooked the ocean--very romantic. Clientele mainly consisted of some Ariel Sands guests, guests from other hotels who were on the dine-around plan, and locals.
My one complaint was about the service. We actually had to go into the kitchen to get a check. Service by the wait staff was abrupt and we did not see our waiter after he took our order.
We ate at Caliban's for dinner. Very good food, prices higher than those at comparable restaurants in Chicago.
We ate on the terrace that overlooked the ocean--very romantic. Clientele mainly consisted of some Ariel Sands guests, guests from other hotels who were on the dine-around plan, and locals.
My one complaint was about the service. We actually had to go into the kitchen to get a check. Service by the wait staff was abrupt and we did not see our waiter after he took our order.
Apr 12th, 2000, 10:28 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Bev:
I have heard that service at dinner can be poor as Lara indicated. Breakfasts were no problem. We ate at Coconuts at The Reefs (romantic but slow), and a couple of restaurants in Hamilton (lots of choice). My recommendations for dinner or lunch would be The Swizzle Inn, the Frog and Onion pub at the Dockywards (both are casual). Portofino is a great Italian restaurant with good service in Hamilton. Rosa's Cantina is a nice Mexican Restaurant in Hamilton. The sky's the limit with dining possibilities. We barely scratched the surface.
The rooms were great at Ariel Sands. Very light and airy. I think I was in Tempest Haven which was a good location.
Would you believe that we missed tea while we were there because we were either too lazy to get up from the beach or out of the resort.
You won't be sorry you stayed at Ariel Sands, but be sure to get out and eat and see more of this beautiful island.
I have heard that service at dinner can be poor as Lara indicated. Breakfasts were no problem. We ate at Coconuts at The Reefs (romantic but slow), and a couple of restaurants in Hamilton (lots of choice). My recommendations for dinner or lunch would be The Swizzle Inn, the Frog and Onion pub at the Dockywards (both are casual). Portofino is a great Italian restaurant with good service in Hamilton. Rosa's Cantina is a nice Mexican Restaurant in Hamilton. The sky's the limit with dining possibilities. We barely scratched the surface.
The rooms were great at Ariel Sands. Very light and airy. I think I was in Tempest Haven which was a good location.
Would you believe that we missed tea while we were there because we were either too lazy to get up from the beach or out of the resort.
You won't be sorry you stayed at Ariel Sands, but be sure to get out and eat and see more of this beautiful island.
Dec 21st, 2000, 05:13 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have not been to Ariel Sands, but my husband and I stayed at Cambridge Beaches last June and loved it. It has a bit more remote location on the western side of the island, but we did not find this a problem. There is scooter rental right on sight. Also, they offer ferry service several times a week into Hamilton, including a Friday evening ride if you were interested in nightlife in Hamilton.
The resort is lovely and the service was outstanding. It is a cottage colony with a few small beaches on site. Although the beaches are small, you may find you have the beach to yourself. There was one small cove we especially enjoyed, that had some OK snorkeling right off the beach. We did spend one day on the South shore beaches, which are beautiful but more crowded. (Horseshoe Beach was packed when we were there.)
The accomodations at Cambridge varied depending on your room category. Go for the highest category room you can afford, as the ocean views are much better. We opted for a Cambridge Suite which provided us with a beautiful sweeping view of the ocean right outside our windows. Our room was beautiful and the bathroom was huge! We also had a large balcony which we had breakfast on and enjoyed beautiful sunsets on. They also have a wonderful spa onsite with an indoor pool which I enjoyed on a rainy afternoon. Their outdoor pool is also very nice. Their restaurant was excellent, with a beautiful and romantic setting overlooking their pool and the bay. We did have a "dine-around" plan and ate also at The Reefs and Stonnington, however I enjoyed the meals and setting at Cambridge the best.
Cambridge also had a great activity desk which offered a variety of things to participate in, i.e., tours, snorkeling, sailing, cocktail cruises. We opted for the snorkeling excursion and a sailing trip. Both were excellent. They left right from the resort and only included a handful of people which made it alot more fun.
Overall, we really enjoyed Cambridge Beaches and would opt to return there for our next trip to Bermuda. I have heard positive things about Ariel Sands, but did not have the opportunity to see the resort. I hope this information is helpful.
The resort is lovely and the service was outstanding. It is a cottage colony with a few small beaches on site. Although the beaches are small, you may find you have the beach to yourself. There was one small cove we especially enjoyed, that had some OK snorkeling right off the beach. We did spend one day on the South shore beaches, which are beautiful but more crowded. (Horseshoe Beach was packed when we were there.)
The accomodations at Cambridge varied depending on your room category. Go for the highest category room you can afford, as the ocean views are much better. We opted for a Cambridge Suite which provided us with a beautiful sweeping view of the ocean right outside our windows. Our room was beautiful and the bathroom was huge! We also had a large balcony which we had breakfast on and enjoyed beautiful sunsets on. They also have a wonderful spa onsite with an indoor pool which I enjoyed on a rainy afternoon. Their outdoor pool is also very nice. Their restaurant was excellent, with a beautiful and romantic setting overlooking their pool and the bay. We did have a "dine-around" plan and ate also at The Reefs and Stonnington, however I enjoyed the meals and setting at Cambridge the best.
Cambridge also had a great activity desk which offered a variety of things to participate in, i.e., tours, snorkeling, sailing, cocktail cruises. We opted for the snorkeling excursion and a sailing trip. Both were excellent. They left right from the resort and only included a handful of people which made it alot more fun.
Overall, we really enjoyed Cambridge Beaches and would opt to return there for our next trip to Bermuda. I have heard positive things about Ariel Sands, but did not have the opportunity to see the resort. I hope this information is helpful.
Jan 11th, 2001, 07:51 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
We stayed at the Ariel Sands for our Honeymoon--it's very private and quiet, if that's what you're looking for. It is fairly far from any of the touristy areas, so if you're looking for action, I'd stay elsewhere.
Our room was beautiful--we stayed in the Rainbow Spray section, which has the best view of the beach and is close to the clubhouse and pool (convenient). I thought the service was wonderful. The food was so-so--not worth the $$ unless you are on the MAP, and if you're not, you will spend a fortune on cabs going to other restauraunts.
Caliban's is ok. The decor inside the restauraunt is kind of cheap and tacky-looking, so if you can eat on the deck, do it--the view of the beach is beautiful. We had the MAP, so we ate there among other places--inlcuding Cambridge beaches, which had the best food and the best service by far. However, Cambridge is not in the greatest neighborhood on the island. I'm sure the resort is safe, but we personally would not be excited about going outside of the resort, except in a taxi. But the property is gorgeous and many people swear by it, so...
Don't waste your $$ at the spa, Nirvana, it's not horrible, but it's not really worth the money they charge.
If you're there on a Tuesday, don't miss the swizzle party--but go early--it gets crowded!
We're actually returning to Bermuda next month, but staying at the SH Princess to be near the beach, but still closer to "the action" in Hamilton. The bus does pick up in front of Ariel Sands, but it is kind of a pain to get around.
Have fun!
Our room was beautiful--we stayed in the Rainbow Spray section, which has the best view of the beach and is close to the clubhouse and pool (convenient). I thought the service was wonderful. The food was so-so--not worth the $$ unless you are on the MAP, and if you're not, you will spend a fortune on cabs going to other restauraunts.
Caliban's is ok. The decor inside the restauraunt is kind of cheap and tacky-looking, so if you can eat on the deck, do it--the view of the beach is beautiful. We had the MAP, so we ate there among other places--inlcuding Cambridge beaches, which had the best food and the best service by far. However, Cambridge is not in the greatest neighborhood on the island. I'm sure the resort is safe, but we personally would not be excited about going outside of the resort, except in a taxi. But the property is gorgeous and many people swear by it, so...
Don't waste your $$ at the spa, Nirvana, it's not horrible, but it's not really worth the money they charge.
If you're there on a Tuesday, don't miss the swizzle party--but go early--it gets crowded!
We're actually returning to Bermuda next month, but staying at the SH Princess to be near the beach, but still closer to "the action" in Hamilton. The bus does pick up in front of Ariel Sands, but it is kind of a pain to get around.
Have fun!
