For the last ten or so years I have visited Bermuda for a week in December. I generally tie my visit to the Holiday Boat Parade which is held, weather permitting, the second Saturday of December. Bermuda really turns out for the parade (many of the harborfront hotels including the Fairmont sold out to locals wanting to watch the parade) and it is quite fun. Fireworks at the end are just beautiful.

This year I went from Dec.6-13 and stayed at Pompano Beach Club.

The weather: It was very warm and pleasant. I never needed a jacket or wrap except when I was riding my moped. I was able to enjoy swimming in the pool (heated) and the ocean (still pretty warm). Walking on the Railway trail or the beach was delightful.

The hotel: Pompano Beach Club is a very comfortable, high quality resort. The premium is on service and the staff is exceptionally accomodating and genial. I was very impressed with the high quality of personal attention (not smothering or hovering, just very prompt and professional).
The room I had was an oceanfront one bedroom suite. The living room was furnished very attractively, there was a small fridge and coffee maker in the hall and the bedroom was a king room. The bed was comfortable and the room was kept very clean and neat. There were two flat screen tvs with cable channels. My room was on the first floor and had a small patio with a gorgeous ocean view. (The second floor rooms had balconies.) Since the room was situated well up a hill, the view was simply splendid. I could watch sunrise and sunset from the patio, a habit I quickly adopted. One thing that particularly surprised me was how little noise I heard from other rooms. Although I had the windows open and was frequently on the patio I rarely heard my neighbors.

The common rooms of the hotel are very pretty with beautiful holiday decorations. The small bar is a beautiful cedar and very charming.

The food at the hotel was generally quite good (the mahi mahi was exceptional). I had a MAP plan so I did not venture out to any other restaurants this trip. Although I enjoyed my meals at Pompano I do like to visit different restaurants. The dine around program did not have but one exchange and that was Cambridge Beaches. I believe they normally have exchange with the Reefs, which is closed for renovations right now.

Spas: I felt like a few spa treatments were in order. cmcfong works hard and I believe in being very good to her! I went to Cambridge Beaches and had a treatment called something like Essential Indulgence. The therapist was Samatha and she is very good. It was a facial and massage and I thought it very nice. The spa is small, only five or six treatment rooms, but clean and well decorated. The choices were very nice. There is a gorgeous indoor pool, the crystal rooms and a whirlpool are available plus an excellent fitness room. You need not be a resident of the hotel. Pompano has a small two or three treatment room spa but I did not get a treatment there. I went to Willow Stream for a tour which they refused to provide me "you would have to walk through the changing area"...bizarre reason. At any rate, they closed the Monday of my stay for the week to do some renovations. I also went to the Reefs spa. This was not very impressive. There is a lot of construction noise which presumably is just a temporary problem. The bathroom was not functioning, also presumably temporary although the problem existed on both days I was there. There is no changing room. The small hallway was congested with clients and staff and there was a general air of rush which just left a bad vibe. The therapist did a very nice massage. Given a choice I would opt for Cambridge Beaches spa of the three I visited. Very professional, reasonably priced services, high quality treatments.
Shopping: I will just mention this as there have been a couple of shopping questions lately. The choices are very limited. The days of great bargains are gone. Bluck's continues to offer some beautiful china, the Irish Linen Shop has gorgeous table clothes and bed linens and Cecile has some pretty clothes (Missoni, Nanette Lepore, Tibi and Lily Pulitzer), but otherwise the choices are pretty much standard mall at higher prices. It is pretty clear Bermudians are doing their shopping off island. This is a disappointment because I would like to buy Bermuda while I am there, but there really isn't much choice. In a really wierd twist the one item of clothing I saw which I really wanted was at an airport concessionaire of all places.

I had a wonderful visit and can hardly wait to return. Bermuda is another world!

Enjoyed your report CMCfong. We are always looking for a Xmas getaway and I just assumed Bermuda would be chilly. Nice to hear it could be a possible destination.
I know what you mean about the shopping; I always like to bring something home, but most of the time the places we go everything just gets more $$$$.
Thanks for giving me an addtion to my on-going list of Xmas getaways! Cc

chacheeta, Bermudians love Christmas and there are parties and celebrations everywhere. Blonoreh is headed there this Saturday to spend Christmas with her sister and mom, check out her report when she gets back! More incentive.

It's been 20-odd years since I've been to Bermuda & reading your adventure makes me want to go back. (It also makes me want to book a facial - something for which I'm long overdue.)

There used to be a few good antique stores there. Did you notice any?

The antique store I remember was next door to Bluck's. They also carried some gorgeous Halycon days boxes. It is gone the way of progress, too. I don't recall noticing any others.

You definitely need to give yourself the facial. Consider how many hours you have worked over the holiday season...no one deserves it more!

cmcfong Thank you for the report. I always enjoy reading what other people think of Bermuda.

I am looking forward to my upcoming visit. My sister says it has been warm.

I am curious about your ocean swim. How cold was it? I know the Bermudians don't swim until June. But I am a swimmer and swim in the ocean in Maine so I think I can handle Bermuda ocean water. We are staying at the St. George's Club (my sister has a time share there and banked her week in May for the Christmas week and we just added on the week of New Year's). The Club has a heated pool so I hope to use it! My sister's place is just around the corner from the club so it is convenient.

How was customs? I am bringing some gifts so I will have to pay duty on them.

I leave for two weeks on Saturday.

Customs was very quick and easy. I know it will be a different experience for you since you are bringing gifts.

I think the ocean temps were about the mid to upper 70's while I was there. Really pleasant!

Yes, I have been to the Swizzle Inn...about a million times...and can't wait to return!

I envy you your trip. It will be wonderful and I am looking forward to your report! Did you see my thread about the Rayure blouse on the Lounge? I found the darn thing in an airport shop in the departures lounge! Too bad it was not in my size...I am going nuts trying to find it!

Safe journey!

I posted some photos on the Facebook Fodors group site.

cmcfong - glad to hear that you had a wonderful trip. My family always goes to Pompano for xmas or new years - so we missed you by a few days. We've been going to the Pompano for years (after the Belmont closed) and just love it. They treat us like family now!

Did you make it over to Greg's Steakhouse at Port Royal? Greg is a former restaurant employee at Pompano who went out on his own. The food is great and Greg and his wife are excellent hosts - esp if you tell him you're at Pompano. If you haven't been, definitely go next year!

No, I didn't get over to Greg's. I will be headed back in June so I will put it on the must try list. Always love to find something new in Bermuda.
Pompano is fabulous!

Cmcfong, it certainly sounds like you had a wonderful time.
It all sounds so magical!!
The hotel sounds fabulous.. and I'd love the sunsets.

I had never heard of the boat parade, but I would love to see it someday.

Bermuda seems to be a wonderful place to spoil yourself. Ahhh, the spas!!

You rode a moped? I was too chicken when I was there.

I'm glad you had such a good time.. and I'm glad you wrote such a great report.

"I felt like a few spa treatments were in order. cmcfong works hard and I believe in being very good to her!" LOL! Love that!
It's good to know that it can be nice in Bermuda in December. Would love to go at some point.
Your room view sounds divine.
Thank you for posting about your trip.

Oh cmcfong is very good to herself, caribtraveler. I have really enjoyed the December visits to Bermuda. I am going again in June because I am taking two teenaged girls who will be entirely beach focused, but I prefer the slower time.

Kodi, I have a few rules about the mopeds. Never when I am drinking, it is raining or it is night ....and never when there are thousands of other tourists using them. So, I won't be on one in June, the odds just aren't good. They are dangerous but what a great way to see it all!
Now, where is your trip report? I am dying to hear about it. Welcome home.

Great rules,cmcfong.
I did rent one once in Stanley Park in Vancouver. Man, I thought I was on a Harley!!

In my late forties, I had a health scare, and the only thing I could think of that I'd never done was to own a motorcycle. So I bought a Yamaha Virago. I rode it for one insane summer and gave it up before I killed myself.

I did my trip report last night..
check out .. Christmas in Santa Fe.. a trip report and then Part 2.
It's REALLY exciting reading!! It's on the US forum.

LOL, kodi. Loved the Yamaha story.

cmcfong. just so you know I am home. Well, sort of home.

My MIL died on the 28th so I flew home early and am headed to CT (I actually came home the night of the 28th and we went to CT on Saturday, back last night)for the next few days for the funeral and to be with family.

My Mom was sick in Bermuda the whole time. Went to the emergency room when we got home and she has a bladder infection and some pulled muscles from some physical therapy before we left!

Will trip report later, what there was to trip report......

Oh bhonoreh, I am so sorry to hear about your MIL and your mother's illness during your trip. You and your husband are in my prayers.