I believe we would like to stay at a hotel in Hamilton. Which one do you think is best as far as location, cost, convenience, etc.? Or should we consider other good hotels outside of town? Such as? Want to be near the bus or ferry route.

We've stayed at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and it's fantastic. They have a water shuttle that takes you over to the other Princess for swimming. It's nice as you can wander into town to shop and it's an easy walk from the hotel.

Lois:<BR><BR>Just recently read that the hotel charges a big fee to use the water shuttle. Is that true?

Dolores...have stayed the the Hamilton Princess the past two summers and they do not charge a fee for use of the shuttle. Two days a week (in the summer) the shuttle also takes you to Dockyard from both hotels.

Topping for Drake.<BR>This hotel (Hamilton Princess) is in the city, NOT on the beach. The South Hampton Princess has the beach.

We decided on the Hamilton Princess. Really liked the location on the edge of town, room with a verandah (7th fl, great view), free ferry over to the Southampton Princess. However, the pipe-banging (renovation) was a bit much after 5 pm. One night, it lasted until at least 8:30. And it looks like it's going to last a couple of years. Maybe there is no noise in the low-rise part of the hotel on the west side.

I was just at the Hamilton Princess in late March and there wasn't a fee for the water shuttle over to the other property. The Hamilton Princess is also located close to the main shopping area and restaurants.

Agree with all that is said about the Hamilton Princess -- and their ferry shuttle is free. While we did not stay here in August, we did an inspection for next year, when we have more of the extended family coming. Also: the rooms in the taller main buildings all seem to have been renovated, but the lower-rise around the pools were next up.

I've stayed at Waterloo House in Hamilton, which is slightly closer to town. This CAN be a very nice experience, but the rooms are REALLY varied, so ask very clearly (see my review in Fodor's). If you go this route, I recommend that you NOT stay in the second floor rooms over the main office building. People seem to have better luck in cottage rooms closer to the water. Also: you have to want more of the boutique-y small historic hotel, which we like if it is done well. Also good of this type is the Palms in Hamilton. None of these places are cheap.

So much about other hotels depends on what you want to do, the season, etc. We usually go in August for the beaches and a respite, so we are focused on beaches, the occasional bus or cab ride, etc. Others might want close proximity to a golf course, or the ability to see all of the island in a day or two. For this reason, I could recommend some places we stay in August that might be less attractive in January. For example, the Reefs is a wonderful place, particulary if you want a small private beach, a bus stop right at the top of its hill on the South Shore Road, the snorkeling at Church Bay by sea kayak right around the bend, etc. However, it's a little further out if you wanted to be more centrally lcoated and not spend as much time at a beach, or don't do a lot of beach stuff in cooler weather.