I am interested in staying at either Elbow Beach or Southampton Princess after researching both. I would save approximately $400 staying at Elbow Beach but not sure if it is worth it over Southampton. Have stayed at neither but know some people who have stayed at the Princess. It is our 35th anniversary and we both like good restaurants and my husband especially likes more upscale hotels rather than a cottage colony. After researching these are the 2 that seem most appealing. I would greatly appreciate and feedback on these hotels and am open to suggestions. We will be going beginning of November and I know it is offseason then.

We recently stayed at the Hamilton Princess. The only thing I can tell you about the Southhampton Princess is that you must take their trolley toget to the beach. The beach is rather small, BUT, if you walk through the gate by the tennis courts, you can reach Horseshoe Bay and Jobsons - they are both beautiful beaches.

If you stay at SHP, you can take the trolley from the hotel,down the long hill to the bus stop, walk over to the ferry dock and go over to the HP and either use their facilities or take a short walk into Hamilton.

I stayed at the SHP a few weeks ago and it fits what your husband's criteria. I, too, prefer luxury resorts to 'cottage colonies'. The upsides of the SHP are that it re-opened only 3+ months ago after extensive post-hurricane renovation, so most everything looks new and clean. It's got a very nice selection of 7 restaurants (though overall food quality is decent to good at most, very good at a couple). Views are outstanding as it sits on the highest point of the island. Service is very good. The hotel's beach is excellent and in some respects I like it better than Horshoe Beach just 75 yards to the east (which is arguably the island's most popular beach). It's a bit of a hassle to ride the trolley to the beach.
Rooms are nice, but not world class nice. More like a superior Hyatt.
It's not a particularly charming place. It feels like a big convention hotel (which it is).
I liked the character and charm of the Hamilton Princess better, but lack of beach and city location there are big negatives to me.
I'd stay at the SHP over Elbow Beach.
I'd actually prefer that someone pick up Sandy Lane on Barbados and move it to Bermuda.

I have stayed at the South Hampton Princess and it is a very nice hotel. New renovations because of the Hurricane, make it even nicer. Drawback is that the beach is at the bottom of the hill. It is a hike or a trolley ride. Now, Ihave been to the beach at Elbow and it is beautiful and big. It looks like a great hotel, but I am not sure what condition the rooms are in having never stayed there. Both are full service hotels and would meet your husband's criteria. There are no hotels like Ritz Carlton on the island. Hopefully someone else can tell you the condition of Elbow's rooms. I think it looked very nice from the outside and I would stay there. Anncat did you post on this a long time ago? I recognize your name and a question on Bermuda. You will love Bermuda and it's charming elegance. I am sure you can't go wrong with either hotel. Let us know where you choose!

You are very accurate I did post quite awhile ago but my computer crashed and recently got another one. Still hoping that maybe someone has stayed recently at the Elbow Beach. Have heard more about the restaurant at Southampton than there.

Elbow Beach - hands down. As my Scottish mother used to say, "Withoot a doot". Beautiful hotel, recent renovations, have recently read great reviews on their remodeled restaurants. The reviews have been confirmed by friends living in Bermuda. I have found the quality of meals consistently high. Plus there are two new restaurants (rebuilt since Hurricane Fabian) right on the beach and oh, what a beach! Elbow Beach is centrally located and closer to other amenities. It also has nicer grounds.
Found SPrincess to be too large, isolated, tiny rocky beach and the food was not on par with Elbow Beach.

I see Elbow Beach is now owned my Mandarin Oriental. It should be very nice, they are a class act. I've been to a couple of their hotels in Asia and they were perfection. Looks like the prices are worldclass too.

I've stayed at both hotels, and MUCH prefer Elbow Beach. It's much more Bermudian in flavor than SHP, which could be a corporate hotel anywhere. Elbow is right ON one of the island's best beaches -- great for walking and swimming. SHP's beach is quite small and rather crowded with lines of chairs.
Elbow is also much closer to Hamilton and other dining options. The only thing better about SHP, in my opinion, is the lovely golf course and their Newport Room restaurant, which is outstanding. Beware, though, that if you choose SHP, you may get a room with no view at all, or a view of the roof. That happened to us and the front desk was quite sniffy about moving us. We did get moved, but to a smaller room with a scant harbor view.
That said, you will have a wonderful time no matter which hotel you choose, Bermuda is lovely.

Teresa

I have only stayed at SHP and the Hamiltom Princess ( in Hamilton )and I choose "The Hamilton Princess" only for location and restaurants in the evening. Front street can be alot of fun as well.
We spent our honey moon at SHP and have been to Elbow for dinner and beach for the day.
As the above post I will agree that with any of these resorts you can not go wrong, Bermuda is a fabulous place the only thing you MUST DO is rent the scooters. Be carefull but this is the best way to see the whole country and all of Bermuda especially all the beautiful beaches. Have fun.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I most likely will book within a week and I am almost sure it will be SH Princess. Seems thru what I have read here and in travel books they have more dining choices and we most likely will do the meal plan. I am really looking forward to this trip. when we were there 35 years ago we stayed at the Harmony Hall which is now the Harmony club. As we are now no longer in our early 20's we are looking for a more upscale place to stay and pretty sure this will be what we have in mind. I have stayed at the Fairmont properties before and never been disappointed. Any feedback on the restaurants there and maybe some lunch spots. Thanks again

Bermuda has always had some nice dining spots, and they just get better and better. I know its easy to just relax,
stay at the hotel, but you might want to
get outside the Princess. Ariel Sands has a new restaurant called Aqua,you can eat out on the covered deck overlooking the beach. Hurricane Fabian
made a fatastic view. The same restauranteur has a little spot called Frescos in Hamilton, also a new Thai
place called Silk. The Waterloo House in
Hamilton is another fine place.

We also tried The Sea Horse Grill again, the service was spotty. Its been years since we tried The Newport room, so please post when you can back! Bermuda just gets better and better!

I agree with Penny. Bermuda has a wonderful variety of restaurants such as Aqua at Ariel Sands. We had lunch one day and appys the other at the HP, it was okay. If you are big breakfast eaters than the meal plan might be best. Whatever you do, have a terrific time - just LOVE Bermuda!

anncat
Next to the Southhampton Princess is a restaurant called King Henry the VIII's. I remember it having a piano player comedian at night. So, if you are just looking to get out for some laughs...you can walk home (Uphill!)

I am still pondering and giving myself one more week to see if any specials are offered for Bermuda. Also I was on a website called "Trip Advisor" and read some comments from people who really had quite a few bad things to say about both hotels. Now I realize that sometimes people only post when they are upset and not necessarily when they have had a great time. I am concerned that Elbow Beach is not fully operational from last years hurricane. I have heard not all the restaurants are open yet. Also some complained about thin walls at Southampton - so much so that they couldn't sleep at night. Sounds a bit outrageous but would like more feedback. Thanks again.

I stayed at the south hampton princess about 4 years ago and we had an ocean view room/golf course view. I do not recall ever hearing anyone in another room. I am a light sleeper and I remember the hotels where I get little sleep. This was not one of them. You will also be going off season and the hotel is likely to be half empty. I think you will love the south hampton princess and with newer upgrades since the hurricane, it must be nice. Now, elbow I am only familiar with their beach and it is nicer (bigger) than the princess'. If you stay at the Princess and when you go, ask to be upgraded and let them know it is your anniversary. You may get a better room for free.

Anncat...I stayed at the Fairmont Southampton for 6 nights in July and never heard my neighbors. One night when I was in our hall I could hear a party going on a room across and 2 doors down but nothing from inside our room. We LOVED the Southampton.

Well thanks this makes me feel better. I have been away many times but because this is a special occassion for both of us I was getting a little nervous reading those comments. This is the best site that I have ever been on for travel related questions.