Hi!

Everyone has their own idea of what they look for in a resort and everyone is different... I happen to generally prefer the Hyatt Aruba, Maui, Ritz, type atmoshphere, I like, large lobbys, waterfall pools, expansive grounds (however I can appreciate those who love the hide-a-way seculsion)... are there any resorts in Bermuda that compare? I have done some research but it is hard to tell what defines one person's idea of luxury

Thanks for any thoughts

Try the Bermuda Forum...http://server2.ezboard.com/bbermudashortsforum

Bermuda has some nice hotels, no Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons. You might want to look into Elbow Beach and Southampton Princess. Parrot Mom I wish some of those excellent posters would contribute on this forum too.

Your best bet would be the Fairmont Southampton Princess. Beautiful property that has recently been renovated. Ask for a room on one of the Entree Gold Levels. Their new spa...Willowstream is supposed to be excellent.

The hotel sits on a hill overlooking the South Shore. They have a trolley which takes you from the hotel to their private beach across the road. You can also get the trolley to their shuttle ferry at Waterlot Inn which takes you to their sister property, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess (where we stay). From there you can walk in to Hamilton to shop or dine. Depending on when you're going, every Friday night there is a happy hour on the terrace at the HP which is attended by many Bermudians and tourists. There is a great reggae type band playing and a barbeque. Believe me, it's the place to be on friday nights!

The Fairmont Southampton also has a golf course and tennis courts and a number of good restaurants.

Elbow Beach is another good hotel with a lovely beach.

I don't think you could go wrong with either.

Forgot to add the url for Fairmont Hotels.

http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/CDHomePage/

Penny...those BOP (Bermuda Obsessed People) are so "iinto"Bermuda and many of them are friends and meet in Bermuda sometimes several times a year and have BOP meetings inbetween whether in Boston, NY or wherever..they are a funny group and love to party. but they will gladly help anybody as other people have found out.

The only hotel on the island that fits what I think are your criteria is the Southampton Princess. It has some negative aspects (very big hotel catering to lots of conventions and such), not right on the beach, non-Entree Gold rooms are older and dated (unless they've recently reurbed, those too).
Bermuda is a great island but it, just like Grand Cayman, needs a nice luxury resort. The Westin is the closest you'll get on GC, the S Princess is the closest on Bermuda. Both leave a bit to be desired.

Thanks Penny, Elaine and ParrotMom!

rwilliams... "Bermuda is a great island but it, just like Grand Cayman, needs a nice luxury resort"

that is the impression I got also, thanks for your insight!

When I checked out the resort websites I was surprised by the prices!! (More expensive in July I am assuming because Bermuda is not in the hurricane belt)

We are just not sure.... we are trying to pick between the Caribbean and Hawaii for our next summer vacation, we have FF miles saved up (finally )

We live in FL so we dont want to use them say on a flight to the bahamas where we could get an airline tix for <$300

Bermuda is well up the ladder when it comes to hurricane risk.
In fact since 1944 it has been hit by more major storms and hurricanes than Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman, the BVI's, etc. Many hurricanes head northwest from the Caribbean then roll off the US east coast up into the Atlantic, where Bermuda is situated.

you learn something new everyday

There is no doubt that flights, hotels and restaurants are VERY expensive in Bermuda. That is the reason most people can afford only to cruise there..The Government wants to keep the "riff-raff" out. It is well worth cruising there and checking out hotels for further visits. We will be going for the 10th time in 2 1/2 weeks...I can hardly wait.

Carib Ruby--

I am going to post AGAINST the current posts....

I particularly LOVE the SONESTA BEACH RESORT...it is DIRECTLY on the Beach and on a lagoon...HAS a fabulous SPA there and is TOTALLY RENOVATED just this past year....It is a total inclusive resort with gorgeous grounds,moped rental on site...
It's meal plans are MAP,EP or just breakfast...LOCATION is outstanding...

I do NOT Like the SOUTHAMPTON PRINCESS only because it is NOT on the beach--it is up a hill and has a jitney to take guests back and forth to their beach club...While the hotel is pretty, it is HUGE.....

There is NOTHING on Bermuda that remotely resembles a Ritz or Hyatt ( except for the Marriott that has a gold course in Bermuda but is on the way end of the island....)...

People go to Bermuda for the smaller lush pampered resorts....

I have stayed at Ritz's all over the US- I LOVE the one in NAPLES,FL on Vanderbilt Beach---and I feel the SONESTA compares to that Ritz--
But Ritz service is hard to beat...

Bermuda on it's own has tons of secluded beaches that are public..all you have to do is moped to them and walk down to the beaches..NO one will bother you...

As far as restaurants, there are TONS of 4 star restaurants on Bermuda...

SO there is definitely a lot of Luxury there- it is just very British and understated...

IF the Island is good enough for Michael Douglas to build a house there, that ought to tell you something...


It is one of the CLEANEST islands I have ever been on --not at all like the Caribbean islands...You hardly ever see poverty....

Thanks Andy for your thoughts...

I can appreciate your thoughts ... as I was lucky enought to spend my teenage years living (my family is still there ) in Naples, FL...5 minutes from the Ritz... An AMAZING hotel and beach

Boy...did I just see red...BERMUDA IS NOT LIKE THE GRAND CAYMENS.....my two experiences in the G.C. were pretty negative with the local people who acted like they were doing you a favor when you ask them a question..The Bermudians actually are helpful and if they don't have an item will send you to a shop that will.Several years ago I wanted to buy two more of my collectibles (had already bought three with my husband giving me the"evil eye&quot..On the bus when he found out how little I paid for them..there was a comment "is that all".. When I got off the bus went into the shops annex and they telephoned their shop in Hamilton and the next morning the items I wanted were hand delivered to the annex for me just before the ship was to sail.. Where else would you find that type of service!!! That is one of the many reasons I love Bermuda and the people. Bermudians say "good morning" and "thank you" to the bus drivers, the children get up and give senior adults a seat. Our favorite saying is "Have a Bermudaful Day"...

Hey ParrotMom, I think you misread the comment about Bermuda and the Caymans. The connections was that both islands were without the kind of luxury resort CaribRuby was asking about. Nothing was said about the two islands being similar in any other way. In fact Bermuda and islands like the Caymans and Aruba couldn't have much less in common.

If you are looking for the big luxury hotel experience on the beach, the choices are basically three, with my comments shown below. I admit that we are more of a small hotel type with an excellent on-site restaurant (e.g. Horizons and Cottages,) but we visit the others for future reference, and sometimes we book a larger hotel with the extended family to accomodate a variety of needs. Also know that Bermuda has water conservation issues, so you will find very few large flowing waterfalls, or very large pools in the modern style for that matter. There had been a dry spell when we were there a few weeks agho in August, and some of the golfers had mild complaints about how dried out the greens were. Still, we have visited Bermuda many times, and go in spite of (or because?) it is not like other large resort areas.

Southampton Princess: as people note below, this is a rather large hotel, but quite inclusive. No, it is not right on its beach, but the shuttle gets you there. The plus is that it sits on a hill, and views are wonderful; most reports on the restuarants are pretty good (I hate to make claims if I haven't visited THAT YEAR.) The downside is it does book conventions, which can result in swarming behavior.

Frankly, we've booked the Fairmont Hamilton Princess when we visit with our senior citizen parents. They don't mind the shuttles, enjoy the private ferry to the Southampton Princess, and the shuttle to the beach. The Hamtilon P. also has the benefit of being a short walk to town for shopping, easy bus connections, many resaurant opportunities, etc. But, if you want to be very close to the beach, the Hamilton Princess isn't it. Hwoever, the rooms are recently renovated.

Elbow Beach: lovely place, right on the beach, newly renovated, but also up/down a hill from its own beach but closer to it than the Southampton Princess. Even they have a shuttle, which is why we keep it in mind when the seniors are with us.

The Sonesta is large, and seems to have a high level of kids to adults, probably due to the pools and close beach. When we stayed next door to the Sonesta (at the Reefs), we sometimes got "Sonesta refugees" in the lounge who were looking for something a little less bustling. I've mixed reviews about staying here -- some good; some not so good. Still, it has a lot on-site, e.g. shops, ATM's, etc.

Also: Michael Douglas's mother lives on Bermuda. While this is a lovely place to stay and build a house, this family relationship has something to do with it, and they also have a house on Majorica. The family hotel on Bermuda is Ariel Sands, with a good restaurant, Aqua.

Also: no more Marriott. This site is being re-developed. It was also on an inner harbor, not the famous south coast pink beaches.

My agreement with the Ritz experience in Naples, as with its other resort properties. ...as with a number of other hotel properties in the world, e.g. Princeville, Hualalai (sp?), but let's stay with wonderful Bermuda...