Sonesta Bermuda Resort
#2
Guest
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Sonesta was built in the 60's, it is dated but located in a great area. Bermuda unlike the caribbean has nice hotels but none like the 4 seasons or <BR>Ritz Carlton. I think Elbow Beach is much nicer, or Cambridge Beaches, Pink Sands, Ariel Sands. Just my opinion. Bermuda is a beautiful island and one of my favorites.
#5
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The Southampton Princess is a tall high rise hotel-I think the only one in this island of the orginal cottage colony. You have to get a jitney to the beach across the street-I would not call it right on the beach! It has a golf course so it is very popular.
#6
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It depends what you mean by a short walk. As someone mentioned, the Princess has its own beach, but it is a hike down the hill (or the hotel's jitney.) In contrast, Ariel Sands, Elbow BEach and the Sonesta are right on their own beaches. Horizons & Cottages, a Relais & Chateaux property, is a 10-minute walk to beaches. <BR> <BR>Elbow, Sonesta, and the Princess are large, full-service hotels (e.g. multiple restaurants, spas, shops, etc.) In contrast, some of the most intimately luxurious properties on Bermuda tend to be smaller hotels (Ariel Sands; The Reefs; Pompano BEach Club) and cottage colonies (Cambridge Beaches, Horizons & Cottages.) These will TEND to be more expensive than the large hotels (Cambridge especially.) <BR> <BR>It kind of depends on what you mean by luxury -- some people aren't happy without a marble bathroom. Also: the Sonesta and Elbow tend to cater to families. I like children, but LOTS of them around the pool at a hotel this size can detract from what I think of as luxury. <BR> <BR>I've stayed at the Reefs and found so much to love -- but the bathrooms aren't in marble (but I haven't checked the new renovations this year.) Charming staff that believes in good service; friendly atmosphere; small, private, convenient beach; smallish infinity pool. Not cheap, but less than you'd pay at Cambridge. On the other hand, Cambridge is known for its excellent service, very good food, 5 "pocket" beaches that have a more private feel, on-site (but expensive) spa. Some have claimed that it can seem stuffy, but many like it a lot. <BR> <BR>Ariel Sands is a combination of being on-the-beach, privacy, friendly casual air (care of Michael Douglas's mother - one of the few high-end places that doesn't require jacket and tie at dinner, spa, good restaurant, dinig terrace, pool, etc. A drawback is that it is kind of off by itself - plan on a few taxi rides since the bus that sort of comes close stops running early inthe evening (last I knew.) <BR> <BR>So: in some ways, it comes down to how you define "luxury" (e.g. the Reefs doesn't have a spa, but the sull-service spa at the Sonesta is a short walk. Probably the best hotel dining is at CAmbridge, Horizons & Cottages, and Ariel Sands.) Compared to the Reefs, Sonesta, Ariel, and Elbow, The SH Princiess's beach is far, but you can still see it out the window down the hill.


