Which Fairmont would you choose on Bermuda?
 

Hamilton Princess and Southampton both have excellent deals right now. I'm leaning towards Southampton bexause of the beach access, and we can always take the hotel ferry to Hamilton. We'll be traveling with a 7-month-old, if that makes a difference. (Is Southampton more family-friendly?) My only worry is whether we'll be bored to tears if it rains. Is there anything to do in Southampton?

Also, any cheap, tasty restaurants suggestions near either hotel (again..the ferry) would be greatly appreciated!

I would definitely stay at the southampton if you have a child. The beach access is key and the pool is very very kid friendly. The whole hotel is.

We just got back and it rained on 2 of the days we were there-- for 5 minutes at 4:30, so i wouldn't worry about rain too much.

The Southampton hotel is where we stayed last June. I would not want to have to ferry to the beach from the other one. The beach is right at the bottom of the hill. We took the ferry to town and it was nice. Cheap eats in Bermuda? LOL just kidding. Food was where we spent all of our money. txgirlinbda will be able to give you the local tips on dining cheaper. She lives there so hopefully she will see this. Also, cmcfong travels there often.
We went in June on a great deal and it was wonderful.

Thanks! Southampton it is. Bumping in hopes that txgirlinbda will see this. Anything near the Southampton, or near where the ferry docks in Hamilton? Is the Swizzle Inn close to the hotel? We don't want fancy or fine dining. Local food, sloppy food, finger food -- just as long as it's a clean, friendly place :)

swizzle inn isnt that close. Tio pepe is- never been but it looks casual and inexpensive. you would still need some more of transportation to ge there though.

i heard that the bermuda bus system is easy to use.

there are a bunch of places in hamilton. there is a good sandwhich place in hamilton- i think it was called lemon tree. but bermuda isn't really the place for cheap eats.

There is a good and reasonable italian place in Hamilton. I hope that txgirlinbda will answer this thread or cmcfong. I can't remember the name of it, but it wasn't too expensive.
The bus system is easy to use as well as the ferry. The ferry only runs a few times a day so check the schedule.

Hi - sorry, just home from vacation!

I would pick Southampton over the Princess for families.
The Fairmont properties run a ferry in between, but it's not the same as the public ferry system. The hotel ferry will leave you a little bit further from Hamilton central than the public one. The public bus system is cheap, safe and easy. Either DH or I use it every day.
Hamilton is very walkable - do not be dissuaded by location of restaurants, etc. I am going to list places to eat with either street names or bus routes. If you want to go anywhere on the bus, just tell the driver where you're going and he will stop for you. There's a small "handy reference" pocket map you can pick up (load up on maps, etc at the counter at the airport whilw waiting for luggage) - it has a city street map inside.
In Hamilton - Lemon Tree on Queen St. Commom Grounds in the alley off Front St by Port O' Call Restaurant. Great sandwiches, if pasta is on daily special - get it. Flanagan's on Front St - sports pub, family friendly. Trattoria in Washington Mall alley between Reid and Church St. Excellent Italian, family-friendly, great pizza. Robin Hood Pub, on Richmond Road after the gas station at the end of Bermudiana. City Cafe at the main bus terminal - good design-your-own takeout deli sandwiches. Miles Market, in an office complex near Hamilton Princess, has ready-to-go hot and cold deli food, salad bar, soups and an espresso bar. There are shaded picnic tables outside.
Outside of town - Swizzle Inn South Shore - on bus route 7 to town from your hotel. The original Swizzle is near the airport -handy if you're going towards St. George's for the day. Specialty Inn - in Collector's Hill on bus route 1. Diner-style, very popular with locals, best pizza. Bumbo seats available.
There is a small but decent grocery on the way to the hotel. Have your taxi driver stop there and wait, run in and stock up on snacks, drinks, baby stuff. It's near the college. Pampers, Huggies, Gerber all readily available. (I have a six-month old.)
Keeping busy - Bring umbrella stroller. Forget car seat, and try not to panic about not using one. If you take it in cab, you have to carry it with you all day. I ride the bus with DD in arms or sling. Bring rain jacket, umbrellas and just get out of the hotel - it usually doesn't rain for long, and it can rain over small parts of the island and be sunny everywhere else. There is very little in Southampton but beaches, hotels, houses.
Hope that helps, let me know what else I can do!

Great info! Bookmarking for future reference.

Thanks TX!!! That was super helpful! I'm writing those restaurants in my Bermuda file :) another option has been thrown in the mix -- Grotto Bay. Any thoughts on that vs. Southampton? Also -- is there public transportation to the airport? I think I read that the bus goes there. If that's the case, I'll take your advice, leave the car seat, and just avoid taxis (so expensive anyway!). Thanks again!!

Grotto Bay is okay, but it's isolated, near the airport and not much else. Stick with the Fairmont. You're not going to be able to take the bus with luggage, so if you want to, you could bring the car seat just for the ride to and from the hotel. I know it's hard to think of not using a car seat, but unfortunately it's common here. Speed limit is 20mph, btw.

when we brought my daughter to bermuda when she was 8 months, we brought the car seat and we brought a snap n go that went with the car seat. that was our "stroller." I used the car seat for our airport runs and also when we went into hamilton -- just brought the snap n go with us.

The Snap 'n' Go is the BEST. Can I just say that? Cupholders, giant storage bin underneath...it's been a lifesaver. So, true, I could bring that. Not as portable as an umbrella stroller, but still. Did you gate-check yours? We were thinking of lap-flying (it's only two hours) but I'm not convinced.

TX, the Southampton ISN'T isolated, then? That's what I was worried about. I know both that and Grotto Bay are a bus or ferry ride from Hamilton, but didn't know if either was in a slightly more convenient location. Ok...I'll keep leaning towards Southampton! :)

Gate checking (usually) is a breeze. And if there is an extra seat on your flight, they will let you put your carseat in that seat. And though two hours doesn't sound long....it can be. On our first flight to FLA with our daughter, we didn't take off for an hour- so our 2.5 hour flight was 3.5 hours. whether you bring your umbrella or your snap n go, you'll have to gate check anyway.

I loved the carseat and snap n go so much that after my DD outgrew hers, I bought the graco safeseat that goes up to a year. We would go to great dinners out and DD would sleep comfortably in her seat.

I do think the Fs is somewhat isolated-- other than its beach, you can't get anywhere without some sort of transportation. (we went to gibbs lighthouse nearby for lunch and were told we could walk back, but it would have been a long walk). BUT, you get the ferry ride to hamilton (doesn't run frequently tho-i think 4 times a day).the location of southampton is not "convenient". i don't know anything about Grotto bay.

I think with a baby, you will be needing transport to many places from most locations on the island. My brother stayed at Grotto bay a few years ago and said it wasn't the nicest hotel, but cheap for Bermuda. He said the all inclusive was easy and there were lots of kids like his. (small). He didn't care for it, but said it was a good family trip for the ages of his kids.
We stayed at the southampton fairmont just this summer with our teens and it is a very nice hotel. I would return because it was kid friendly, but in an upscale sort of way. Many of the hotels on the island are more couple oriented. If I am going to Bermuda and had the choice, I would rather stay in the nicer hotel. That is just my opinion and it is based on my brother's advice since he stayed there. Also, we had a great deal at the fairmont!

I have a Snap and Go. I LOVE it, and it's great for the airports (I gate-check mine), but I do not use it on a regular basis when I'm home. I am assuming that, because you're looking to save money, you'll be spending more time on the bus than in cabs. It would be fine for cabs, but there is no way I would want to haul it on and off the bus here. So, IF you plan on doing more taxis than buses, bring the Snap and Go. Otherwise, bring an umbrella stroller. Plus, the bus actually has rules about only bringing collapsible umbrella strollers on board, and some drivers can get picky about following the rules.

Southampton Fairmont is not close to town, but there are a few scattered restaurants, a grocery, small communities between town and the hotel. Yes, you will be on the bus to get anywhere. But that goes for wherever you stay here. Grotto Bay, on the other hand, is just out in the middle of
nothing. I think that S. Fairmont is much better suited. Just start wrapping your head around using public transportation.

Remember there's a difference between the hotel ferry (infrequent and only runs between the two Fairmont properties) and the public ferry, which doesn't go near the hotels at all.