The Southampton region of Bermuda is renowned for having the best beaches, so that makes it sound like a good place for a winter getaway. The Fairmont Southampton is one of the hotels near the beach, although it's on top of a hill, so there are good views, but a trolley ride down to the actual beach.
This resort promotes itself as having "old world British charm" (but hopefully not the old-fashioned British food). Recent guest reviews of the Fairmont Southampton have been mixed, and the common theme seems to be that if you book a package through a discount site, you won't be treated as well as the regular guests.
The Fairmont runs a heap of package deals ranging from a simple Bed and Breakfast deal or a package including golf games, through to deals that tie in with special Bermuda events like the Breeze Jazz Concert series or the Bermuda Love Festival.
Or if you're looking for an end of winter splurge, you can gather your friends together for the "Ultimate Girls Getaway Package" over the weekend of April 10 to 13, 2008, and you'll be spoiled with a special dinner, some special guests including authors who've appeared on Oprah, a Little Black Dress dinner, a nice afternoon tea and even a PJ party.
Think 5 stars, think a short flight to Bermuda, and temperatures into the 70s ... and that's why you might like to check the Elbow Beach resort out soon. It's part of the Mandarin Oriental portfolio and is found on 50 acres of gardens, yet is still just a five minute drive from the town of Hamilton. It's a best of both worlds kind of vacation resort, and it's warm.
Elbow Beach consists of 235 rooms, suites and cottages, and has seven restaurants on site too. Previous guests often tend to rave about the staff as being friendly and helpful but without being overbearing. Elbow Beach itself also gets rave reviews, and we rather like the swimming pool, too.
In keeping with a recent trend for cute live inquiry services, the Elbow Beach website offers you live access to the Virtual Concierge, Nikki, if you have any questions. Unfortunately accessing the virtual concierge requires a Haptek Player that most casual hotel web surfers probably don't have ... but the idea is there. Who needs to ask questions, anyway. Just go, and lie on the beach.
As winter storms brew here in the Northeast, our search for the perfect overwater bungalow is intensifying. Know an overwater bungalow resort hotel we need to check out? Hit us on the tip line.
One of the struggles with overwater bungalow dream is accessibility. Most overwater bungalow resorts are in far flung locales with close to, or over, 4 digit nightly rates.
Thankfully, there is another option. 9 Beaches Resort in Bermuda isn't going to win any high luxury awards, however, there are plenty of reasons these "tents on stilts" qualify as a sought after location.
First, JetBlue offers direct, two hour flights from JFK, BOS, and IAD. If you are a True Blue member, that means you can cash in a free flight from the East Coast to Bermuda. Furthermore, a quick March 2007 price check showed plenty of availability at the resort for between $200 - $300 a night--you can't even get a room in Manhattan for that price.
Not all of the 80-some-odd cabanas are overwater (a little over a dozen are), and some huts can only claim such status during high tide, but this budget luxe resort makes up for it with complimentary cell phones, cold in-room fridges, and a West coast location that affords visitors incredible sunsets.
Following Travel + Leisure's lead, the New York Times checked out Bermuda's 9 Beaches Resort; a sort of tiki-hut Sur-Mer whose prices don't come close to rivaling the originals of this genre in Tahiti.
Even though, this cabana beach resort is easier to get to than the Tahitian versions, it's apparently a lot more smellier:
I hated it when I was in a cabin with the pungent odor of the neighboring dairy farm and slaughterhouse wafting across my cabin. I loved it when, after complaining about the smell, I was upgraded to a room at the other end of the property, where I looked out on miles of turquoise waters, coral reefs and several other cabanas (which is what 9 Beaches calls its cottages on stilts).
Fred wasn't alone in his smelly story--another couple there had to switch rooms because of the odor too.
Additionally, when T+L checked out the place they only faulted the sometimes weak interior of the stilted, over-water cabana/room. Bertstein's stay however, was riddled with problems and complaints. From the farm-like smell, lack of in-room telephone, weak air conditioner, to the 80 minute wait for his dinner and un-brûléed, crème- brûlée. Not to mention the staff's "all-too-frequent errors."
Yet Berstein wasn't in complete hell, he felt the staff, despite their errors, was energetic and making good effort. His dinner was comped, and his room was changed to accommodate to his distaste for the odor. That said, you may just wanna skip over Bermuda and head to St. Barts
It's a dream most people share, to stay in a hotel room lofted on stilts over a turquoise lagoon in a far away sea. Incredible, exotic, and terribly expensive...not to mention about a day's flight away. But Travel and Leisure found such a place a lot closer to home, at 9 Beaches, Bermuda.
The bungalows (which resemble golf snack shacks) and the waters of Bermuda aren't equal to the Tahiti and Maldives counterparts, but for rooms starting at $240 and a short plane ride (if you're on the East Coast that is) they are much more realistic than the $800 dollar a night rooms that are 24 hours away. Either way, when you're stilted above beautiful waters an interesting thing happens, the resort almost becomes an all-inclusive resort in the way that one feels no need to leave the grounds.
Instead of crazy nights at the hotel bar guests can chill in their room sipping wine and watching colorful fish swim below. But if you're worried about what kind of room you'll get at this significantly cheaper place, here's the answer:
At night, rows of tiny pixie lights along the boardwalk pointed the way to my cabana. It was somewhat spartan compared to a $2,000-per-night villa, but the chic and simple sea-blue-and-white décor was charming, and the all-important basics were there: hot water flowed in an instant in the bathroom; the mini-fridge was cold; there were electrical outlets to charge my computer and the complimentary cell phone the resort lends to each guest; and the queen-size bed was comfortable
But it wasn't all fun and games, an ocean storm leaked into the room during T&L reviewer, Michael Gross's visit. Still, the storm didn't damper his stay and he had a hard time leaving his bungalow.
If you're thinking Bermuda is more appealing than the Maldives (or your wallet does), the hotel is offering the fifth night free now through October 31, just bring a poncho.
Who knew Michael Douglas' family was in the hotel biz? Turns out they've owned the Ariel Sands hotel in Bermuda for 50 years. Guess it's time for the mid-century makeover, as yesterday the family announced plans for a $100 million renovation.
There will be two things that remain the same after the job is complete: the building will be in the same place, and Douglas' family will still own it... sort of.
Douglas may be pretty rich, but he can't manage this new development solo, so he is partnering up with high-end timeshare moguls Hilton Vacation Clubs (HVC).
Mr. Douglas said his family would continue to have a "minority interest" in the property.
And as in the case of most marriages, the name will change as well to The Hilton Club at Ariel Sands.
The 47-room property will develop into a 214-room "oasis". Several three-story buildings will replace the existing structure, save six existing condominiums.
The other day we told you about Barbuda, and a swank stay on the island that would run you over $500 a night. We realize that price tag is not for everyone, and today we wanted to present you with an option on the opposite end of the spectrum. Mcarthur and Natalie Nedd offer four double rooms at $60 a night. Each room has a bathroom (with shower) and access to a common upstairs balcony. Remember the rooms are $60 a night, expect the basics here and not a lot more.
Barbuda definitely qualifies as an "off the beaten path" island, and one of the few remaining Caribbean islands not dominated by resorts. McArthur and Natalie supposedly may even offer to pick you up at the Barbuda airport if you ask nicely. Give them a call or and email if you want to experience a real island stay for well under $100 a night.
Mcarthur and Natalie Nedd can be contacted by email , at home on 268 460 0059, or by cell phone within Antigua and Barbuda on 724 7490.
Sure we are in the midst of a glorious autumn here on the east coast, but mark our words winter is coming, and coming fast. Now is the time to scope out your warm weather options for the depths of winter. The Caribbean is always on the top of most snowbirds list, but the trick for those with disposable income is finding a Caribbean resort that is relevant, yet sparsely populated. The last thing someone with a budget of $500 plus a night wants to do is spend his or her vacation with all their neighbors from the Jersey suburbs. So where do you go? If you have the cash, always go prop plane. A prop plane ride should help get you that elusive vacation privacy.
Barbuda is a spec of an island that almost sounds like a mispronunciation of Barbados and Aruba (that should help throw the snowbirds off your trail). An undeveloped sanctuary, Barbuda is a 20 minute prop plane from Antigua, and once you get there, head towards Palmetto Point where the 21 suite Beach House Barbuda is situated.
The Beach House is dubbed as a "beach boutique", and boasts spacious bathrooms, private decked terraces, and your own "Ambassador" who will serve as your private butler throughout the trip. Rumor is, this resort even issues cell phones to guests so guests can get in touch with guest services at any time. With service at your beck and call who needs tv, phones, or even the Internet (shocked we would say such a thing, we know).
What do you do all day at a sanctuary like the Beach House Barbuda? Absolutely nothing. Sure, sure, you can read all about the bird watching, scuba diving, and sailing you want, but the bottom line is most folks do nothing at a place like the Beach House, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Prop flight, daily breakfast, and Oceanfront Suites are going to run you ~$600. Better make sure you clear some room on the old credit card before booking.
The Southampton region of Bermuda is renowned for having the best beaches, so that makes it sound like a good place for a winter getaway. The Fairmont Southampton is one of the hotels near the beach, although it's on top of a hill, so there are good views, but a trolley ride down to the actual beach.
