Fairmont Southampton Hotel, Bermuda Review

A large hotel set atop a hill on Bermuda’s southern coast, the Fairmont Southampton is a quality hotel. It is only a 30-minute drive from LF Wade International Airport, across the island. The views are very impressive, as is the grandness of the hotel. The lobby is large and commanding, and staff were attentive. We arrived when the hotel was very busy and were actually fortunate to get a room. For this reason, there was a bit of a wait to check-in, however, once we were in our room, we were very pleased.

Our Deluxe Ocean room offered a commanding view over the beautiful, landscaped golf course, towards the ocean. The striking, marble bathroom with soft bathrobes and double vanity, a good-sized balcony and the spacious room with walk-in closet, high speed Internet, satellite television and mini-bar made for a luxurious feel.

With eight restaurants to choose from, dining at the Fairmont Southampton is an enjoyable experience. The highlight was dining at the Waterlot Inn. Situated in a beautiful, traditional Bermuda-style cottage, the Waterlot Inn offers fine dining at its best. The food was very impressive and the atmosphere was perfect. For an intimate dinner, head to the Newport Room, which is the Fairmont’s signature restaurant and winner of an AAA Five Diamond Award. They serve authentic French cuisine of exceptional quality. The Newport Room is also considered to be one of the best restaurants on the island, so you need to make a reservation. For a casual beach-side lunch, the Cabana Bar and Grill offer a tasty menu and a really resort-style, relaxed atmosphere right on the water’s edge.

The swimming pool is lovely, however, as we stayed when the hotel was full to capacity, finding a sun lounge was a bit difficult at times. Staff were very obliging and made every effort to help us with finding a seat beside the pool. Lunch poolside is also nice, with really good quality hamburgers on the menu.

The only downside to the Fairmont is that the beautiful beach and its lovely facilities are a shuttle ride away, or if you prefer to walk, it will take you about 15 minutes to get there and longer to get back, as it is virtually all uphill on returning to the hotel. However, the shuttle runs regularly and the beach is a stunning, sheltered cove where you can happily spend the entire day relaxing.

The Fairmont offers the Willow Stream Spa, an amazing facility with an extensive amount of skin and body treatments on offer. The large, indoor pool and the spa are very luxurious, as are each of their treatment rooms and changing facilities. There is also an 18-hole golf course, which surrounds the hotel, and hosts several main tournaments. It has a very good reputation as a quality course.

The Fairmont Southampton is expensive, as is most of Bermuda. If you take advantage of any deals or, if you choose to stay in the down season, you can stay for a reasonable price. The Fairmont is a luxury hotel—all amenities are of excellent quality and service is also of a very high standard. We would certainly recommend staying at the Fairmont Southampton.

flickr image by Robyn2175