Editor Pick
The Pink Place
- July 2, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Cat19 from Stocking Pelham, United Kingdom
In normal circumstances, I would be unlikely to book a stay in a hotel a mere few hundred yards from my own home. However when we joined the golf club at this hotel, we were presented with a non-transferable voucher for two nights accommodation. On a small island like Bermuda, it is very common for locals to make use of the various hotels’ facilities, I have done so on countless occasions and so this is a hotel I feel I know very well.
Arrival~~~
The hotel is based in Southampton which is towards the west of the island. The journey from the airport will take about 35 to 45 minutes and will cost about $50 or $60. The journey into Hamilton, the main shopping and restaurant centre, is about 20 minutes assuming it is not rush hour. Triple that time if it is, there are only two roads into Hamilton so they can get pretty congested.
The hotel with its pastel pink exterior is easy to spot being situated on one of the highest points of the island. It is set back a long way from the road though, in fact there is a golf course between hotel and road. I drive right up to the hotel, but I do feel sorry for the hot and bothered tourists tramping uphill to the entrance after a long and tiring day of sight seeing. I should add that there is a little trolley bus that runs between the hotel and its annexe on the beach and it is possible to catch this from the main road as well if you can time it right.
The hotel has an impressive entrance and there are always several friendly and courteous bellmen at the door meeting, greeting and attending to luggage. The lobby is large and impressive and I would describe the style as traditional English with lots of rich colours and dark wood. To the left is the open plan Jasmine lobby lounge, where that traditional style continues, lots of big comfy sofas and an open fire place.
Reception is to the right. I have been to the reception desk precisely three times, to check in, check out and a week before my planned stay, I popped in to confirm my booking with vouchers was acceptable as I had not been filled with confidence by the person I spoke to over the phone at time of booking. The reception desk service is certainly very friendly, but it is not smooth and lacks the level of professionalism one might have expected upon walking through the door. I personally would be happy to forgo a little bit of the friendliness for a little bit more efficiency at this particular reception desk. My three experiences were all quite a chore and very time-consuming, I happen to know this is par for the course at this hotel. Welcome to Bermuda.
Accommodation~~~
We booked a "Fairmount Room" with ocean view. It was a large and comfortable room, decorated in pastel shades and the furniture was bamboo or wicker with flowery patterns dominating. Not to my personal taste but a popular style in Bermuda and seemed fitting.
As well as a large king size bed, we had a sofa, armchair and of course a desk. I thought all the furniture and décor was in very good condition, although the TV was pretty old and it provided only the most basic TV program package, meaning about eight pretty dire channels. The room had a balcony, large enough for two chairs and a small table and we found it a nice place to have our breakfast each morning. As far as I can tell and I have been to the hotel many times and driven past it twice a day, every room has a balcony and according to my internet research they are all of a similar, generous size, 450 square feet to be precise. There are different prices for similar rooms however and the higher priced rooms come with the best views.
We had an ocean view room, as the hotel is on one of the narrowest parts of the island you can see the ocean both to the north and to the south depending on exactly where you are. The ocean views to the south are over the beautiful golf course and are simply stunning from this high vantage point. We got an ocean view to the north coast, which we liked but it is definitely not in the same league. We already have unspoilt views of the Atlantic from our south facing home, so it made a nice change to be looking to the other way. But for anyone else, if you are in an ocean view room ask for it to be facing south.
On our first night we decided to stay in and have room service, after all we can go out any time. We also had room service both mornings. The orders arrived within about 30 minutes each time and were always served with a smile and some friendly chat. No complaints about the food either, served with solid silver cutlery, and all the trimmings like warmed bread, iced water and suitable condiments.
Amenities~~~
The main hotel is not actually situated on the beach, but there is a separate beachside complex which you can either walk (estimate about 15 minutes) or take the trolley bus to. At the beach, there are tennis courts, outside swimming pools and plenty of sun loungers both around the pool and on the beach which is just in front of the pool area. I have never spent any time here but have passed by on many occasions and it has always been a bit too busy for my liking. There is a restaurant down ehre overlooking the sea and it is also possible to get snacks from the immediate poolside area.
The hotel's golf course lies between the main hotel and the main south shore road. It is kept beautifully and I still admire it and the little pink golf buggies being driven around every time I pass by. The course is not for very serious golfers as each of the 18 holes is a par three and there are not many holes longer than 200 yards. I think this makes it a great course for both novices (like me) and for holiday makers that would love a round but are not regular players and might be intimidated by a full size course. A round is $60 and the buggy another $20.
On the first floor is the gym, hairdressers and the Willow Stream Spa which is beautiful and value for money. A gripe is that hotel guests are not allowed to use the gym or the general spa areas without paying an additional fee, which is $15 for one day unless a spa treatment is booked. This is not something I expect a hotel to be charging extra for and I would be aggrieved to pay this kind of room rate only to find gym access excluded.
There are several restaurants in the hotel, some in the main building and others separate but nearby. Two of the three top restaurants on the island are part of the Fairmount Southampton. The first is the Newport Room on the ground floor of the main hotel, the best restaurant on the island as far as many are concerned. The Waterlot Inn is another fine dining restaurant situated in its own building on the water's edge away from the main hotel. And a less expensive and more family orientated alternative is Bacci, an Italian restaurant located beside the golf club house. I have also eaten in the Jasmine lobby lounge several times, it offers quick snacks like sandwiches or salads. I find it a very comfortable lounge, lots of big sofas and there is an open fire place, but service is often inattentive.
Bermuda is extremely popular for international conferences, particularly in the financial services world and the Fairmont Southampton and its sister hotel in Hamilton have pretty much cornered the market. I have attended several of these conferences myself in both hotels and can confirm that they do it very well. They have spacious and comfortable facilities and can accommodate hundreds of delegates at once, the technology required for speakers and presentations always works without a hitch and they do a good job to ensure that the tea, coffee and lunch arrives when it is supposed to and there is enough to go around.
To wrap up~~
Room rates vary a lot depending upon the time of year and can be anything from $250 to $600 a night or even more. This is more than a hotel, it is a resort offering a whole range of amenities and I would be more than happy to spend a week here on holiday if I could afford it and if I didn't live a few hundred yards away.
From journal Two years in Bermuda
Wonderful experience
- May 31, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton over Memorial Day weekend. The room they provided us with was lovely. The accomodations included a walk in closet, double sinks in bath, comfey
bed robes coffee, balacony with wonderful view as well as chairs and a table We happened to get a wonderful rate during a sale they were having. We booked online. For the money we paid we really were pleased with the room.
We ate at the Ocean Grill which has a wonderul ocean view. The food was very good. We also ate at Baco's the Italian rest it was equally as good. Not as expensive as some of the hotels restaurants.
As a President Club member we had free access to the gym. The equipment was great. Just like at home but limited on the number of each one. Indoor pool was beautiful. Very secluded sunning area with wonderful view. Outdoor pool was very nice also.
Transportation into Hamilton via ferry was convenient.
All and all we had a wonderful experience.