Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama! My love for Bermuda started back in 2010 when I took my first trip there on a cruise with my dad. I loved that cruise because it stopped in two locations and stayed over night at each, so unlike most cruises, you had a lot more time to explore the surroundings. So when the opportunity to go back to Bermuda arose 9 years later, I was thrilled.
How To Get There
Most people don't know this, but Bermuda is actually just off the coast of the Carolina's. If you're flying from the East Coast, it's about a 2.5 hour flight time from most major East Coast cities. I was able to find direct flights out of Atlanta, New York City, Boston, Miami, and one out of Charlotte only on Saturdays. Flight costs vary anywhere from $320 - $800 on average depending on when and where you're flying from. If you're booking far enough in advance, you can find deals on the lower end of that spectrum.
Where To Stay
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club
The Pink Palace, otherwise known as Hamilton Princess & Beach Club to the rest of the world, was built in 1885 and renovated in 2014. This hotel is conveniently located just a short walking distance away from Front Street, which is a waterfront promenade with shops and restaurants in the heart of town. This area is really fun and lively! If you're around on a Wednesday, check out their festival with Gombey dancers and street food.
The Rooms
We had a Signature Harbor view room in the Fairmont Gold wing with two double beds. One of the best perks of this room was the huge balcony overlooking the marina! It was so nice to sit out there and have coffee or breakfast and listen to the birds chirp in the mornings. The beds were pillowy and comfortable, and the bathroom was marble. Bermuda is a British owned island, so the size of the bathroom is indicative of something you would have in Europe. Our room also included a Nespresso machine, and a walk-in closet with shelving units.
The amenities at this hotel are fabulous! Most of you know that getting to the gym daily is a priority for me, even on vacation. However, most hotel gyms lack the comfort of your home gym. Not this one! They had tons of cardio equipment, weights, and they even offer Barre classes! Perhaps my favorite amenity though, was the private Princess Beach Club. The hotel offers a shuttle that takes you to and from the private beach, which is about a 20 minute ride away. Once you get there, you're immediately greeted by a happy hotel employee who explains that you are free to pick whatever chair you want, shows you where the changing rooms are (which are really nice), towels etc. and as soon as you sit down, someone is there to take your drink order. They also have buttons attached to the umbrellas, so if you need service but don't see your server, you just press the button and they arrive! The beach is also equipped with several hammocks that are both in and out of the water - so relaxing! We had lunch here two days in a row, and the food is fantastic too.
The Food
The Food at Hamilton Princess & Bermuda is amazing! We had the Fairmont Gold package added onto our stay which gave us access to a lounge on the 2nd floor of our wing that included a healthy continental breakfast, canapes, desserts, tea time, and an honor bar. This was so handy when we just wanted a snack, or to walk over in our PJ's for breakfast (they offer to-go boxes too). We also had dinner at Marcus, located on the property, which is a restaurant spear headed by internationally acclaimed chef - Marcus Samuellson. We took our waiter up on his recommendation of the local catch of the day, which they get straight off the dock right outside of the restaurant. It was delicious! Try the chicken & waffles, cornbread, and tuna to start as well!
Other restaurants worth noting
I always like to experience restaurants off property in addition to the hotel options to get the full experience of whatever country we are visiting. Below are a couple we tried for dinner and recommend! They came highly recommended to us, and I see why.
Ocean Club // We had dinner here our first night in town. It's about a 20 minute ride from the hotel (close to the hotels beach club), but worth every penny of the taxi fare. The restaurant sits right on the water with spectacular views of the ocean. Tables are candlelit and the setting is so romantic if you're looking to visit with a significant other. The food was also delicious! Again, I opted for the locally caught fish special which in this case was Koni - highly recommend.
Mickeys Beach Bistro & Bar // We visited Mickeys on our last night for dinner! It's about 10 minutes from the hotel, and an Italian spot! The hospitality here was amazing. Our waiter was so friendly, the staff was around the pick up plates immediately so they weren't in the way, and the general manager also paid us a visit to make sure everything was on par. I obviously can't go without mentioning the food, but it's worth the visit! I always ask what the waiter recommends and typically opt for that while traveling, and on this trip it was seafood everywhere we went (no surprise since it's an island)! The Wahoo was fantastic. Super light, healthy, and not overly seasoned - it's a simple dish, but the freshness speaks for itself.
Other restaurants worth noting
I always like to experience restaurants off property in addition to the hotel options to get the full experience of whatever country we are visiting. Below are a couple we tried for dinner and recommend! They came highly recommended to us, and I see why.
Ocean Club // We had dinner here our first night in town. It's about a 20 minute ride from the hotel (close to the hotels beach club), but worth every penny of the taxi fare. The restaurant sits right on the water with spectacular views of the ocean. Tables are candlelit and the setting is so romantic if you're looking to visit with a significant other. The food was also delicious! Again, I opted for the locally caught fish special which in this case was Koni - highly recommend.
Mickeys Beach Bistro & Bar // We visited Mickeys on our last night for dinner! It's about 10 minutes from the hotel, and an Italian spot! The hospitality here was amazing. Our waiter was so friendly, the staff was around the pick up plates immediately so they weren't in the way, and the general manager also paid us a visit to make sure everything was on par. I obviously can't go without mentioning the food, but it's worth the visit! I always ask what the waiter recommends and typically opt for that while traveling, and on this trip it was seafood everywhere we went (no surprise since it's an island)! The Wahoo was fantastic. Super light, healthy, and not overly seasoned - it's a simple dish, but the freshness speaks for itself.
Other Activities In The Area
If you're like me and married to someone who can't sit still on a beach for longer than 20 minutes, don't fret - Bermuda has tons to offer. Below are a list of activities I would recommend checking out.
Overall, I left my trip with the exact same feelings about Bermuda as 9 years ago - I can't wait to go back! It ranks in the top 3 island destinations for me, and I'm hoping my next trip will be together with Shane so he can enjoy the beauty of this magical place too. It's clean, the locals take great care and pride in their country, the food is fantastic, the hospitality is wonderful, and there's an array of activities to choose from.
*In partnership with Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. As always, all opinions are my own.
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