I have been to Bermuda a couple of times in the past but always by the way of a cruise ship. I fell in love with Bermuda and decided to try and see it another way so I flew there and booked the Fairmont Southampton. I am very glad I did! I flew on December 31st and stayed until January 5th. I knew that most people would be going away and that is what I wanted. I wanted a relaxing stay without a ton of people I got what I wished for!

Since my main focus was relaxation, I bought a pass for the indoor pool at the spa. I knew that less people would be there and the people there would want relaxation also. It was always very quiet and peaceful so I was glad I bought that pass.

As for the room, I had difficulties at first because I was put in a room that was connecting with another one. I could follow the conversation in the other room and they were there to party. I could not even hear the television since their music was too loud. I went to the front desk and they moved me to a very quiet room. The rooms are very spacious and the balcony are a plus. You can see the wear and tear with the carpet and the tapestry but this is always the case in hotels where there has not been a major refurbishment in a while and usually the wear and tear occurs quickly with so many guests.

I had booked the Bermuda escape sale so the room was 50% off (165$ a night) and 20% off restaurants, golf and spa. I mostly ate at Jasmine and found the food very good. It is not high end gastronomy, you can go to the Waterlot for that, but serves good food for relatively good prices. Since I live in Montreal and go to New York frequently, the prices did not surprise me but if you are from a small town you will find them very expensive!!!

Of course, the beach is just down the hill that you can access with the trolley. It is a private beach located next door to Horseshoebay which is an incredible beach! I was almost the only one in the ocean since the temperatures in December-January are around 20 C-70 F. I am used to cold weather so I swam in the ocean and was very happy to!

All in all, it was an incredible trip. I think that if the prices are as good next year as this year, I will be back!

We had last been to this property (once called the Southhampton Princess) 3 decades ago. So it was with some trepidation that we returned for an anniversary vacation, not sure whether we would simply be mourning its past glory. Far from it -- we had a wonderful time, warmed by the unchanged hospitality of its Bermudian staff. And most of the traditions lived on, enhanced by a total upgrade of the hotel performed a few years ago. By sheer luck we discovered the President's Club Floor, with an upgrade we requested when it was on sale. THAT was a fabulous experience for sheer relaxation and casual socialization. Breakfast, tea, and hors d'oeuvres are all included and provided in an on-floor lounge with marvelous balcony tables. Exchange privileges with their sister hotel in Hamilton offered the same free private afternoon tea, etc., with this upgrade package.
Everyone from the shuttle drivers (to dock or beach) to the concierge were unfailingly helpful and friendly -- and the traditional Bermuda attire retained the full British formality.
Dinner at their seafront restaurant was a meal to remember for a lifetime, for the sunset view, the perfectly prepared fish, and the easy conversation with other terrace diners.
The only only disappointment was that the once-elegant Newport Room restaurant of our memories is now a pub-style -- reflecting the economic and style changes of the times.
We took the free ferry to Hamilton, and enjoyed the boatride, but the town was a huge disappointment. Gone was the elegance of Triminghams and other high-end stores, replaced by dismal shops and touristy souvenir places. Don't bother to even walk around, except to have lunch at a Yelp-recommended restaurant.
Bottom line -- after not going for decades we now want to make a JetBlue flight to Bermuda an annual decompression trip each year, to soak in the genuine hospitality and perfect elegance of this property.
And I haven't even mentioned the gorgeous executive-length golf course on the property. Short, but challenging, and with the full Atlantic before you.

We vacationed in Bermuda for a few days after Christmas. We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton and were very pleased with the hotel and their staff. They made us feel very welcome. If possible, upgrade to the 6th Floor Gold level (a few extra bucks a night but well worth it) as you get complimentary breakfast, appetizers, and desserts. Horseshoe Bay, a beautiful beach, is very close by. A beautiful 9 hole golf course.

Family holiday over Xmas and New Year at Fairmont Southampton. Weather understandably a bit cold to be ideal, but the staff at the Fairmont warmed up the experience and have made this one of best holiday experiences we've had. Yes Bermuda is beautiful, the sea a stunning turquoise, the island small enough to to have a great community feel, but the thing that's special are the people.... genuine, warm, friendly, funny. The staff at the Fairmont Southampton (in contrast to the sister hotel the Fairmont Princess in Hamilton where we had a stuffy cold unhelpful service at reception/concierge) seemingly effortlessly, put their own personalities into the experience to deliver service excellence, not the fake, rote American style 'have a nice day' type of robotic effort but a genuinely warm, and helpful service, delivered uniquely by each personality. Big clap for Russell at reception, Maria waitress in the Newport, Dennis the manager, and Jane the concierge. The highlight however was Thomas the Canadian/ New York Maitre D' of the Waterlot and Manager, whose great character kept us amused at every encounter. You can't train this kind of approach but he has it in spades. Very funny, fabulous with the kids and made an ordinary and quite overpriced meal at The Waterlot worth it. My 6 year old son had a mission to report the holiday back to his class via the school Owl mascot and Thomas took him and his brother for an Owl chef adventure-money -cant- buy in the kitchens where they took some memorable unique shots for school, before taking us on a personal historic tour of the old building and wine cellars. Made the service experience on other holidays, look surly, stuffy and formulaic, Thanks Thomas and all the crew at the Fairmont. Highly recommended. ( only lost the 5th star due to high cost of meals)