Driving up the hill to The Fairmont Southampton, the first thing that you notice is the rolling greens of the golf course, and the second is the color of the hotel, pink, standing proud like the sands of Bermuda.
Edward F. Nesta and I stayed at the 593-room and suite The Fairmont Southampton, in October 2007 to attend the 25th PGA Grand Slam of Golf, held for the first time in Bermuda. It was an exciting time as the hotel was the host hotel for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
The hotel has a variety of bells of whistles including an Executive Par 3 18-hole golf course where guests can play a round of golf, and guests also have golfing privileges with the Resort Golf Course, Riddell's Bay Golf & Country Club a private club that is the oldest course in Bermuda.
Other amenities include an outdoor pool, an indoor pool located in the Willow Stream Spa, and DIVE Bermuda, a Five-Star PADI Dive Shop located at the beach where guests can experience a day out on the DIVE Bermuda boat Narcosis diving the many shipwrecks, as well as rent kayaks and other water toys.
The hotel has a wide selection of restaurants where guests can dine including Windows on the Sound where we enjoyed breakfast each morning, Cabana Bar & Grill for casual dining beachside, Ocean Club perched overlooking the water, Jasmine Lounge located off the lobby, the Newport Room for elegant fine dining in a nautical ambience, and historic Water Lot Inn located off property. Transportation to the beach and the restaurants, are provided by the hotel's trademark blue trolley, which shuttles guests throughout the day and evening, and the trolley also provides service to the complimentary ferry that runs between The Fairmont Southampton and its sister hotel, The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, where guests can enjoy the day exploring Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda.
Our large room featured a king bed dressed with a yellow and pink shell motif bedspread with yellow, red, and green stripe bed skirt, night tables on either side of the bed with bedside lamps and a SONY alarm clock, an upholstered bench at the end of the bed, nautical theme artwork, a floor lamp in the corner of the room next to the rust and beige print loveseat and matching arm chair flanking a round marble topped table, and a desk with large mirror and two chairs.
Matching draperies framed the sliding door that led out to the balcony where we had a view of the water with its many islets and colorful houses. It was the perfect location to sit and read the newspaper or write postcards at the small round table.
The armoire discretely held a Philips television and a candle, and on top of the mini-bar there was a tea maker as well as a coffeemaker. The two large closets held slippers, a safe, as well as an iron and ironing board. Other in-room amenities included high-speed Internet access via a cable for a fee.
The open bathroom featured gold, green, and peach patterned wallpaper, sconces, a terracotta-colored marble floor, a black and gold-flecked marble vanity with double sinks and a large framed mirror, hair dryer, vanity mirror, stool, and scale, as well as a variety of Miller Harris amenities. A full-length mirror hung on the front of the door and robes hung behind the door of the private toilet and combination tub and shower, which featured a shower curtain that matched the bedspread.
We had a wonderful dinner at the Newport Room, where the ambience feels like you are dining on a yacht. We dined on Lobster with Mango Shavings, Avocado and Blood Orange; Maine Lobster Bisque flambéed tableside; Lobster and Scallops with butter poached Maine Lobster, Seared Scallops, Mac'n'cheese, Leek Fondue, and a delicious sauce; and Lamb Rib Eye with Braised Lamb Neck, Pomme Fondant, Sauce Foyot, and Rosemary Sauce.
The Fairmont Southampton
101 South Shore Road
Southampton, Bermuda
Telephone: +1-441 238-8000
Toll Free: +1-800 441-1414 Canada/United States
Fax: +1-441 238-8968
Email: Southampton@fairmont.com
www.fairmont.com/southampton
Please read other articles on Bermuda in the Destinations, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Adventures sections.
For information on Bermuda, please visit the website www.Bermuda.com or call them at: 1-800-223-6106 (in North America).
© November 2007. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.
