Pink-sand beaches, sparkling turquoise waters, a lush green landscape dotted with bright flowers — you can be surrounded by all this beauty in less than two hours, thanks to direct flights from NYC to Hamilton, Bermuda. And luxury hotels are part of the pretty package, too. Here’s what’s on offer at three of the best.
THE REEFS
Regular visitors to Bermuda often cite the 65-year-old Reefs as their resort of choice, with guests returning year after year to their favorite room. Why? Simple — it’s got an unbeatable location, perched on a cliff overlooking a secluded private beach, with the island’s famous aquamarine sea below. If you crave beach time, with maybe a water activity or two, and some pampering at the top-rated La Serena Spa, this is your spot. The small footprint of the 62-unit hotel means there’s only one pool (or two, if you stay in one of the 19 hotel-condo units, located next to the main building) and two tennis courts on property. All but a handful of the rooms have been recently updated to include larger, more modern bathrooms. In response to the economy, Royston’s, one of three dining options on the property, is being re-configured as a casual, family-friendly dinner spot with housemade thin-crust pizza, burgers and grilled steaks. New for entertainment this year is Latin Chill Friday, where you can enjoy a DJ spinning on the terrace, a sugarcane machine for mojitos and live cooking stations while taking in the unbeatable ocean views. Rooms start at $590; suites from $925. Rates at the three cottages and the club condos vary. thereefs.com
CAMBRIDGE BEACHES
This family-owned resort is definitely off the beaten path — in the best way possible. From the airport it takes a good hour to reach this 300-year-old property in the northwest part of the island, but it’s perfect for those seeking tranquility and romance. With four beaches and just 76 renovated rooms on 30 private acres with a garden/nature preserve, this adults-only resort (the only one on the island) pretty much guarantees you’ll have alone time. (Maybe that’s why Bill brought Hillary here for her birthday in 2009.) Built in the traditional Bermudian cottage style, each accommodation is different in terms of size, layout and decor — some are stand-alone cottages with private pools, some have fireplaces, all have water views. Other amenities include tennis courts, a putting green, a croquet lawn, the top-notch Ocean Spa with an indoor pool and “experience rooms” (steam room, herbal sauna and more), on-site scooter rental and a full-service marina. The three dining options include the poolside Shutters and the fine-dining Tamarisk, with a terrace overlooking Morning Beach and the marina — one of the most romantic spots in all of Bermuda. Rooms range from $653 to $1,845; check Web site for discounts based on advance purchase. cambridgebeaches.com
ROSEWOOD TUCKER’S POINT
Bermuda’s resorts tout their history like a badge of honor, but this new kid on the island is quickly developing a loyal following. Built in 2009, the 88-room Rosewood hotel is tucked among the 240 acres that make up the exclusive Tucker’s Point development, where the uber-rich like Michael Bloomberg, Ross Perot and Silvio Berlusconi own manses. The biggest draw for hotel guests and residents alike is golf — there’s an 18-hole, par-70 course designed by Roger Rulewich, who worked with Robert Trent Jones — as well as a clubhouse, driving range, 10,000-square-foot practice putting green and short-game area. The pink-sand beach at the Tucker’s Point beach club is wonderfully wide and long, though you do need to plan ahead to catch a resort shuttle, as it’s over a mile away. Other amenities include a Sense spa, two pools (plus another two at the beach club), Har-Tru clay tennis courts (try a lesson with the head pro, Terry Smith) and on-site scooter rental. The resort’s just-opened Sul Verde restaurant offers a long list of pastas (including gluten-free versions) that you can order as half portions — all the better to save room for the vast antipasti setup in the middle of the dining room. (Bonus: The extensive wine list is surprisingly affordable.) It all goes divinely with the gorgeous view — overlooking Castle Harbour, with Perot’s giant white vacation home in the distance. Rooms range from $775 to $1,235 and suites from $1,855 to $5,500. tuckerspoint.com