azamara cruises, azamara journey, bermuda, fairmont hotels

Fairmont Southampton Beach

Before leaving home, we'd arranged to tour the two Fairmont hotel properties in Bermuda. The Hamilton property was within easy walking distance of the cruise ship pier. We met one of the sales contacts for a brief tour of the hotel. This is primarily a business hotel - with plenty of conference and meeting facilities. The hotel offers two pool areas (one fresh water, one salt water) overlooking a beautiful peninsula on the Hamilton harbor. After our tour we
boarded the hotel's ferry to the Fairmount Southampton property across the harbor. Approaching from the harbor, the Fairmont Southampton appears as a large
6-story property occupying a hilltop with views across the beautiful islands of Bermuda. From the ferry pier we ride a quick shuttle service that stops at the hotel reception and continues to the private beach on the other side of the hill. We have arranged a day pass, so we plan to spend some time at this beach before our tour of this property.

The small beach complex includes 4 tennis courts, a casual dining venue offering sandwiches and cocktails, a locker/shower facility and an area that could be used for group meetings & activities. There is also a more upscale dining venue that appears to be open only in the evening. The beach is a small horseshoe shape, with protection by the outer island reef and scattered large volcanic rocks that are closer in. About 20 permanent umbrella shelters stretch across the beach area, all with 2 or more reclining beach chairs.

After enjoying lunch and some relaxing time at the beach we decide to make our way back to the hotel. With a sales consultant conducting our tour, we view several rooms, the spa area, the restaurants and the pools. This is a most impressive facility. Even though they are in the process of refurbishing the rooms, even those that we saw that had not yet undergone the change were quite nice – large, great views, and beautifully furnished. With the beach facilities, as well as two pools at the main hotel, the spa and shops, this would be a great destination resort for nearly any type traveler.