I checked my weekly Travelzoo newsletter yesterday and found this.
The Luxe Resort is the Fairmont Southhampton. I visited this resort last year; we stayed at the Fairmont Princess, but they have a free boat and bus transfer between the two. The Southhampton is so extensive and beautiful resort that we regretted our choice immediately (even though the Princess was great too). The beach, the grounds, the service and the hotel itself were above and beyond. My wife made me promise we would return–and now I’m out of excuses.
The main reason why this deal is great is that I have never seen such a dramatic Bermuda Fairmont sale in the summer before. There have been sales, but always in the spring or fall or winter, and since Bermuda is not a tropical island, you probably don’t want to go there off season if you want to enjoy the beach. This deal, however, is different.
What’s included & when
- $199 per night… check in Aug. 25-31; Sept. 1-10, 13-17, 21-24, 28-30; Oct. 1-6, 10-15, 18-21, 24-27, 30-31; Nov. 1-6, 10-11, 14-29; Dec. 7-30, including weekends and holidays
- $279 per night for last minute travel checking in July 31; Aug. 1-4, 10-14, 17-24
- Daily continental breakfast for two on the beach (reg. $36)
- Upgraded room types have also been discounted
- Room price based on two guests in a Moderate Room with one king or two queen beds
The Spa
I checked all these dates and they seem to be wide-open so far. But while this deal is already quite good–look, Bermuda is pricey–it’s even better if you have a Chase Fairmont credit card.
If you do have this card, it means you are a Premier member, in which case you have the following annual benefits:
- $25 Dining/Willow Stream Certificate
- $25 Dining/Willow Stream Certificate
- 3rd Night Free
- Complimentary Room Upgrade
- Complimentary Suite Upgrade
Do the suite upgrades and the 3rd free night work with this offer? Yes, there are no blackouts listed for this hotel, but I still called the Fairmont and received the confirmation. You will get the upgrade to a better room or suite and the 3rd free night, however, you will not receive breakfast for the 3rd night. Hope it’s not a deal breaker.
I asked if I would be able to use my dining certificate to upgrade from Continental to full buffet, and was told no, but it never hurts to ask the hotel. They might give you some leeway there. Otherwise, a buffet breakfast costs $32. So you can use the dining certificate anyway and pay a little extra.
Now let’s talk about some unpleasant things. One is that Bermudan hotels and Fairmont in particular add not only resort fees but also mandatory gratuities. Expect to pay the following.
Since they will most likely charge you the fees for the third free night, expect to pay around $565 total, and perhaps more if they indeed charge you higher gratuities for a better room and/or tax for the third night. After everything is said and done, you are paying damn close to the stated $199 a night.
And that’s for two people. If you are coming with a kid, adjust the fees accordingly.
Please don’t ask me if staying in a suite at a fantastic resort with breakfasts, internet, and free water transfers included worth $200 a day. Just make sure to stop at a supermarket on the way there and stock on snacks and soda. That will ease the pain, well slightly.
Here are a couple of more pics.
