The Fairmont Hamilton Princess
Information & Amenities
Hotel Information: Dating to 1885, the hotel embodies Bermuda's history as a vacation destination—all chronicled on a wall with photographs and notes—and continues to serve as the island's "Grande Dame" social center. Expansions over the decades created a business/vacation hotel arrayed on 400 yards of harborfront. The hotel's storied history includes service during World War II as the Allies' Atlantic intelligence center, housing 1,200 agents known as the Princess Spies. A $25-million renovation completed in 2002 refreshed the hotel without affecting its colonial style.
Amenity highlights: Although not on a beach, The Fairmont Hamilton Princess features two 90-by-35-foot pools, one freshwater and the other saltwater, surrounded by terra-cotta sundecks furnished with lounge chairs. A lighted concrete path with teak deck chairs runs 400 yards along the harbor. From here, guests take a complimentary shuttle boat 25 minutes across the harbor to a companion resort, the Fairmont Southampton, where they enjoy access to a private beach; an 18-hole, par-three executive golf course; a 30,000-square-foot health-and-beauty spa featuring a large indoor pool and spacious spa tubs on ocean-view sundecks; and nine restaurants, including one in a house dating from the mid-17th century.
Insider tip: Writer Mark Twain visited Bermuda regularly for 43 years, once writing of the island, "You may go to Heaven if you want to. I'd druther stay here." He'd relax on the Hamilton Princess' veranda, reciting poetry and regaling guests with tall tales while puffing on cigar or pipe. Inside the lobby a bronze statue of Twain sitting on a teak bench with arm extended along the bench's back allows guests to take a seat and have their photographs taken.
Property Amenities
Facilities at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess include numerous shops and boutiques; an air-conditioned fitness center; a full-service business center; and a beauty salon offering massage, facials, waxing, and hair and nail care. Two swimming pools--one salt water and the other fresh water--are located on site. Wireles Internet access is available in public areas (surcharge).
Guests additionally have access to the fitness center, the shuttle service, and to facilities at the Fairmont Southampton.
Ground transportation:
Shuttle vans or private cars of varying prices are available. They can be selected during the process of booking an air-inclusive reservation for this hotel, via this Web site, and added to the total trip cost.
- Swimming pool - outdoor
- Poolside bar
- Spa services on site
- Concierge services
- Fitness equipment
- Restaurant(s) in hotel
- Bar/lounge
- Room service (24 hours)
- Banquet facilities
- Business center
- Conference room(s)
- Audio-visual equipment
- Computer rental
- Internet access in public areas - surcharge
- Internet access - wireless
- 24-hour front desk
- Porter/bellhop
- Express check-out
- Doorman/doorwoman
- Security guard
- Multilingual staff
- Safe-deposit box - front desk
- Number of rooms: 410
- Babysitting or child care
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Hair salon
- Dry cleaning service
- Shoe shine
- Air-conditioned public areas
Room Descriptions
This Bermuda hotel offers 410 carpeted, air-conditioned guestrooms in a six-story main building, a seven-story wing, and two three-story wings—all colored pink and white. Room decor features 19th-century-style mahogany furniture with polished brass hardware, gilt-frame mirrors, and bright Bermudian art. Beds include triple sheeting and down comforters. High-speed (T1) connections at work desks provide Internet access (surcharge). Televisions carry U.S. cable channels and offer pay movies.
Guests of Fairmont Gold rooms enjoy exclusive access to an enormous, lobby-size Gold Lounge and a complimentary boardroom with 14-seat conference table. The lounge features private check-in, concierge service, butler, crystal chandeliers, a vaulted ceiling containing Wedgewood china insets, a fireplace, tall windows with drapes and sheer curtains, overstuffed furniture, and a decor of 100 pastel colors. Fairmont Gold guests are served complimentary deluxe Continental breakfast; complimentary afternoon tea; complimentary evening appetizers, wine, and cheese; and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks all day in the lounge, which also includes a honor bar.
Room Features
- Internet access - high speed
- Cable/satellite TV
- Pay movies
- Premium bedding
- Air conditioning
- Climate control
- Complimentary newspaper
- Telephone
- Voice mail
- Internet access - surcharge
- Minibar
- Coffee/tea maker
- Wake-up calls
- Housekeeping (daily)
- Turndown service
- Bathrobes
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Clock radio
- Desk
- Rollaway beds
- Cribs (infant beds) available
- Smoking rooms
Area Attractions
Hamilton city center - 3 blocks
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute - 1 mile
Fort Hamilton - 1 mile
Botanical Gardens - 1.5 miles
Railway Trail (walking, jogging) - 1.5 miles
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, & Zoo - 4 miles
Devil's Hole Aquarium - 5 miles
Crystal Caves - 6 miles
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse - 25-minute private ferry ride and 0.25 miles
Royal Naval Dockyard (historic site, shopping, dining) - 25-minute public ferry ride and 3-block walk
Dolphin Quest (dolphin encounters) - 25-minute private ferry ride and 6 miles
Bermuda International Airport (BDA): - Approximate driving time to The Fairmont Hamilton Princess is 20 minutes and distance is nine miles.
Getting there: Shuttle vans or private cars of varying prices are available. They can be selected during the process of booking an air-inclusive reservation for this hotel, via this Web site, and added to the total trip cost.
Getting around: Bermuda does not permit rental cars. Guests commonly take taxis to hotels and use public buses and ferries to get around. Scooters, Bermudians' favorite means of transport, are readily available for rent, including adjacent to the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. A driver's license is not required. Driving is on the left side of the road.
Activities
The Fairmont offers scuba-diving lessons, rents Jet Skis and kayaks, and arranges scuba diving and snorkeling excursions.
The recreational activities listed below are available at or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Snorkeling on site
- Boating nearby
- Kayaking on site
- Sailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Personal watercraft on site
- Dock nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Running track/path nearby
- Tennis nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Horse riding/rental nearby
- Parasailing nearby
- Fishing nearby
Restaurants & Bars
Harley's - Two-level dining room overlooking Hamilton Harbour, pool. Buffet and á la carte breakfast. Sunday brunch. Lunch choices such as codfish cakes, fish and chips, sandwiches, salads. Dinner featuring U.S. prime-grade, dry-aged steaks, crab cakes, and cassava-smoked chicken fritters stuffed with coconut. Poolside bar with seating under umbrellas. Dinner dress code: long pants or Bermuda shorts and knee socks, collared shirts for men.
The Heritage Court - Colonial Bermuda-style ambience. Famed afternoon tea with British silver tea sets, Belgian china, Italian linens, and two menus. Rum Tea menu includes sandwiches such as smoked-duck-and-kumquat. Second menu includes sandwiches such as braised lamb in Parmesan focaccia, goat cheese and watercress in saffron brioche. Continental breakfast. Piano music in evenings.
HP's Coffee Shop - Pastries, deserts, Seattle's Best coffee drinks.
Location
76 Pitts Bay Road
Hamilton, HM 08
Bermuda
Nearest major airport:
Hamilton, Bermuda (BDA-Kindley Field)
Area:
Hamilton, Bermuda
Important Information
A $7 daily resort fee is collected upon arrival (fee subject to change without notice). The fee allows access to the fitness center, the shuttle service, and to facilities at the Fairmont Southampton.
Pets are accepted with a nightly fee of $25 (subject to change).
Extra person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Rollaway beds and cribs (infant beds) may be available and should be requested at the time of booking; fees may apply.
Photo identification and credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests made via this Web site cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
- Pets not allowed
- Check-in time is 3 PM
- Check-out time is Noon
- Resort fee charged at hotel/condo
