Adjacent to a seafaring-style tavern, a wall festooned with the names of longtime guests attests to this Bermuda resort's capacity to inspire loyalty. Widely spaced on the 30-acre peninsula and separated by lawns and flowering gardens, guest cottages occupy rolling terrain, forming a pink-and-white community under coconut palms and ancient Flamboyant trees. The open Atlantic Ocean borders the resort's north side, and Mangrove Bay borders its south side. Children under the age of five are not permitted.

A $64-million renovation and expansion completed in 2003 refreshed the Fairmont Southampton Hotel, which attracts families and romantic couples seeking activity-filled vacations or rest and relaxation. Restaurants offer both casual and resort-elegant dining. Expansive grounds complement the panoramic ocean views visible from the resort's hilltop location. Complimentary trolley buses transport guests to the beach, golf course, and a waterside restaurant and water-sports cove, from where guests can catch a complimentary ferry to downtown Hamilton for shopping and dining.

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.

With yellow exterior walls, white trim, and a columned main entrance overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Elbow Beach welcomes guests with classic Bermudian elegance. French doors open into a lobby with high ceilings, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers. The resort attracts a mostly affluent, well-traveled clientele, including many repeat visitors.

Grotto Bay Beach Hotel, a locally owned resort, features 21 acres of grounds with sloping lawns, forested areas, and flowering gardens. Clientele is primarily couples.

This resort showcases Bermudian cottage-style architecture amid a garden setting. The beach is a five-minute scooter ride away, and the town of Hamilton is ten minutes away. The resort primarily draws adults and couples.