Why We Recommend It:
Bermuda’s only all-inclusive is the classy, family-friendly, Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa. It has a lot to offer and for surprisingly reasonable prices.
It also has a gorgeous setting which includes its own private beach and a small network of caves in which the spa facilities are located, surely one of the world’s most unique settings for a spa treatment.
There are a whole host of activities to enjoy (mainly water-based), a good choice of bars and restaurants where the food and drink are of a very high quality, and the staff are friendly and helpful.
Last but not least it has an extremely convenient location, being no more than a five-minute drive from Bermuda’s international airport.
Rooms & Suites:
They have over 200 rooms in total but the resort still feels somehow intimate and personable. All rooms have, as far as we could see, ocean views, with the pick of the bunch being the Ocean Front Deluxe category which are closest to the sea and offer the best views.
The other class of rooms though differ very little but, as there is only a marginal difference in price, we feel the Ocean Front Deluxe are worth the small extra spend.
The style of all the rooms is very much that of a modern, upscale city hotel. There’s nothing unique here, no trying to impress with clever design features, but they are spacious clean, and super comfortable.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do:
Guests have no shortage of activities here, most but not all being water-based. Their all-inclusive package has all non-motorized water sports – Sunfish sailboats, kayaks, and paddle boards for eg., included, as well as things like tennis court rental and racquet hire on land.
Their on-site Dive Center is sadly not included in the package but offers some great wreck diving, and more, for an extra fee. You can also rent out sailboats and catamarans direct from the resort, and on dry land; bikes.
They have a large swimming pool and swim-up bar, a gym, tennis courts, and, deep underground, a wonderful natural cave pool where you’ll also find the resort’s rather unique and atmospheric underground spa – the Natura Spa.
For food and drink, there is the classy Hibiscus Restaurant which serves up the giant daily breakfast buffet as well as a la carte dinners featuring Bermuda seafood dishes alongside a range of international standards.
The open-air and lively Bayside Terrace serves up modern, international comfort food – tacos, burgers, etc. and has regular BBQ parties with live musical entertainment.
The Palm Court is a refined spot where you can enjoy coffee, afternoon tea, and sweet snacks during the day and fine dining in the evening.
There is nightly live entertainment in different venues around the resort, mainly music but also things like stand-up comedy, dance acts, etc.
At Grotto Bay Beach you have a choice of pay-as-you-go, Breakfast & Dinner Package or All-Inclusive Package. The Breakfast & Dinner Package makes both those meals complimentary for an extra $74 per day. (This price can be subject to change.)
The All-Inclusive deal then includes all meals, both nonalcoholic drinks and alcoholic (for wines only the house wine though!), all non-motorized water sports, tennis court rental and bus and ferry passes around the island.
This is for an additional $119 per adult or $84 per child per day. (Again, this price can be subject to change.)
Which package to go for can be decided upon arrival, or during your stay. You can even choose to go all-inclusive for some of your trip (a minimum of three days would have to be paid for though), and the rest either a different package or pay as you go, if you’re unsure as to how much value you might get from it.
No need to rush the decision then, though we do feel that the all-inclusive price definitely offers the best value.
Location:
Grotto Bay Beach Resort’s location is about as convenient as it gets for visitors, being just five minutes away from Bermuda’s international airport and 15 minutes from the lovely town of St George’s. Hamilton, the island’s capital is just over 20 minutes away.
Some Guest Reviews:
“The room was very clean and adequate for an all-inclusive resort. Dinner is pricey and there is a somewhat limited menu. The private beach is definitely a WIN! The water is so warm, clean, and enjoyable! The resort is approximately a 5 min drive from the airport and you can even take the city bus to and from the airport as well for one token that is $4.50. The Cathedral Cave on the property is definitely a MUST see experience along with the Natural Spa which is also in a separate cave…..”
“I liked so many things. Being close to the airport – 5 minute drive. Being able to try the inclusive package for 3 days instead of the whole week. Not having to carry our bags to our room and being able to leave our bags in our room after we checked out until our flight. When we got in our shared shuttle, our bags were already loaded. Being so close to everything was also nice. Getting picked up for the jet-skiing safari was a nice feature. The massages in the caves was really cool…..”