Expert: Michael - 5/29/2002

Question
Michael:

I am wondering about where I should stay. Right now, the two main contenders are Ariel Sands Cottages and the Elbow Beach Resort Hotel. Any advice?

Trevor Brookins

Answer
Hello Trevor,

The two contenders quite differ in that Elbow is a soup to nuts large hotel resort while Ariel is a Bermudan family owned cottage colony.  Matter of fact the largest stockholder in Michael Douglas.  That's right!  The hollywood famed Michael Douglas.  His mom was Bermudan and she left him 51% shares and his cousins own the rest.  Lost of Michael's money went into reverbishing and bringing it up.

So you ask where should I stay?

Linda and I have stayed at both large resort hotels and cotage colonies.  Our preference is for cottage colonies. We like the subtle ambiance, the Bermudan feel to these places where the larger hotels, although nicely done, fail to capture the essance of Bermudan hospitality.  You see the larger hotels need to staff from a european pool and the service is at the snap of a finger.  You sit down and the coffee is poured and a paper put in your lap.  But the Bermuda experiance is to relax and smile, and I feel offers a more personal service.  A pampering.

Elbow may have a faster crowd.  Not a group to be laid back.  However, it is a beautiful resort and the location is primere as is Ariel.

The biggest decision Tevor is Cottage Colony or large Resort Hotel with all the bells and whistles.  What are you seeking in a Bermuda vacation?  I do not think you would be sorry with the cottage colony.  Private.  Personal.

You can go to the Bermuda Depatment of Tourism's website www.bermudatourism.com and link on to both resorts to preview them.

Happy planning!
Michael