Frommer's Review
This is the favorite of businesspeople in the City of Hamilton who appreciate the convenience of its location -- on the harbor, not on a beach. Sandwiched between the City of Hamilton and its bigger and more anonymous-looking rival, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the Waterloo is one of the most British of the Bermuda hotels. It was established as a hotel in the 1930s, on a site that had been occupied by the private mansion of the Wainwright family, merchants who had built it in 1812, and named it after that year's most decisive military victory, Waterloo. Today, only a few vestiges of the original home remain, within a pink-walled compound that's wrapped around a trio of enclosed courtyards that culminate in a waterfront terrace overlooking a marina and the water cargoes of Hamilton Harbour. The venue is posh, plush, small-scale, boutiquey, and charming. The inn has its devotees -- two guests told us they stay here every year and wouldn't think of checking into another hotel.
On the edge of Hamilton Harbour (on the outskirts of town), this enlarged and remodeled private home was built around 1910. Terraced gardens descend to the water in the Italian Riviera style; behind salmon-colored walls, the gardens contain palms, magnolias, poinsettias, urns overflowing with ivy, a splashing fountain, and white wrought-iron garden furniture shaded with fringed parasols. There are nooks for drinks and sunbathing around the property, and shade trees surround the swimming pool.
Inside, the drawing room has antique English furnishings and decorative tile floors. Rooms vary in size and decor; each evokes the feeling of a country-house guest room. A newer wing offers small studios and twin-bedded units, though accommodations in the main unit have more character. The highest prices are for the five cottages, which have living and dining areas and refrigerators (though no kitchens). They also have spacious, well-kept bathrooms. Although the bathrooms in the hotel's newer wing are larger and better maintained, we still prefer the older units for their quaint charm. All bathrooms feature tub/shower combinations. This is a pet-friendly facility.
The main dining room overlooks the terrace and harbor. On the lower terrace level is a bar lounge with Moorish arches, English armchairs, and hand-woven pillow covers. You can enjoy afternoon tea on the lawn at the water's edge.
Facilities:2 restaurants; bar; freshwater outdoor pool; private dock; reciprocal relationship with Bermuda's best golf courses; privileges at the members-only Coral Beach & Tennis Club (tennis and squash) 6.5km (4 miles) from Hamilton; small health club; spa; business center; room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility, waterside barbecue area.
Dining & Entertainment:
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
