Just Back From…Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda

Our room, Cardinal Upper

Private in-room dining for our anniversary

Our room which also included a private balcony and more

On one of five beaches at Cambridge Beaches

Want to get away from it all? Peace and privacy are the order of the day at the elegant Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda’s original cottage colony. For five days we enjoyed a home away from home at this luxurious resort in a pink cottage that overlooked a turquoise sea surrounded by Easter egg tinted buildings.

To celebrate our anniversary, we headed off this year to Bermuda, flying from Texas to Bermuda and arriving at Cambridge Beaches just in time for afternoon tea, a daily feature that harks back to the island’s British roots. It’s just one in an experience full of quiet luxuries that the resort offers guests staying in its 94 cottages and suites, each named for local flora and fauna. Our room was Cardinal Upper, which boasted a spectacular view of the sea and the morning sunrise.

Each room is uniquely decorated in either traditional or contemporary style. Our room included a marble bath, walk-in closet, separate entry area, and private patio.

The room itself became the setting for a private dinner which we enjoyed on our anniversary. A private waiter came to our room with menus, returning throughout the night to bring drinks and multiple courses that included Bermudian fish chowder (a favorite we ordered at every meal), blackened grouper, and a sinfully delicious chocolate torte.

During warm weather months (remember Bermuda is not part of the Caribbean so temperatures are spring-like except for June through August), one lucky couple at a time can opt for Island Dining, a private evening dinner near the resort on what’s deemed Honeymoon Island. The couple is transported by boat, along with a private butler and specially-prepared dinner, to the island then left alone for an evening of romance. Other dining options range from a twice-weekly Star Dock Dinner, a six-course dinner served on the dock, gourmet dining in the Tamarisk Room, and dinner at the open-air Breezes restaurant. For couples who’d like to experience more Bermudian dining, a dine around program allows guests on the breakfast and dinner meal plan to dine at one of several selected properties.

The pampering, quiet atmosphere of the resort continues throughout the property. For many couples, that means a visit to the resort’s Ocean Spa, a 10,000-square-foot facility that includes a Roman style solarium as well as elegant spa. One afternoon, we enjoyed a couple’s massage, perfect for unwinding the day after a long flight. Later we chose to unwind on one of the resort’s five beaches, each a quiet haven.

To us, one of the most impressive aspects of the property was its incredibly high return rate: 42% of guests return for another visit. And, we learned, that means not just one repeat visit, either, but a lifetime of Cambridge Beaches vacations. A board outside the Tamarisk dining room displays the names of the visitors who have celebrated not just 5, 10, and 15 visits but, 30, 40 and even as many as 85 vacations at their home away from home.

Some of those fortunate guests have wed or renewed their vows at Cambridge Beaches. An on-site wedding planner takes care of all the details for weddings that range from simple to spectacular, most held with the beach as a backdrop.

For more information on Cambridge Beaches:

• call 800-468-7300
• visit www.cambridgebeaches.com