Rosewood Bermuda

It’s immediately apparent that the Rosewood is an exclusive property. A long, winding driveway leads to a porte cochere, where porters clad in Bermuda shorts and knee socks greet guests with “Hello ma'ams” and “good afternoon sirs.” Two sets of imposing glass-paned wooden doors lead inside to the grand Manor House lobby. With its thick floral drapery, gilded frames, and fringed ottomans, the lobby feels more like a lovingly curated living room than a generic hotel entryway. Checkered gray and white marble floors, stately dark wood furniture, and turn of the century portraits give the space an elegant feel that doesn’t feel stuffy or over-the-top. In the library just behind the lobby, old photos of Bermudian cricket matches, cabinets filled with china, and an antique Oriental rug feel like a swanky 1920s living room frozen in time. The atmosphere at Tucker’s Point is relaxed and peaceful, and honeymooners, business travelers, golfers, and families with children should all feel comfortable here.  The resort's obvious lures aside -- four pools, a private beach, a golf club, a tranquil spa, and four restaurants -- it’s the fine-tuned details that make this 200-acre property truly spectacular. Take, for instance, the small, seemingly unkempt grove in the middle of the golf course. This is actually an ancient burial ground dating back to the 15th century. Additional unexpected touches can be found at the spa’s relaxation pool (note the umbrellas resembling cupcakes with frilly-pink ruffled tops), the croquet lawn (hand-painted wickets look like little men), and in the rooms (butterfly nets and walking sticks by the door). If nothing else, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II descending the hotel’s grand staircase should clue guests in to the level of luxury found here. Complaining at this heavenly resort feels a bit like heresy, but like anywhere else, Tucker’s Point does have its faults (however small). Perhaps least desirable is the resort’s distance from its golf course and private beach, which require a drive of about five minutes to both. The resort provides shuttles, but those who choose to walk will find a long journey ahead -- that is, assuming they don’t get lost on the way. Predictably, the other drawback is the resort’s rates, which are the most expensive on the island. And when it comes to the extras, like spa treatments, meals, fitness classes, and boutique merchandise, the rates are also higher than anywhere else on the island. But perfection (or near-perfection) has its price, and at Tucker’s Point, it’s well worth it.

Rosewood Tucker’s Point is located in Hamilton Parish, directly across Castle Harbor from the airport. The sprawling property feels likes its own small town, which extends from the Manor House (main hotel building), to the golf course and club house, to the beach. Guests and staff members are constantly driving around the grounds in golf carts, moving from one activity to the next. Some guests, particularly those traveling with young children, may find the property’s sprawl inconvenient, while others, like honeymooners, might enjoy the feeling of seclusion that such a large property provides. The Rosewood is about a seven-minute drive from L.F. Wade International Airport, a 20-minute drive to downtown Hamilton, and about a 30-minute drive to popular south shore beaches, such as Horseshoe Bay. The south shore beaches are the island's most famous, and many competing luxury resorts are along the south shore; some guests may mind being on the harbor rather than right on the ocean. Foreigners are not allowed to rent cars in Bermuda, but can rent mopeds. Other transportation options include taxis and the public bus; the Rosewood is on Routes 1 and 3, which connect Hamilton and St. George, with stops at the Blue Hole Park, Crystal Caves, Swizzle Inn, and airport. Despite being expensive, taxis are the most reliable form of transportation. The public bus doesn’t always run as scheduled, and renting a moped can be dangerous for travelers who aren’t accustomed to left-side driving laws or Bermuda’s insanely winding roads.

Like the hotel’s public spaces, rooms at the Rosewood are impeccably designed. They start at 500 square feet, so even the smallest rooms are spacious. Plush beds, with their spiraled tufted headboards, Italian duvets, and pleated bed skirts are the picture of classic elegance. While gold-framed vintage post cards, salmon-colored drapery, and tasseled armchairs topped with cashmere throws create a cozy English cottage feel. But as crisp and proper as they appear, rooms are still supremely comfortable, and filled with 21st-century conveniences like Keurigs, iHomes, and flat-screen TVs. In-room mini fridges are stocked with all kinds of snacks, sodas, and booze, but guests will have to fork over a pretty penny to consume any of it. Bathrooms have a completely different feel from the bedrooms. White wainscoting, soft mint walls, and vintage soaking tubs give bathrooms a bit of a Nantucket feel. Not that we’re complaining — the gorgeous bathrooms also feature two pedestal sinks with chrome fixtures, large walk-in showers, and separate water closets. Wooden bath stands and striped cloth hampers add a whimsical touch of home, but the vast array of Heeley bath products are a quick reminder of luxury.   All rooms and suites have large balconies with stunning views of Castle Harbor. Poolside rooms have large covered patios, and private daybeds surrounding the Castle Harbor pool; they're ideal for families who’d like to have easy pool access. Rooms, including the luxe 1,650 square foot Walsingham Suite, are located within the Manor House — the hotel’s main building. Additionally, the Rosewood has multi-bedroom villa suites with separate living spaces and kitchenettes. The villa suites are located down a hill (and 77 stairs) from the Manor House. Villa guests receive their own personal golf cart for the duration of their stay, to make traveling around the property a bit easier.     

The Rosewood’s three pools are located in three distinct spaces across the property. Two, the Palm Court Pool and the Castle Harbor Pool, are located on Manor House grounds, while the third, the Horizon Pool, is located on a deck above the hotel’s private beach. If there is such a thing as a signature pool, the Rosewood’s is the Palm Court Pool. Surrounded by cushioned, towel covered lounge chairs, manicured lawns, and a bubbling fountain, the infinity-edge Palm Court Pool is a stunner. During the summer months, many guests choose to spend their days here, lounging in the sun or playing croquet on the nearby lawn. There are also two poolside cabanas, which are available for daily rentals. Like its name suggests, the Castle Harbor Pool faces Castle Harbor, a stunningly blue body of water that separates St. David’s Island from the rest of Bermuda. The Castle Harbor Pool is smaller than the Palm Court Pool but feels equally luxurious, with plenty of cushioned lounge chairs and covered daybeds. Guests staying in Poolside Rooms have easy access to the Castle Harbor Pool via their room’s private patio. The Horizon Pool is a family favorite thanks to its convenient (and beautiful) beachfront location. The pool’s infinity edge overlooks the Atlantic Ocean’s bright blue water, but the pool itself is smaller than its two counterparts at the Manor House. Unfortunately, the Horizon Pool is only open seasonally, from April through October. 

The Rosewood’s private beach club is open from April through October. During the summer months, the beach is a popular spot for guests to spend their days, whether lounging on the sand or snorkeling in the calm waters. The beach club is home to the Horizon Pool, Sur Mer restaurant, and a casual beach bar that serves drinks and light fare throughout the day. The only drawback to the beach club is its distance from the Manor House. Walking is out of the question, so guests need to take golf carts in order to reach the sand. The five- to 10-minute drive is certainly an inconvenience for those traveling with young children. 

Tucker’s Point is home to four distinct on-site dining options. The Point, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is located within the Manor House, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a historic Bermudian setting. The Point, and the adjacent Tucker’s Bar, have a clubby, yet still light and airy atmosphere, thanks to dark wood floors, wood-beam ceilings, and yellow plaid wingback chairs. Wrought-iron chandeliers give the room a masculine tone, while oak credenzas displaying fine china add a touch of femininity. The Point is also home to a stunning wine room, which guests can reserve for small private parties. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of The Point is the restaurant’s historic Pan Am Murals. In 1965, Juan Trippe, the founder of Pan American World Airways, commissioned an 80-foot long mural of the world’s greatest port cities, to be displayed in New York’s Pan Am building. When the building closed is 2005, Trippe’s son, the Tucker’s Point club president, acquired the artwork for the hotel. The murals now grace the walls of The Point restaurant, and guests can take part in a unique culinary experience that features food and drinks from each of the port cities featured in the mural. Sul Verde — Italian for “On the Green” — is located at the Tucker’s Point clubhouse, which overlooks the golf course. Sul Verde serves lunch and dinner, and features a diverse Italian menu of pizzas, pastas, meats, and fish. Also within the clubhouse is the cozy Grille Room with a pub-style menu. The Grille Room is open for lunch, dinner, and evening drinks.  Sur Mer is the Rosewood’s oceanfront seafood restaurant, which unfortunately, is only open seasonally. The Provencale lunch and dinner menus feature fresh seafood with French flair. Sur Mer is wildly popular during the summer months, so reservations are highly recommended.  

Sense is the Rosewood’s decadent, 12,000-square-foot spa. It’s often lauded as one of the best on the island, and not surprisingly, is also one of the most expensive. Here, treatments focus on wellness and relaxation and range from full-day spa journeys to 25-minute facials. The spa even offers a junior menu, which caters to the hotel’s youngest clientele. Not to be missed is the beautiful relaxation pool — a tranquil space with wicker lounge chairs and a trickling fountain. Advanced reservations for spa treatments are necessary — we watched plenty of guests come into the spa looking for same-day reservations, all of which were denied due to unavailability.   

Tucker’s Point 18-hole Roger Rulewich designed golf course is one of the best in Bermuda. The impeccably kept par-70 course offers incredible views of the ocean and surrounding hillside. The golf club itself is home to two of the hotel’s restaurants and the pro shop. Tucker’s Point Golf Club is open to guests and local members. Private lessons and golf clinics are held weekly. 

Arguably, The Rosewood Tucker’s Point has some of the nicest amenities on the entire island of Bermuda. The only drawback, thanks to the property’s sprawling acreage, is that not all amenities (such as the beach, golf club, and some of the restaurants) are within walking distance of the Manor House.  For anyone uninterested in pools, beaches, spa treatments, or golf, the Rosewood also has four clay tennis courts, a fitness center, and a water sports center. The Rosewood’s four tennis courts are the only clay courts in Bermuda. Both a tennis pro and a private instructor are available for lessons and clinics. The hotel asks that guests wear proper clay court shoes while on the courts. The fitness center is located in the Manor House and features modern Cybex cardio machines, LifeFitness bikes, weight machines, and plenty of free weights and medicine balls. The water sports center is where guests can rent 14-foot motor boats, kayaks, and underwater scooters. It also offers PADI scuba diving lessons and certification courses. 

The Rosewood has over 9,000 square feet of meeting space, and is a popular spot for business junctures, corporate events, and weddings. Meeting rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, HD projectors and screens, and on-site IT support. The hotel’s largest function space, as well as outdoor terraces and lawns, can accommodate parties of up to 400 people.