Grotto Bay Beach Resort

We were looking for a relaxing vacation over spring break, and did not want to head to a 'party island'. We selected Grotto Bay Beach Resort in Bermuda and were very pleased with our decision. The beach and outdoor areas were pristine and beautiful, the staff was very friendly and helpful, and we were especially pleased with the underground caverns which allowed the opportunity for underground swimming. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Grotto Bay and would consider going back.

The rooms desperately need updating. There was a problem with almost everything in my room including the vanity chair, a.c., closet door, entrance light, bath tub, ow dryer, etc... the colors are pretty, but I felt like I was staying at a motel 6 as far as rooms go.

We have been to other islands and never loved any as much as Bermuda! The Grotto Bay Resort was our first Bermuda impression and we were not dissappointed! The lobby is gorgeous and everyone is so friendly. We were informed that we had been upgraded and come to find out, not only did they upgrade us (without us asking) but to the absolute best room on property. They take the time to review the resort with you which is nice and the concierge is just around the corner. Our 3rd floor corner room in the first building on the beach was huge with a big flat screen TV and modern bathroom. Our King bed was a little squeaky but comfortable. The room was clean and the view is perfect. Our luggage was delivered quickly to our room and any request for towels etc.. was met. The taxi ride to the hotel was $12 with tip and took about 5 minutes. You do not hear noise from the airport at the resort. There are a lot of stairs here, and I could see how it could be difficult to stay here if you are not in decent physical health. We were always out of breath after walking up to the main building. The concrete stairs are steep but it's not really that far to walk. There is also a paved path as an alternate route for some of the climb. The roosters are running around (the whole island) all the time and they do make some noise but unless you are a super light sleeper they shouldn't bother you. They are kind of like the squirrels in the US, they keep to themselves. The stray cats around the resort are SO sweet. We loved them and always hoped to see them walking back to our room. The caves on property are amazing, you just have to see it to believe it and the from the Gazebo on the water you can see all kinds of tropical fish. The whole place is like one Big postcard! The Swizzle Inn is up the street and fun to visit and Bailey's Icecream across from Swizzle was one of our favorite places. It's not a long walk but it's not a stone's throw either. The food is good at the resort but pricey, as is all of Bermuda. Plan a big food budget. My only complaint was the times of service in the resort restaurants. Ex. No lunch until noon. No dinner till 6:30 and at certain short time periods no food at all is available at the resort. I would have like to see longer hours at all the restaurants there. The food itself was worth the wait though. The beach is not huge but not tiny either and the sparkling crystal clear blue water is beautiful. The water is also calmer since it is a bay. There are plenty of chairs, and towels are available near the pool. The hot tub was way too hot! I thought it was plenty big for a private resort beach. They have lots of activities scheduled but my husband and I joked that it is on a Bermuda time schedule (leisurely) so don't expect things to happen exactly on time. The water sports dock is right at the beach and you can also book activities there. A word of caution: if you are a chicken like me, do not take the Boston whaler boat and go into Castle Harbor, it was very choppy and scary to me. Instead ask for the instuctions to go up Ferry Reach to St. George. It's much calmer and a more enjoyable ride. Lesson learned the hard way. The buses are easy transportation and the front desk can get you whatever tokens or passes you need each day. Go anywhere you want, we never felt unsafe or lost anywhere in Bermuda. I highly recommend Tobacco Bay as a day trip. We took a bus to St. George and then a taxi to Tobacco Bay for about $10 because we were tired of walking. The resort gift shop is small-ish but has lots of great choices and we found many gifts there to take home. We also exchanged 2 American Dollars for a $2 Bermuda Bill as a souviner for our little daughter and she loves it. Everything in Bermuda is pretty, even the money! Overall, we had the perfect vacation and would absolutely stay at Grotto Bay again. We planned our itinerary around day trips but next time we will plan more time at the resort. So many quiet and beautiful spots to sit and relax and not enough time in the day. We cannot wait for our next trip here. Bermuda is my new favorite place!

Grotto Bay Beach Resort far exceeded my expectations. The beach albeit on the smaller side has calm waters and great snorkeling sites just off shore. The opportunity to kayak out of the bay and into the nearby harbour was an extra treat. The service here was also wonderful.