Deal of the Day

Summer may be over but for travelers to Bermuda that means lots of fair weather bargains throughout the fall, like this amazing deal from the luxurious Fairmont Southampton on Bermuda’s stunning south shore. Incredibly, rooms at the oceanside resort are 50% off for reservations through January 2011, including holiday stays over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I’ll get to the details in just a bit, but first, here’s why you should consider an autumn stay at one of the island’s most elegant hotels.

You'll Sleep Soundly

The sprawling resort boasts 593 spacious rooms and suites, all of which have private balconies, marble bathrooms and elegant British colonial décor. Relax on your very own Fairmont Bed with Egyptian cotton sheets or take in the endless ocean view from the comfort of your room. You might want to leave at some point to explore the island, but your mornings, nap times and nights couldn’t possibly be more comfortable.

You'll Be Pampered From Head to Toe

By far the largest and most luxurious wellness facility in Bermuda is the 31,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Southampton. Yes, it’s that good and here's why: The spa features 15 well-appointed treatment rooms, multiple relaxation lounges, a state-of-the art ocean view fitness center, indoor heated pool, beauty salon plus private men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam inhalation rooms, sauna and signature Willow Stream Energy bath and beauty products throughout. You’ll be pampered with dozens of island-inspired treatments administered by trained professional therapists and best of all, you won’t have to book days in advance to get an appointment. Hands down, it’s the best place for a massage in Bermuda.

You'll Have Your Own Beach

In fall, the temperature tops out at a blissful 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you can spend long days lazing on a chaise lounge at the resort’s private beach club. Rent snorkel gear and explore the rock formations at the water’s edge or stroll the long, private pink sand beach. It doesn’t get much better than that.

You'll Eat Well

Sure, some of the hotel’s restaurants, including the Newport Room, Wickets and the Ocean Club close temporarily during the fall and winter season, but rest assured you’ll be well fed at three of the Fairmont Southampton’s most beloved places to eat. Enjoy thin crust pizzas, tapas and other light fare at Jasmine Lounge (where you can also listen to live jazz and sip signature martinis); rustic Italian cuisine that’s perfect for the whole family at Bacci; and classic steakhouse fare, like Kobe beef ribeyes and Caribbean lobster tails, in a traditional 18th century Bermuda cottage at the Waterlot Inn.

You'll Play Eighteen Holes

With its very own oceanview Executive Par-Three Golf Course, the Fairmont Southampton is the perfect hotel to practice your swing. Take your short game to new levels and when you’re done, consider booking a tee time at nearby Riddell’s Bay Golf Club—through an exclusive partnership with the Fairmont Southampton, guests of the hotel can play Bermuda’s oldest private course.

You'll Be There In a Flash

Bermuda is less than a two-hour flight from most east coast gateways including New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Orlando and Halifax, Canada. Just under three hours away is Miami, Charlotte and Atlanta. Yes, paradise is that close.

You'll Save Money

Did I mention that rooms at the Fairmont Southampton were 50% off through January? Here’s what you need to know: Moderate rooms start at $149 a night for Sunday through Wednesday stays; Fairmont rooms, which overlook the harbor or golf course, are $179 a night for stays any day of the week; and Deluxe Ocean View rooms are $239 a night, also for stays any day. There are a handful of blackout dates—for those and more about the deal, which runs through the end of January visit TravelZoo—but you must book by October 5.

So, what are you waiting for? Check into the Fairmont Southampton today!

Join The Club

When I was an editor at Budget Travel magazine—long before my office had a view of swaying palm trees and Bermuda's Great Sound—I, along with my well-traveled editorial team used to tell our readers to join every hotel, car rental, and airline loyalty club possible. Why? Because they're often free to join and give its members perks and discounts usually not found anywhere else. Case in point: I've been a member of Fairmont's President's Club for years, a membership that came in handy yesterday when I had to vacate my home after it was exterminated for ants. (Remember that line from the film Blood Diamond when Leonardo DiCaprio's character said, "TIA mate?" It was short for this is Africa, a sentiment he conveyed after experiencing a particularly stressful situation. Well, TIB mate. This is Bermuda). Not wanting to cast aside a whole day's work I brought my laptop to the Fairmont Southampton, a 593-room resort on Bermuda's south shore. With my President's Club membership number in hand I grabbed a seat at Jasmine's—the hotel's casual lobby restaurant—plugged in my laptop and picked up the Fairmont Guest Access Wi-Fi signal. For free. (Check out the picture above; that was my office for the day). Of course I made sure to order lunch before I took off—an excellent shrimp caeser, by the way—but my free Wi-Fi was just one of the many perks the President's Club offers its members. Some of my other favorites? Complimentary TaylorMade golf clubs at select hotels, free Lexus courtesy vehicles, and 10% off treatments and products at its Willow Stream Spas. So what are you waiting for? Next time you see one of those loyalty club brochures at check in do yourself a favor and fill it out. It'll be the most worthwhile three minutes you've ever spent.