Resort Review: Grotto Bay Resort and Spa Bermuda

My very first trip to Bermuda was beautiful and amazing in so many ways! (Yes, we survived the Bermuda triangle!) We recently got back from a 4 night stay at Grotto Bay in Bermuda so I’ll be reviewing my stay on the categories below! The island of Bermuda is small, about 50 minutes from one side of the island to the other and there are lots of little towns and areas all over the country. After so many of my trips to Mexico, this was a great comparison but it’s good to be aware the differences between the two countries. We did book the all-inclusive plan (more on this below!)

Bermuda is great because it’s only a less than 2 hour flight from the East Coast so it can be perfect for a quick trip/getaway. And the airport is super easy to navigate, English is spoken here and the conversion rate is 1 USD to 1 Bermudian dollar. Bermuda IS an expensive island and flights were pricey so I recommend booking early and using a travel advisor to find the best rates.

Transfer: I booked our transfers with our flights + resort, so he was waiting for us with a sign with our names on it and took us directly to the resort, literally about 6ish minutes away! It was the fastest I’ve ever gotten to a resort in destination before meaning we got to start our trip sooner! It's so fun when you're landing to look out the window and you can see all of the pink and blue tropical houses. It's such a "small town" feel.

Rooms: There are only 201 rooms with 11 cottages, so while the resort seems bigger because of the hills and greenery, it’s actually not big at all. (But not great for those with mobility issues) We stayed in the Deluxe Ocean Front Suite meaning we got an amazing, unobstructed view of the ocean which I would highly recommend. If this room doesn’t fit the bill, reach out to me and we can find a good room at a cheaper price that will still offer good views. The rooms are more similar to a traditional hotel room than a luxury resort, and they have a coffee maker, a mini fridge (not stocked), a safe, balcony with 2 chairs, and we requested a king bed however they do have rooms with 2 beds.

Pool: There is one decent sized pool here with limited seating. It’s a great place if you want to be close to the bar and not get all sandy. Chairs are saved QUICK so if you want prime seats you’ll need to be down there sooner rather than later. There is a swim up bar, but it’s not a true swim up bar as the bar in the pool doesn’t actually connect to the bar. We spent more of our time at the beach. There is one very small hot tub which I’m sure would be really nice in the cooler months, but it maybe fits 4 people max.

Beach/Ocean: This was definitely a highlight for us. The water is SO BLUE and clear. When the sun is shining, it’s perfect for Instagram pictures and so photogenic. The ocean is also in more of a bay rather than the open ocean so there’s pretty much no waves and it’s so relaxing to just sit and float in the water all day. Floats are included at the watersports shop with the all-inclusive package. One negative of the beach is that the sandy area is pretty small and when the tide comes in, it really makes the beach feel smaller. But when you’re floating in the water, you’re not even worried about it. 

All-Inclusive Package: Depending on the time of year as of August 2023, the price for all-inclusive is $129 per person per day. To us, this was HIGHLY worth it as we spent most of our time on the resort so we were eating and drinking all day and it is PRICEY to eat and drink here. It is slightly different from AI in Mexico, you are allotted 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Other inclusions are some signature drinks (they have menus showing these options) along with most drinks that aren’t top shelf, they do daily tea with small bites and then all non-motorized water sports like kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboards. You get a free bus pass and all gratuities paid for. To us, it was worth it. Work with me to plan your trip here and I can help you decide if All inclusive is worth it for your situation.

The Cave: There is a free cave on site! Super amazing to experience and jump in the freezing water to get your blood flowing! There is also an additional cave where you can experience spa things like massages. Super romantic.

Dining: There are 2 main sit down restaurants. One of them is supposed to be more formal than the other but you can’t really tell a difference. They do have different menus. I really enjoyed the meals, the food that we ordered was great with a fairly small selection to choose from. The carrot cake for desert was amazing, my favorite dish. They also have some theme nights, Surf & Turf and BBQ just to name a couple. Lunch we had out near the pool each day, where they serve food off a menu and sometimes have a lunch buffet. Breakfast was a buffet with most American breakfast options available like omelets, bacon, pancakes etc. The potatoes were my favorite. 

Bar: There are 2 main bars. One in the main building where the lobby is and one by the pool. It should be of note that if you are in the ocean, it is a fairly decent walk up to the pool to get to the bar. Lots of steps and then you have to wait to get your drink as there’s only 1 bar serving all the people in the pool, ocean and the restaurant. That would be my biggest complaint, it’s not like Mexico where there’s a bar on every corner of the resort. 

Golf: We golfed at Tucker’s Point course which was about 8 minutes away. Super easy to get to and a nice course with great views. 

Tips & Tricks for this resort: 

• You can order food off menu at the bar in the lobby if your flight arrives after lunch is already done being served

• Bedding is not guaranteed, a travel advisor can help you get your preferred bedding by request

• Not a good resort for those with mobility issues as there’s lots of steps 

• Try the signature drinks on the menu if you’re not sure what to order!

• Reservations are highly recommended during high season (something a travel advisor can do for you!)

• This is the only all-inclusive option in Bermuda

• Check out the watersports shop for excursions like snorkeling and getting on a boat

All things considered, I would definitely return to this resort! There are many options of places to stay in Bermuda and Grotto Bay should definitely be considered on your list!

sydney.nieveen@sojourneytravel.com email me to help plan your next trip here!