The Caribbean - Bermuda: affordable hotel?

Can anyone recommend an affordable place to stay in Bermuda? I'm told that the Fairmount is "the" place to stay - but even in midweek March, it is $350-400/night. I'd be much happier paying less than $200/night. I don't plan to rent a car, so a convenient location - whatever that means! - is ideal.

It has been a few years since we were last in Bermuda, but we have stayed at the following two places:

White Sands Hotel/Cottages, Paget Parish, 800.548.0547

Palm Reef Hotel, Hamilton, 800.221.1294

Liked both, but preferred being very close to a beach with White Sands.

I thought most lodging was outrageous, I also had these two places for Paget Parish listed as reasonable possibilities:

Skytop cottages, 441.236.7984

Paraquet apartments, 441.236.5842

I have to throw in some dining ideas (I know....surprise surprise http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif ).

Some hated it, but our family loved it, try Dennis's Hideaway 441.297.0044. It is a scooter ride to nowhere, tiny, dingy place. Dress down and go only if looking for an alternative to the more polished dining that is present on Bermuda. Some great dishes, home cooked.

Also had good meals at Fourways Inn, Tom Moore's Tavern and a surprisingly good meal at Port O Call in downtown Hamilton.

HAVE FUN.

Carol,

The Grotto Bay Beach Resort has some 3 night packages that might fall in line with the rates you were looking for:

http://www.grottobaybeach.com/rates.html

Have fun!!

I've been to Bermuda several times and it is by far my favorite island location! I usually try to stay at Mazarine by the Sea http://www.bermudatourism.com/apt_sm10.html. It's a small guest house with about 6-8 rooms. Each has a small kitchen so you can cook in a pinch if you want to. It is on the north shore road on the ocean. There is no beach there because it is mostly rocky shore, but the benefit is that the snorkeling is wonderful there! There is also a nice pool. It's on the bus route, so travel around is easy and it's only about a mile into town, so you can walk too. There's a small grocery store across the street, so you can pick up essentials there. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but we were charged about $120/night. The owner's name is Diane.

You can't rent a car there at all - only mopeds which are fun, but dangerous if you aren't familiar with driving on the left.

Have a great trip!

I have to throw in some dining ideas (I know....surprise surprise http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif ).

Some hated it, but our family loved it, try Dennis's Hideaway 441.297.0044. It is a scooter ride to nowhere, tiny, dingy place. Dress down and go only if looking for an alternative to the more polished dining that is present on Bermuda. Some great dishes, home cooked.
From Saveur Magazine Jan/Feb 2005

Bermuda is paradise, of course, but for those of us who can't relax in a place where men wear knee socks, Graham Lamb is a tonic. Walk up to Dennis's Hideaway, and Lamb, a round, unshaven man wearing a brown paper bag as a chef's hat, will welcome you with a grin. Better known as Sea Egg (Bermudian slang for sea urchin), Lamb has the only tasting menu we know of that is served on plastic plates. It starts with shark hash on toast, followed by conch fritters, curried mussel stew, and dark Bermudian fish chowder; then come the lobster, panfried shark, and deep-fried shrimp and scallops. "That's how we do it," Sea Egg says. "We're not going to change nothing." Fine with us.

Any other suggestions for me? I just had the idea that my husband I could go for 4 nights this summer. Airfare is really inexpensive thanks to competition bt Jet Blue, CO and AA, but most hotels are, as predicted ~ $400/night.

Being on or within close walking distance of a beach is very important to us.