Just back from a one week stay at the Fairmont Southampton. We arrived 3rd Saturday of Sept. at about 2pm. The Front desk had quite a line and only two agents handling things. Waited about 15 minutes before we were told our room was not ready. They have a change room and we left our luggage and put on our bathing suits and went to the pool. Had lunch and relaxed for 2 hours and then went and checked in.
We have no status with Accor, and just regular members and were given a room on the first floor overlooking the breakfast restaurant roof and a view looking over toward the Navy Dockyards. The room was fine. Nothing remarkable or any issues with the room. We were next to the stairwell, but didn't hear any noise. Room was quiet and only on our last night did we hear some kids very late one night running down the halls and making noise.
There must have been some South American holiday as the hotel was busy with families from Argentina. After the weekend it was much quieter until Thursday when a conference group showed up. It seems that a lot of folks from NYC spend long weekends on the island as Friday was much busier.
The beach area is nice, with servers that come around to the beach lounges to take food and drink orders. The pool area was never overly crowded except the first weekend. However, for the size of the hotel, the pool area is woefully inadequate in size. But I guess when you have really nice beaches, who spends time at a hotel pool. Still it is an area where this hotel is lacking. There is a nice spa, Willow Stream, which has a nice indoor pool and outdoor pools that for $45 you can use w/o paying for the overpriced spa services. You can use the pool and hot tubs after 9pm, but the other areas are closed to hotel guests.
The fitness center is also small, and was very crowded most mornings. Good variety of free weights, weight machines and tread mills, spinning and elliptical machines. But just not enough equipment.
You can rent scooters at the hotel as well, which we did for a couple days. $55/day for a single plus insurance.
The staff was friendly and we ate at Waterlot, which was very nice, and had drinks and bar food at the Dock. Again it's not cheap. You will pay about $14-$17 for a cocktail, and $12-$17 for a glass of wine. $20 for a burger or fish sandwich, etc. Jasmine's is nice and convenient in the hotel lobby area, and the wait staff were all very nice and friendly. Would stay here again as it's convenient location, with access to Hamilton via ferry. A short hike will get you to several beaches and coves.
If you golf or play tennis, they have nice tennis courts, and Turtle Bay Golf Club is a nice course.