Bermuda Great Values

This well-maintained enclave perches on a hill with splendid views of the South Shore (one of Bermuda's loveliest strands, Warwick Long Bay, is a three minute stroll away). The onsite (and in-room) amenities, including BBQ grill, large pool, complimentary beach chairs, and Wi-Fi access throughout the property are excellent given the price, and service is exemplary thanks to manager/den mother-hen Corrine Simons who’s always available to answer questions and offer suggestions. The eight air-conditioned studio and one-bedroom apartments offer safes, irons, and kitchens equipped with a separate microwave, coffee pot, stove, refrigerator, plates, glasses, and flatware. Upstairs accommodations are particularly light-filled and have balconies offering peeks of water past the well-kept residences nearby.

The name is misleadingly grand, but the recently renovated Grotto Bay delivers a fine, active resort experience and amazing bang-for-the-buck. The main building sets a stylish tone with neocolonial architectural flourishes (peaked roofs, curved eaves) and contrapuntal décor of modern art and more typical maritime accents. Its three interconnected private beaches with rocky outcroppings aren't the best, with vistas encompassing unused railway pylons and the airport, but it's an otherwise exceptionally scenic coastline pocked with coves and natural caves (hence the name). On the downside, the food is mediocre, service helpful but uneven, and maintenance spotty, but the full water sports facility and roster of organized activities as well as daily afternoon tea, happy hour, and entertainment help to compensate. The superior supervised children's programs and playground make this fantastic family bet. The 201 sunny rooms occupy several three-story buildings painted in luscious colors like mustard and mango. Every unit boasts a private balcony or patio with ocean view.

This worthy apartment hotel scales a steep cliff encircling a gorgeous, sweeping scimitar of delicate pink sand. The layout, while incredibly scenic, embraces vertiginous paths and stairways that the mobility-challenged will find difficult to negotiate. Service is swift and smiling, including a free morning newspaper at your door. The central location in a quiet residential neighborhood guarantees that the pool and beach are almost always empty even when the resort’s at capacity and the onsite Palms restaurant serves first-rate international cuisine. Terraced buildings hold 48 airy, commodious, comfortable units with digital cable TV (receiving more than 200 channels), a fully equipped if small kitchen, and tiny patio or balcony with glorious ocean views.  Nearly all contain absolutely stunning marine and local genre photos by noted shutterbug Roland Skinner and pleasingly placid watercolors.