Thursday, March 18, 2010

TWT in Bermuda


Having just returned from a beautiful trip to the island of Bermuda, I am happy to share my TWT adventures with you. Listen up ladies, because when SO asks where your next vacation should be, you will have already booked the tickets.
Bermuda, a British overseas territory, is located off of the east coast of North Carolina. With an annual temperature high of 86 and low of 63, there is virtually no "bad season" to visit. With such amazing weather and scenery, it's hard to imagine why you would want to stay inside...unless you stay at Tucker's Point, of course. Newly opened in May of 2009, Tucker's Point is the island's most luxurious resort. When first pulling into Tucker's Point, (either by taxi or scooter) it's hard to believe that the view in front of you is actually real. It's almost as if Mother Nature knew exactly how to create perfection; rolling hills on the well manicured gold course, turquoise blue water, light pink sand, beachy-luxe buildings, all that seems to have grown out of a huge mountain face, where nobody could find it.


The amenities at Tucker's Point are endless, like any great resort should be. You can choose to stay in the Tucker's Point Hotel or in one of the Villa's, all of which are up for sale and fractional ownership. The hotel offers such amenities as private pools, access to the new Spa at Tucker's Point, and of course, fine dining.

I had the opportunity to experience The Point Restaurant and Terrace for dinner and brunch. Eating at The Point was one of the highlights of Bermuda for me, and it wasn't just because of the food. To me, a gourmet resturant must impress me equally with its food and its atmosphere. There is nothing worse than waiting uncomfortably for your meal (or a table) and being rushed once you sit down. If American's can learn anything from the French, it would be to slow down and really savor food, company, and atmosphere. Walking into The Point, it hardly feels like a restaurant at all. The tables are swathed in white linen, the chairs are mismatched in a comfortable, yet grand style, the exposed dark wood beams and moldings give the feel of being a on luxurious ship, but the views of the crystal clear water keep you grounded. The walls are covered in what looks like hand painted murals, but like everything else in Bermuda, it has a story and a history. Juan Tripp, the founder of Pan American World Airways, was so inspired on a trip to Hong Kong in 1965 by the hand painted murals of Chinese Horsemen, that he comissioned the artist to create an 80ft long mural for the Sky Club of the Pan Am building. The mural, a collection of ports around the world, stayed in the Sky Club until its closing in 2005. Juan Tripp's son, Ed Tripp, the current President of Tucker's Point, bought the mural at auction and installed it in the restaurant in Tucker's Point (with the addition of one port that wasn't on the orginal, Bermuda.)

The food at Tucker's Point was just as impressive as its service and always responsive staff. I was excited to see Grilled Wagyu Beef Sirloin, with humble sides such as ratatouille and a tempura onion ring on the menu, because like everything else at Tucker's Point, it's luxury with a hint of casual, European perfection. All in all, it just works. Brunch wasn't a typical American buffet of greasy sausage links and rubbery eggs. Items such as Homemade Vanilla Brioche French Toast, Classic Eggs Benedict with Hollandise Sauce, and Swiss Bircher Museli are the Tucker's Point way of starting off the morning right.




After breakfast, when the SO's go and play on the gorgeous golf course, you can either take a trip to the spa or relax by the infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic. If you stay in a villa, you will also have a large balcony complete with an outdoor dining table, barbecue, and incredibly relaxing lounge couch. Or just take a stroll downstairs to either the villa bar, a community room filled with bottles of every alcohol imaginable. If you still want entertainment, the villa community game room has dvd's, board games, a pool table, and entertainment for hours.

The furnishings in the villas are a mix between a summer home in Palm Beach and a British countryside home. The contrast between the beachy white paint and the heavy, wooden furniture is appealing and elegantly comfortable. All villas are fully equipped for your stay, including toiletries, kitchen accessories and appliances, towels, and a daily maid service.
Tucker's Point is a place that you won't want to ever leave, but all is forgotten when the wind is blowing through your hair while you're on the back of a scooter in the midst of an adventure to the world's most private beaches....