In a nutshell, this is what you need to know:

1) the hotel does not have bar/restaurant - major minus. You need to walk 5 minutes to gas station to get even water.
2) each room has a fridge and a mini-kitchen -- major plus! The island is expensive so if you want to control the costs, cooking your own meals is a major advantage.
3) there is only one restaurant within easy walking distance (Swizzle Inn 2). Another major bummer.
4) At the bottom of the stairs is one of the most beautiful and almost deserted stretch of beach. Amazing in this day and age! You can walk for a mile and see 1-2 people.
5) All rooms are large and have awesome views. They're not the most updated/fancy but are all clean and functional.
6) because of no bar/restaurant -- it's quiet. make your sandwich and sit outside watching the day turn into night.
7) it is right on the bus line! Another huge source of savings! From the airport, take 1 or 11 to Hamilton and then catch bus #7 out to Warwick -- ask the driver to let you know what stop to exit at. (oh, and have small bills ready for the bus -- driver gives no change!)

We had read previous reviews for the Surf Side so had some expectations. The resort is a little tired and was a little dated, I'd however imagine it was really something in its day. There are very few facilities, and although it is is noted as being a hotel, I would suggest that it is more of an appartment set up with a daily maid service. The room was very clean, and we found the staff to be very friendly. The set up was ideal for us, however it you are looking for more facilities then a larger resort hotel would be more suitable.

The views were amazing - they were the best on the island - we had a look at a room in the Southhampton Fairmont and our ocean view was far superiour.

On our first few days we had a few walks along the beach, which was beautiful. On the last couple of days Hurricane Katia passed close by to Bermuda, and this caused a very strong rip tide along the South Shore which washed away the Surf Side Beach. The beach cannot be guranteed, but when it is there is it lovely.

We would return to the Surf Side in the future.

My husband and I stayed here for 10 nights in May and I was a bit hesitant because of some not so favorable reviews. I was pleasantly surprised. When we arrived the grounds were very colorful and the view was out of this world. When we got to our room I was very relieved, yes it is a bit dated, but it was clean, quite large and had a awesome view of the ocean. Every day there was a fresh hibiscus placed in our room. The staff was very friendly and being that we never traveled to Bermuda before we relied on them to answer our questions and welcomed their suggestions. They were always friendly and willing to help in anyway necessary. There is no longer a restaurant on the grounds and the beach, well there really isn't one anymore, which is sad, but the pool is very nice and has the most beautiful views of the ocean and shoreline. Surf Side is located close to a lot of the South Shore beaches and are, literally, only a few minutes up the road, by bus, scooter, or taxi. As far as restaurants go, Swizzle Inn is a short distance away. We walked there several nights for dinner and everything we tried there was quite delicious. The bus stop is at the entrance to the hotel which makes it very convenient and we used the bus service daily. It is a little confusing at first, but we got the hang of it very quickly. Surf Side is a very pleasant place to stay with some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen, and there are great views from every room. If I ever return to Bermuda I would definitely stay here again!

My family has been going to Surf Side since 1988. We generally go in November at Thanksgiving, but have also been there in winter and spring. We have stayed in studio rooms, one bedroom suites, connecting studios and the penthouse, in literally every section of the property. We have travelled there as a couple, with very young children, with teens and with a group of 20+.

I have photos to prove that there has been a beach at Surfside, with incredible snorkeling right from the shore. I also have photos to show that on one visit, the beach was there one day and gone two days later after a storm. But the storms have certainly taken an increasing toll and its a steep walk to the beach, so you simply cannot plan on there being a great beach at the property. But you are a short bus or scooter or taxi ride from a few of the most magnificent beaches on the island. We get a combined bus and ferry pass for the time we are there, and we take full advantage of the location.

The restaurant has also changed multiple times over the years. Many years ago it was open only for breakfast and lunch, in recent years they had a small restaurant with truly outstanding dinner, but I am not suprised it did not survive, especially in the off season.

For me, the perfect way to enjoy Surfside is as follows: Before you arrive, ask the staff to purchase some staples for your kitchen--bread, juice, eggs, whatever you need to make a quick snack if you are hungry from traveling. Also ask the staff to get you bus passes for your stay to they are available when you arrive. Then go to one of the grocery stores nearby--the Modern Mart is about 2 miles back toward the airport on the bus and there is another larger market a short taxi ride away. Restaurant food is expensive and we like to have inexpensive breakfasts and lunches we prepare ourselves and then splurge a bit on dinner. One can purchase inexpensive displosable charcoal grills if you want to cook up a steak or burger for dinner and some units have ovens with broilers. I have also traveled there with frozen meat--we have a short flight and it does just fine.

If you have any problems, ask for Mrs. Bryony Harvey or Wendell...they have been at Surfside for years and know just about everything about the property and the island.
The salt water takes its toll, but the management has done major renovations in the offseason for many years..and I have never been without a chaise lounge, sufficient furniture, a clean room, a beautiful hibiscus each day, and a spectacular view.

If you need a full service resort, or a more boutique location, a beach on site, or a full service restaurant, there are several options on the island where you can have all of that and more, likely at a higher price. If you want a simple location, close to the bus, close to the market, where you can self-cater and get away from all of the noise but that of the ocean...Surf Side may just be your place.

Bermuda is not the Caribbean. The weather is great for golf or tennis in the winter, but it really is not beach weather until April or May. I am from northern New England so I swim there through November, but most people stop in September or October. Many things close once the cruise ships stop coming--all over the island this is true. The economy has been hit hard and the island is struggling. It remains one of the most beautiful places I have seen and I have been all over the Caribbean. But it is a different culture, reserved, polite, quite formal, and used to giving people privacy.