We have been to Bermuda several times and have stayed at a different place each time (our of curiosity and trying to find the "perfect place.") We have always wanted to stay at the Pompano and it has always been booked, so we were terrifically pleased to know we could get a terrific room during our visit, the last week of this past August.
We had a wonderful room - bright, clean, huge bathroom, a really comfortable balcony and sitting area. (Alas: the walls could use some art.) The service was immediate (they fixed a toilet within 5 minutes of our call), and we had an outstanding view of picture-perfect sunsets over placid waters. (Without a surf, my husband describes the water more as a lake. I liken the view to something you might see out of a portal of a ship although we have never been on a cruise and hopefully never will). We love to walk the Railway Trail and returning to the room after being under the sun for a few hours was really a pleasure - a promise of terrific AC, a good shower, and a chance to sit with a drink to watch perfect water under perfectly formed clouds which promised perfect sunsets. Really.
Tim was extremely welcoming when we arrived and provided just enough warmth to know let us know we could keep to ourselves or find good company anywhere at the resort. The first night we stayed, there was a reception for guests with a large variety of well done appetizers and pitchers of rum punch (which were easy to keep drinking). We got to know Art easily, and the person at the front-desk always stopped whatever she was doing to answer a question (no matter how many times, I am sure, she had answered the same "dumb" questions before.) And, while we always braved the walk to the bus from the hotel on our way "out," we more than appreciated the ride from the bus stop to the hotel at the end of the day.
We did not have the problem of feeling like the "new kids on the block" as others have written about...even though a lot of the Lamb family seemed to be around at the time of our visit (including on our snorkel adventure), and it would be easy to feel "left out" of what was, rightfully, a family time.
The food was good - sometimes excellent - but never bad (and we have had truly horrible food at other places). The food in the main dining room was much better than the food in the smaller restaurant, downstairs, even though the ambience, downstairs, was much nicer. And the wine lists in the two restaurants are different for some odd reason (but we managed to get a bottle we had had "downstairs" brought "upstairs" on the following evening, thanks to Art.) (We liked Art.)
If there was a problem for us, it was the number of children under 5 or 6 in the dining room - whose parents seemed oblivous to their shrieking and running around the tables. While the Pompano is a casual resort, we still would have liked to have had a calmer dining environment which, actually, would probably have made the food seem even better. I am not making this up: One kid actually threw a tantrum that the parents not only ignored but let the kid take to other tables.)
I loved being able to sit outside to eat (although my husband was not crazy about the birds and, uh, the decorations that they leave)...but I got a kick out of how the servers were very quick to cover plates when diners went to get something additional from a buffet. They did that with a rather wry smile....
We did not have problem with the proverbial pool lady since her scowl at me when I approached her for some ice water said, "Warning" all over it, so I decided not to bother. The beach is small but it is true: When the tide is out, you can laze on the water for quite a distance from shore and still stand. The water is incredibly calm and there are virtually no stones or seaweed, etc. on the bottom (and we don't at all understand how anyone could recommend "pool shoes" for the beach.). I did have an amusing interaction with several beach umbrellas one day, trying to get them to stay up. I settled on putting my chair flat and hunkering down low under the shade. Made for some entertaining pictures.
We stayed in one of the newer buildings - next to the very last room - and the privacy and quiet was perfect.
The Pompano has easily become one of our top two "stays" on the island (the other being the Reefs). (The problem we have with the Reefs is that everyone really has been there a trillion times and it is easy to feel on the outside). We would definitely return to the Pompano (although not during school vacations). (Yes: We have kids and aren't ancient and don't hate children...it's just that, when we are away from kids, we don't want to feel like we haven't left home).
Go the Pompano! Enjoy the water, the friendliness, the view, and the relaxed attitude. It's a good place, and we'd be happy to return any time...hoping that there is a room to be had!
