Beware, the Arial Sands Hotel is a marketing scam and is about to be sold.

We booked this hotel under the assumption that it was owned by Michael Douglas, hence it would be an elegant and well appointed experience — celebrities don't usually associate themselves with a Holiday Inn? Or do they?

The reality was far from our expectations. First of all the only sign Michael Douglas has anything to do with the hotel is a lobby full of his photos, which made you feel more like you were staying at a Planet Hollywood than a high end beach resort.

Secondly the hotel is falling apart. Wads of toilet paper in the lobby bathroom, chipped walls, fake flowers, cinder block for landscaping and mean employees.

When we inquired more about this hotel, we found out that it is not really owned by Michael but by his mother, and she is only a part owner, who happens to be in the process of selling her share to the Hilton Corporation. Clearly it is in a state of transition. Michael Douglas would never stay in a place like this. Even his family reunion photo hanging on the wall is shot at another hotel!

Unfortunately the worse part is that the rooms still go for $400/night and for some reason $500 if you book on Expedia. Given my experience of $500/night rooms worldwide I complained—I'm usually not that picky but in this instance our expectations were far from met. The response I received is: "This is our price, no one seems to care, why would we put capital into the hotel when it will be torn down soon?", said the General Manager.

Since this was a family vacation, we went "all out" and booked a cottage with a kitchen up on the hill. What a waste of money. The kitchen had not been cleaned in months. There were weeds and grass growing through the back door which was permanently bolted shut. Cabinets and drawers were filthy.
Our bedrooms were OK. Bedding and upholstered furnishings a little worn. Bathrooms tiny and anitquated - not at all like the pictures on the website.
Best thing going was the staff - particularly the bar tender!
Also, the restaurant was great. They even cooked the fish we caught.
This place has great potential. I hope the rumors of a tear down are not true.

Just returned yesterday after 3 nights at Ariel Sands. First of all, there is no construction going on at this time. We enjoyed our stay very much in Sea Nymph #29. Beautiful views from each window and the private balcony with 2 chairs and a small table. The property is obviously older but very clean and everything was well maintained and in good repair. The mini fridge was very cold, which is not always the case in other hotels. The front desk staff was very nice, eager to answer questions and willing to help with calling cabs and dinner reservations. Everyone we encountered in Bermuda was very nice if approached politely and with respect. When traveling I try to remember that although I may be on vacation, the people working in hotels, restaurants, shops, etc are not. They often work long hours for low pay. I would have liked a ceiling fan over the bed and the hotel is somewhat secluded so every time we left the property a round trip cab was required but the hotel bills itself as a 3.5 star propery and that is exactly how I would describe it. Bermuda is a beautiful country. We hope to return.

I stayed for 3 nights in late May of 2007. On the first night I ordered room service from Aqua, which was quite nice and came as expected.

The waiter informed me to leave the tray outside my door for collection after I was finished, which I did shortly after I finished the meal.

I was suprised to find it there when I woke up the next morning and went to work, considering it is outdoors and the leftover food would and did attract pests.

I was appalled to find the tray still there when I returned home from my all day meetings at 5:00pm that day, especially considering the maids had clearly been to my cottage to clean it and simply left the tray to collect ants/roaches/rats/birds/etc.

I went down to the front desk and politely told the young Bermudian girl that the tray was still there from the night before. She did not apologize but said someone would collect it immediately. After about an hour a knock on my door was the turn down service, I declined but pointed out the tray which was still uncollected. The turndown service said that she noted that this morning and offered surprise (but did not take it away). She said she would send someone to collect it.

Finally at 8:30pm, I took the tray to the front desk myself and left it on the desk. The front desk girl still did not apologize and seemed not at all shocked.

I have stayed in countless hotels and this is the worst service I have ever seen in my life. Including Motel 6's.