“My boyfriend, for the record, is still casually looking into Bermuda real estate and periodically using the phrase, ‘I think we should be Bermuda people.'”
BY RACHEL HECHLER
There is something uniquely revealing about a first trip with someone. A dinner can be charming and intimate; but a weekend? That’s important data for the future.
You learn whether they are stressed by the airport. If they insist on over-scheduling an itinerary. Whether they can coexist peacefully during a wrong turn, hunger, sunscreen negotiations, or the mildly humbling experience of driving an electric two-seater on the opposite side of the road in Bermuda.
Fortunately, our first trip together happened at the kind of hotel that makes romance feel less performative and more inevitable.
In case you did not know this (as I certainly did not), Bermuda is less than a two-hour flight from New York—a fact that feels borderline offensive once discovered. No brutal travel day, no logistical Olympics, and no recovery required.
The Loren at Pink Beach sits just fifteen minutes from the airport, which, after years of New York travel logic (leave four hours early in case of catastrophe) felt suspiciously convenient. We had barely settled into vacation mode before stepping into an airy, polished lobby framed by what Bermuda does exceptionally well: impossibly blue water, dramatic cliffs, and views striking enough to make you stop mid-sentence.
The hotel feels chic in a distinctly modern, boutique way—elevated without being sterile. Small enough to feel intimate yet polished enough to feel indulgent. The kind of place where everyone seems quietly attractive and appropriately relaxed.
Our terrace suite immediately delivered on the fantasy. Spacious, calming, and thoughtfully designed, it struck the rare balance of feeling clean and contemporary while still having personality. The ocean view was stunning in the way that luxury hotels promise, but do not always execute. Outside, a private lounge area quickly became our unofficial headquarters between pool hours, afternoon lounging, and pre-dinner drinks.
Inside: a soaking tub worth using, a generously sized shower, Jack-and-Jill sinks (quietly underrated), and one of those details that always wins me over—impeccable turndown service. Slippers placed beside the bed. Lighting softened. Chocolates on pillows. The subtle luxury of feeling anticipated before having to ask.
A chilled bottle of rosé and fruit plate waiting in our room upon arrival certainly did not hurt either.
What The Loren understands particularly well is atmosphere.
During the day, the energy is easy and unfussy: long pool afternoons, fresh coconut water in hand, and couples quietly reading beside the water. Stylish friend groups drift between loungers while couples settle into the distinctly luxurious rhythm of doing very little.
“It is objectively romantic, which I can confirm after exchanging our first “I love yous” over cocktails and dinner. A fairly high bar for vacation memories, admittedly.”
At night, there is a beautiful shift. Dinner at Pink Beach Club feels cinematic in the way only oceanfront dining can. Perched dramatically above the water, dinner unfolds against crashing waves and panoramic views that somehow feel both expansive and intimate. It is objectively romantic, which I can confirm after exchanging our first “I love yous” over cocktails and dinner. A fairly high bar for vacation memories, admittedly.
The service throughout the weekend felt warm rather than scripted, attentive without hovering. One bartender, after discovering my preferred martini order, hand-stuffed blue cheese olives so I could have a properly dirty Ketel One martini my way. The pours were generous in a way that repeatedly made us glance at one another and quietly wonder if Bermuda simply understands hospitality better. Pre-dinner cocktails and flatbread overlooking the water quickly became one of those vacation rituals you immediately know you will miss once you are home—equal parts glamorous and relaxing.
The hotel also leans into thoughtful programming in ways that make it feel slightly more interesting than your average beach property. During high season, The Loren hosts an ongoing chef series, welcoming Michelin-starred, celebrity, and James Beard Award-winning chefs for intimate dinners. It gives the hotel a layer of culinary credibility without becoming overly self-important.
The Loren does many things well, but perhaps most importantly, it makes an excellent home base for exploring the island. Renting a Twizy directly from the property and driving across Bermuda turned out to be one of our favorite pastimes. The on-site pickup could not be easier, and there is something undeniably joyful about spending the day driving along the coast with a very good playlist, experiencing the charm of both Hamilton and St. George’s. We also discovered beaches and neighborhoods that briefly convince you to entertain wildly unrealistic relocation fantasies.
My boyfriend, for the record, is still casually looking into Bermuda real estate and periodically using the phrase, “I think we should be Bermuda people.”
For dinner outside the hotel, we became borderline evangelical about Intrepid at the Hamilton Princess. Ask for Michael if you can, and under no circumstances should you skip the chocolate cake. Some desserts are memorable. This one felt emotionally significant.
The spa at The Loren is less destination-spa fantasy and more quietly restorative—which, frankly, suited us perfectly. After an eighty-minute massage, we wandered into the sauna, then walked approximately thirty steps to jump into the pool. Convenience, it turns out, is an underrated luxury.
What stayed with me most about The Loren, though, was not any single amenity. Luxury hotels often try very hard to manufacture romance. Candlelight here. Champagne there. The Loren succeeds because it gets out of the way. It quietly creates the conditions for closeness: beautiful views, attentive service, a calming room, excellent cocktails, and enough ease that the person you came with becomes the main event.
And for a first trip together, that turned out to be better than we could have dreamed.
