Royal Palms Hotel is the top guest property in Bermuda, according tripadvisor.com — the website which describes itself as the world’s largest travel site.

tripadvisor ranks hotels according to the feedback it receives from visitors, who rate the properties out of five possible points in six categories: value, location, sleep quality, rooms, cleanliness and service.

Guests are also invited to write a review, and here the Rosemont Avenue property received additional bouquets as well.

A recent reviewer, who stayed in the hotel in December, explained their trip had been a family gathering of 14 celebrating the holidays and an anniversary celebration. “We were all more than satisfied. The rooms were lovely, the staff very friendly and try to do everything to meet your needs, the breakfast buffet and afternoon wine/tea/snacks was delightful.

The review concluded: “ ... we definitely recommend this hotel.”

Reviewers also leave ‘room tips’, such as this one: “Room Tip: 107 and 112 are great for two couples travelling together that enjoy a drink on the patio!! Stayed January 2014, travelled as a couple.”

Royal Palms manager Theresa Harney-Zuill said they check the tripadvisor rankings every day, and have held the number one spot since August. Their main competitor is Rosedon Hotel, Bermuda’s number two hotel, and she said the two properties occasionally will swap positions. “We check it everyday to see what they reviews are. It keeps us on our toes!” she said.

As a small property, tripadvisor is an important aspect of marketing the property, and Ms Harney-Zuill said many of their guest do find them on the site. “We don’t do any specific advertising, because we are a small hotel — just 32 rooms,” she said.

One secret to their success, she said, is personalised service. “We call the guests by name,” she said. “It makes such a difference — and makes the guests feel important.

“Most of the staff have been with us a long time — they are passionate, loyal. We all have our off-days, but our guests would never know it. They are very professional.”

Royal Palms also boasts a top-ranked restaurant at the property, Ascot’s, which Ms Harney-Zuill explained is a separate entity to the hotel. Ascot’s has recently opened Just 24 on their veranda, which is a more casual restaurant with lighter fare.

The most recent review for the number two hotel property, Rosedon Hotel, was written by Mukesh Joshi of Winter Park in Florida. He said: “I stayed at the Rosedon for 3 days (Jan 7 to 10, 2014) and am writing this review the next day. As a regular international traveller, the Hotel staff and the Owners are one of the best that I have met. They are extremely friendly, warm, and ensure that your stay with them is a memorable one.

“My stay at the Rosedon was so comfortable, it felt like I am at home.”

And the third place property on the tripadvisor list is Pompano Beach Club in Southampton.

tripadvisor also break down their rankings into categories such as ‘Romantic’ — Cambridge Beaches in Somerset takes the top spot under this heading, ‘On the beach’ — Pompano Beach Club ranks first here, and ‘Best value’ is Clairfont Apartments in Warwick, while Newstead Belmont Hills Hotel, on Harbour Road in Paget, gets the top position in the ‘Luxury’ category.

Useful website: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotels-g147255-Bermuda-Hotels.html