Garden House (4 Middle Rd., tel. 441/234-1435, fax 441/234-3006) is a true gem, tucked up a limestone drive just footsteps south of Somerset Bridge. Owned by Rosanne Galloway, two studio units ($75 and $115 d) are attached to the main house in a wing that once served as the three-acre property’s coach house and stables. Each has a private bathroom—one with a bathtub, the other with a shower—and full kitchens. Manicured gardens surround the home, which also has a pool. Persian carpets, antiques, TV, and private phone lines make guests feel quite at home.

With its cedar interiors, traditional moongates, and mature gardens, Willowbank (126 Somerset Rd., tel. 441/234-1616, toll-free from the U.S. 800/752-8493, fax 441/234-3373, www.willowbank.bm, high season rates $175–233 per person double occupancy, with breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner included) somehow manages to create an oasis of peace beside the very busy main road. The 45-year-old cottage colony was created by a group of nondenominational Christian businessmen who hoped to offer guests a respite from the stresses of regular life. Today, the nine-acre resort retains a religious aura, with daily prayer sessions, lectures, and grace said before dinner in the “Loaves and Fishes” Dining Room. It is popular with church groups, but nonreligious guests are also welcome. A range of prices accompany the choice of ocean, pool, or garden views from the 67 no-frills. Amenities include air-conditioning, private bathrooms, hair dryers, coffee pots, and small refrigerators. The main clubhouse is an elegant Bermudian homestead, its open-beamed lounge boasting cedar beams, an old library, and—added in fall of 2005—a quaint tearoom. The property also has a heated swimming pool, two tennis courts, a private dock, and a couple of beaches on the Ely’s Harbour coastline.