Blue Bell Inn

The extra little touches made the place feel homely, from powerpoints on every bedside table to tea, coffee, and soaps that were well above average. The room and bathroom were great for the price, and the building and gardens are beautiful. The staff and owners are lovely too. It's absolutely great value. Just keep in mind that rooms on the 2nd floor mean climbing some stairs. If you get a room here, you won't regret it!

The owners are lovely, easy to deal with, and keep Blue Bell Inn clean and organised. It's a historic building full of character, on a quiet street in Sorell, Tasmania. Room 5, the ‘Sunset’ room, has an ensuite and plenty of space for one or two people, with a large bathroom. There's basic coffee and tea in the room, though some rooms have coffee pod machines. The rooms have slightly different layouts, so check the easy to use website carefully before booking. Off street parking is available. As of August 2021, breakfast wasn't being served because of Covid, but there are cafes nearby, including Velvet cafe, where I'll leave a separate review. Blue Bell Inn is good value, conveniently located, and has friendly, easy-going hosts.

This was very expensive for what they charge, and I wouldn't recommend it for couples, families, or elderly people. It felt worse than backpacker accommodation. The building is very old, a normal house converted into a hotel, and it's in a suburb with no views at all. There was a cracked roof, and the steps felt very scary. Don't trust room names like mountain view, sunset view, or sunrise view. The rooms had no ventilation, and the bed coverings and blankets seemed never to have been cleaned. They smelled very bad. There was no cupboard or place to hang clothes, and the towels were very dirty and unhygienic, as if many people had used them. They said the bathroom was private, but we found someone going in to use it. There's no central heating or cooling, which is very inconvenient in cold or hot weather. They served old, expired milk in an open bottle, which is dangerous to consume.

The hosts were lovely and welcoming, and I had some great meals at the local pub. I stayed here for work a few years ago. It’s in a lovely spot, and I’d like to bring my wife back with me.