Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel

The dining was consistently excellent, with flavourful meals, plenty of options and welcoming, knowledgeable service at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bedrooms were spacious and stylish, carefully presented with comfortable beds and crisp linens. The whole property was immaculately maintained and exceptionally clean. Staff throughout were attentive, friendly and professional, and made us feel valued. With its fantastic location, comfort and quality in every detail, it was a memorable stay and we'd be keen to return.

We were visiting the international centre, so the location worked perfectly for us. The views were lovely, and we had a clean, comfortable room and lovely food. Reception, bar and restaurant staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and couldn't do enough for us. It's the best service we've ever received here. We'll definitely return.

The room was lovely, with a great bed, and the location had a lot going for it. The lounge and bar felt especially nice at Christmas, and apparently the complimentary hot chocolate was delicious. But my elderly in-laws, aged 77 and 92, had some difficulties. My mother-in-law needed step-free access, which meant crossing the car park to reach a lift to their room. That was unpleasant in the cold, especially with her severely restricted walking. The cooked breakfast we ordered to the room arrived lukewarm, probably because it had to be carried outside. Food we ordered on two occasions also took a long time, though I understand there may have been fewer staff at Christmas. I wasn't planning to review, as I usually only leave positive ones, but my husband has now received a £100 fine for staying ten minutes over outside the main entrance while my mother walked extremely slowly. The parking minimum is also £32 for two hours. People should know the pros and cons.

We used to think of this as a special occasion hotel. We got engaged here and held our wedding party here years ago, so we were excited to bring the children. This visit left us thoroughly unimpressed: the hotel feels rundown and service was poor. The rooms have been modernized, which was fine, but the beds felt like bricks and we had the worst night's sleep. The shower pressure was pitiful, although the water was hot. In the evening, the bar was messy, with food and rubbish on the floor and tables that hadn't been wiped. I wouldn't expect that lack of attention from Marriott. At breakfast, people queued to be seated without an apology or any urgency from staff. The food was dire, with one fruit option, sad-looking cooked food and pastries past their best. Tables seemed to have been waiting a while to be cleared, and service was generally poor. We'll go back to our usual cheaper hotel, where we know what we're getting, and which is a lot more satisfying.