Sandbanks Hotel

The sea view from our double room was spectacular, and we enjoyed it from the balcony table and chairs. Room 215 was faultless, though I don’t know if it had been refurbished recently. There was a separate area with a wardrobe, drawers, TV and comfortable chairs, plus a patio door out to the balcony. The bed was especially comfortable. The duvet was a bit too warm for us, but we mentioned it at reception in the morning and they put on a lighter one. Thank you. Breakfast had plenty of choice, with eggs and porridge made to order, and the restaurant was spotless. All the staff were friendly and polite. Free parking was a bonus, with plenty of space during our September visit in the off season. We’d recommend having coffee and drinks on the terrace. About the seagull complaints: you’re by the sea, and the hotel has signs on the outside bins asking people not to leave food waste or pizza boxes there. There’s a bin inside for that. If people ignore the signs, of course there’ll be seagulls. That’s not the hotel’s fault. This place is a gem and we hope to return.

We’ll be back. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and the hotel is right on the beach. Our room was spacious, spotless and well equipped. The Amalfi restaurant also has lovely views out to sea.

The sea view made the price worthwhile. It was stunning, and hearing the waves through the night and again in the morning was really relaxing. My husband and I stayed for one night for our first wedding anniversary. The staff were lovely and friendly, and breakfast was decent with lots of choices. I was very happy to find mocha on the coffee machine, as many hotels don’t offer that. The food at the Amalfi restaurant wasn’t great, and we wouldn’t eat there again if we stayed. The whole place feels very dated and needs updating to bring it into the 21st century.

I booked two rooms for one night as a treat for my friends and us, four people in all, expecting a special stay. I didn’t check the reviews, and should have. It was the most disappointing stay I’ve ever had. My friends called it appalling and asked why I hadn’t booked the Premier Inn. We had to catch the 6:30am ferry, so we missed breakfast, which wasn’t the hotel’s fault. They had said they’d provide breakfast boxes, but instead put four bananas, six apples, four yogurts and six wooden forks in a carrier bag. The room’s decor and furniture looked straight out of the 1960s. Shocking. Premier Inn is 100% better and half the price.