The Monterey Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western

The room was spacious, with a very comfortable bed, and the food was good and reasonably priced. The pool area was clean and nicely presented. Staff gave the best attention to detail, and the service was great. On the downside, the room was quite damp, so my clothes and towels picked up the same smell. That wasn’t great for anyone with chest conditions. The corridors smelled of stale urine, like an unkempt residential care home, and the hotel interiors and corridors looked very dated.

We booked as part of a coach tour and weren’t sure what to expect, but the friendly welcome as soon as we arrived made us feel we’d found a lovely hotel. We went half board and liked breakfast, while dinner was so good that we decided not to eat out. Barman Victor recommended lunch at The Lookout, which had amazing food and views, and waiter Amos kept us entertained. All the staff were wonderful. We used the pool and jacuzzi and sunbathed by the outdoor pool too. I’d have liked more evening entertainment, though there was a quiz one evening, and the bedroom decor could do with an update. More comfortable mattresses would help too. Thanks for a wonderful stay!

The staff were great, and we even made friends with a couple of them. I liked the food, though on some evenings none of the choices across the different courses appealed to me. The pools were good, but the indoor one could be deeper. The outdoor pool was cold, but that’s expected, so it’s nobody’s fault. Our room was great apart from the bathroom being a bit small and there not being many plug sockets. A couple of breakfast tips: don’t put cut-up croissants in the toaster oven, since it isn’t made for them. Don’t change the temperature unless someone else has changed it already; then put it back to the default, usually the dial’s middle setting, and let a staff member know if you’re unsure. Use a napkin to pick up the hot plates, and maybe when handling certain pairs of tongs too, as they can get quite hot. I really enjoyed my stay at the Monterey Hotel. Please add some more evening entertainment for next time! Thanks for a great experience, 4*.

It’s about a 20 minute walk into town, though the hotel is on a bus route. The hotel and rooms were clean and tidy, with great food and menu choices. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and had lots of local information. The indoor pool area was very clean, although the steam room wasn’t available. My only criticism was that the bar area didn’t have enough comfortable seating.