Hotel Miramar

We’ve been back three times and have managed to stay in the same wonderful room each visit, with its fabulous sea views. The hotel is spotless, the breakfast is fabulous, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Nothing seems too much trouble, either. There’s also some lovely, unusual jewellery for sale at reasonable prices. A special thanks to saffron for making us feel extra special, and congratulations on a well deserved promotion. We’ll be back.

Please read the General Manager reply. I also want to warn people booking through a third-party site. Our stay at Miramar left us feeling that the hotel didn’t value our business because we booked through Booking.com. We often use these sites for the extra booking security and support, and they bring hotels new customers too. We didn’t question whether we would pay the parking fee. What bothered us was the explanation and the way we were treated over it. We said we probably wouldn’t return, and reception replied, “Good! That’s fine.” That indifference to feedback was disappointing. We plan to follow up with Booking.com by email. Parking was one reason we chose this Bournemouth hotel, along with its location. When we arrived, the car park was full because of a private function. We eventually found a space and were told parking cost £15, payable at checkout, which we accepted. By later that evening and the next morning, the car park was almost empty, with about 98% of spaces free. At checkout I said it seemed unusual for a four-star hotel to charge £15 when most spaces were empty, especially as not every customer pays. Rather than respond to that point, the receptionist said we had booked a “cheap” or “discounted” room through Booking.com instead of directly with the hotel. It came across as though extra charges were to be expected because we’d chosen a cheap option. That was unprofessional and, after checking both Booking.com and Hotel Miramar’s official website, we found the same room was actually cheaper on the hotel site. So despite being told we had a discounted room, we had paid more than guests booking directly. We felt insulted and lied to, and the explanation seemed to be used to justify the extra charge. The hotel also felt tired for somewhere marketed as four-star. Our room seemed closer to a three-star standard, and the service felt worse. The shower was very low, uncomfortable if you’re around 6 ft or taller, and we saw two moths in the room. During the day, cleaning cupboards were left open with linen and supplies on display, which didn’t feel polished. The worst part wasn’t the £15 itself, but the attitude at reception and the explanation we were given. We wouldn’t feel comfortable returning, and future guests may want to bear this experience in mind.

Our 50th birthday party at the hotel was such a memorable evening. Friends and family have sent lovely messages about how much they enjoyed it and how beautiful the hotel looked. Brian and his team put in so much care to make everything run smoothly and went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time. I’m very grateful. Thanks again, and I hope to see you all soon.

The food is superb, and the staff are great. Lily and Tanya are amazing and nothing is too much trouble. It’s a brilliant hotel and good value, whether you’re staying for a short visit or longer. We highly recommend the Miramar in Bournemouth. Every time we stay, it gets even better.