Sandbanks Hotel

Our room was spacious, spotless and well equipped, and the Amalfi restaurant had lovely views of the sea. The hotel is right on the beach and superbly appointed. The staff were warm and welcoming from the start, and we’ll be back.

The view of the sea was stunning, and hearing the waves overnight and in the morning was so relaxing. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was decent with lots of choices. I was especially happy to find mocha on the coffee machine, since many hotels don’t offer it. We stayed one night for our first wedding anniversary, and the price felt worth it for that view. The food at the Amalfi restaurant wasn’t great, though, and we wouldn’t eat there again if we returned. The whole place feels dated and needs bringing up to the 21st century.

We booked two rooms for four of us for one night as a treat for friends and ourselves. It turned out to be the most disappointing stay I’ve had. My friends said it was appalling and wondered why I hadn’t booked the Premier Inn. The rooms looked like they were decorated and furnished in 1960, which was shocking. We had to catch the ferry at 6:30am, so we missed breakfast, through no fault of the hotel. They’d said they would provide breakfast boxes, but instead a carrier bag was handed to us with four bananas, six apples, four yogurts and six wooden forks. I should have checked the reviews first. Premier Inn is 100 percent better and half the price.

The family room was massive, with a separate room for the kids, no bunk beds, and an en suite bathroom. The staff were friendly everywhere, including their partners, and even the other guests were nice. Breakfast options were really enjoyable, and the service was great. I booked during a peak period, so I can’t comment on the cost. I’m keeping this positive, it was a brilliant experience all round.