The Belmont

Breakfast was amazing and I couldn't fault the place. I loved the hotel, everyone was so nice, and they made me feel right at home. I hope I can stay again sometime!

We had a lovely swim in the pool, surrounded by pretty plants and flowers, and breakfast was cooked to order with lots of choice. The owners gave us a warm, friendly welcome and showed us to a clean, comfortable room. This hotel is a wonderful little gem. We'll definitely return!

We stayed at the Belmont for two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed it, even with a cold wind for much of the time. Our room, number 20, was huge and opened straight onto the front veranda. Linda and Des run the place in a way we haven't found elsewhere, and we think it's the best B&B hotel we've visited. The pool area is inviting and the breakfast choices are numerous. On wet days, the large lounge is there for as long as you like, with sweets, snacks and an ice cream freezer nearby. You can also order sandwiches and other lunch options, so there's no need to go elsewhere on those days unless you want dinner. There's a well-stocked bar for when you get back. Shanklin has plenty of restaurants, though most are pretty pricey. We ate at the cheaper, no-frills Happy Haddock and the Paramount, where booking is strongly recommended. Check their evening hours. We also went to the Village Inn and Amici, a very good Italian restaurant, and booked both a couple of weeks before leaving home. They're on the High Street. The Steamer Inn is on the seafront and doesn't take bookings, so be ready to wait as it's popular. The island bus service is reliably good, so leave the car behind unless you need it. We left ours at home and used our county bus passes, which work on the regular numbered routes but not the specials. If you're 60 or over, a 24-hour ticket for the special routes costs £9.30, which is good value for how far you can travel.

I still think the Belmont is worth recommending, even though it felt more like an adequate hotel than a good one. It seems to have gradually cut back on services, and I only saw Linda and her husband running everything, though I could be wrong. They told us at check-in that rooms aren't turned down during a stay, and I did miss that service. The evening meal they used to serve has stopped. The location is excellent, with an easy walk to the seafront and just a couple of minutes into Shanklin Old Town. Outside looked cared for, Linda was a good host, and reception was nicely decorated. There were lots of things for sale, from coffee and cold drinks to toiletries, all on an honesty system, paid in cash or written down for the bill. Linda cooked a first-class breakfast, from continental choices to a full cooked meal in all sorts of versions. Our room, number 12, was only just passable. It had an odd shape and a bathroom down a short hallway. The bed was comfortable but quite small, and the TV's position gave my wife a sore neck. The bathroom was a letdown: very cramped, with barely room to dry off after a shower. The shower cubicle was tiny and the water pressure poor. The sink was fine except the cold tap ran warm, even when left on. The toilet roll holder was absurdly placed over your left shoulder and almost impossible to reach, though there were better spots for it. I may have been a little harsh giving it three stars. I wish half stars were an option.