Rainbow International Hotel

This is the dirtiest hotel I have ever stayed in. The bedrooms are disgusting-loads of complaints and people having to be movedto other rooms. The dining room is very good, meals excellent, badly let down by the reception staff. I think they were sick of people moaning. The whole place needs a thorough clean. Showers did not work, basins cracked, windows would not close.Wardrobe doors would not close properly.Really spoilt a lovely holiday. Loved the model village and Bygones, well worth the money. Locals all very polite and friendly.

We booked a 3 night stay in august 08 and having read lots of reviews we tried to cancel the holiday due to the very poor, negative comments. The hotel advised us that the comments were unfair and we would lose our deposit if we cancelled so we decided to carry on with the booking and just go out all day and evening and just use hotel to sleep in.
On arrival I am so glad we continued with the booking. The comments are totally unjustified. The reception was lovely, the room was huge and very well decorated considering its just a 2* hotel. We had a family room and as there were only 2 of us we had loads of space, yes the view over the rear of the car park was not great but you cant have it all. The hotel itself yes needs touching up but it by no means deserves all the negative and very unfair comments. We were in room 122 and i cant speak for all the rooms, the one we had was very very nice. We tried the club a few nights and gave up, the entertainment was not great but that was prob due to the fact there were only about half a dozen people in there so we went over the road to Alberts bar and had a great time. The breakfast was nice, the hotel restaurant was very nice and we have booked to go back again after christmas for another 3 night break.
I have been to torquay on 9 occasions and stayed at many establishments, the Rainbow is definately one i would go back to but would not use the evening facilities.

Just came back from this hotel, and would not return. Rooms were very tired and needed updating, no shower hose to wash your hair would leave to the floor being very wet and slippery.
Restaurant, food was OK no variety carvery every night no fish on Friday, poor vegetarian option, waited to be seated for over 5 Min's every morning and night, tables not very clean was seated any were, put in between other guests we are a family of five so not great.
Entertainment OK, entertainment a couple of nights were not suitable for residents, small bar in lounge was not opened, yet if no one in cabaret room they would close the bar regardless residents sitting in lounge. This was 10.35 and told cost of drinks would have to go on room bill. We pick hotels that have a bar as by youngest is 14 so getting in bars out side is hard.
Pool my son picked something up from bottom of pool it turned out to be a razor which my son cut his finger, no one from the hotel came and apologise that this has happened. over all not a great hotel

STAYED IN ROOM 225 FRIENDS IN 226. rOOMS VERY SHABBY, VOILE CURTAINS WERE VERY DIRTY. WHEN BEDS WERE MADE THE TOP COVER WAS STRAIGHTENED BUT THE BOTTOM SHEET WAS LEFT AS IT WAS WHEN WE GOT OUT OF BED. IN THE AFTERNOON THE ONLY PLACE TO GET A DRINK WAS FROM COFFEE/TEA MACHINE. WE HAD TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD TO ANOTHER BAR. ALL SHELVES ON CORRIDORS WERE DUSTY. A LOT OF ELDERLEY PEOPLE GO HERE WITH NATIONAL HOLIDAYS, ABOUT 7 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE HAVE WALKING AIDS. WE HAD TO WALK NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILE DRAGGING SUITCASES DOWNSTAIRS AS THERE IS ONLY ONE PORTER. THE INDOOR POOL WAS CLOSED AND ONE OF THE RESIDENTS TOLD US WHY. THE OUTSIDE POOL IS ABOUT 100YDS DOWN THE RD FROM FRONT OF HOTEL AND IT WAS VERY DIRTY. OUR DRIVER DENNIS WAS VERY GOOD AND MADE OUR HOLIDAY. WOULD NOT GO BACK TO THIS HOTEL . FOOD WAS VERY GOOD.

I stayed at The Rainbow International Hotel in July 2007. I enjoyed my stay there. My room was at the top of the stairs and the food was fairly good. I was sat at a dining table with 2 women from Stockport and the three of us became good friends by the end of the week.
I was suffering with a very painful left foot and I couldn't walk very well. Nearly everyone on the coach was very sympathetic and helped me move around. My driver Dennis was excellent with the way he handled my problems. He was new to the job back then but he went out of his way to look after me and give me assistance in getting about everywhere.
On the way home we found that the M5 had been flooded out and Dennis took extreme care to get us all home safely. I think that he has excellent driving ability. I am going back to the Rainbow in July this year and I hope that the Hotel will be just as good this year. Excellent value for money

Dear God, if you care anything about your family and friends do not stay here.
I arrived on Sunday 18th May 2008. The reception is fairly clean but that was the best it got.
I found the following wrong but as I was part of a large group staying in Torquay I tried to stick with it.
The room was awful at best. It appears that the wallpaper had been divorcing the walls and had been refixed. Unfortunately, the adhesive used left awful brown stains along the joins.
The toilet seat wasn't fixed securely.
It's very early in the season but the usual areas that cleaning misses (e.g. tops of cupboards) had several months (years?) muck which had built up.
The food, to be fair, was reasonable. Unfortunately, the dining tables had this unique non-stick surface. When you pick up the cutlery there is a certain resistance against it leaving the table. Perhaps a new cleaning cloth (or even a washed one) may have solved the problem.
I've saved the best until last. Having spent ten hours from the hotel (Tuesday) I arrived back at 19:30 to find there was no hot water available. When I asked the question as to why I was told a 'technician' was 'on the way'. There are several reports of this problem at this particular hotel regardng this problem. Also one of our group had the problem FOUR years ago. This is totally unacceptable.
It was at this point I decided that the receptionist was, perhaps, embelishing the truth and left. Fortunately, I was able to move to the Grosvenor, 100yds away. I immediately showered and felt clean for the first time since my arrival.
The following evening, most of the remaining of the group were left with no hot water.
Again, to be fair, there were many guests staying there who appeared to be happy with their lot but it certainly wasn't for me.

1 reader found this review helpful

STAFF VERY HELPFUL,FOOD VERY GOOD,AND ENTERTAINMENT TOP DRAW,AND THE LOCATION IS CLOSE TO SEA FRONT.The ACCOMODATION IS CLEAN AND BASIC,AND THE IN DOOR POOL AND STEAM ROOM ARE EXCELLENT.I WOULD USE THE HOTEL AGAIN IF I RETURN TO TORQUAY AND WOULD RECOMMEND THE HOTEL TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

We returned yesterday from a 3 night stay at this hotel. The food was excellent and represented good value for money and the restaurant staff were very good. However as a party of four adults we booked two twin rooms and were allocated two on the second floor. These rooms were totally unacceptable in todays terms of what is expected of a so-called 3-star category hotel. The windows were ancient and the window and surrounds were covered in mould. On arrival the window had been left open and the room was freezing cold. We realised later this must have been to mask the damp and musty smell. The sink in one room was cracked and the toilet in the other did not flush properly and water seaped constantly. The furnishings were very dated and shabby. We complained to reception who promised to sort out the problems but quite frankly it would need more than a quick clean and brush up which is what we got. If you are booked in the near future I recommend you don't accept rooms 524 and 525.

From the outside yeh looked fine - Reception and Staff fine - Food Fine - ROOMS oh my god the need more than TLC they need a MIGHTY BIG MAKEOVER i have stayed in Back packers hostels and they would run circles around this place -Wallpaper hanging of walls, carpet dusty probably been there since 1920 - mix and match tiles in bathroom - telephone point in the bathroom Uh - Curtains were Ripped to high standards - Stench of Damp - Entertainment 1/10 - could go on for a lot longer but wont just BEWARE!!!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hotel accomodation is fair, The bedroom was heated but could have been warmer. The room was tidy and the room cleaned satisfactorily. Meals were very good at the hotel with a friendly atmosphere from the staff. Entertainment was spartan to say the least - at this time of the year, its bingo,quizes but with some moderate artists at the weekend.
WARNING. The reception staff are Polish and it is recommended to pay your bills by cash. Watch the 'super deals' (3 nights for £39). I booked for 2 nights (£79) and enquired if I could have an additional night - this was agreed as I paid the 'super deal' orice. Now I find an extra payment has been taken from my bank WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. The manager says " This is standard practice".
I will not be staying at this hotel again - please don't leave your card details with the Rainbow Hotel.