The Cliffeside Hotel

Firstly, I booked this hotel via octopus travel and it was listed as a 4 - start hotel, only to arrive at the hotel to find it was actually a 3 - star rating. Secondly, when booking the hotel via octopus travel I indicated my children's ages which was 1 and 3 respectively. I also phoned the hotel two days in advance just to make sure that everything was ok with our booking and that the room was big enough to accomodate my family size to which they advised me they would have a second bed in the room and would provide a travel cot for the baby, to which i was more than happy. When I arrived at the hotel, i was told that there was an extra charge of £6 for the use of the cot. Not the £6 is a fortune to pay however i was not aware of this cost by octopus travel nor by the hotel when i phoned up to check that everything was ok regarding my booking, so i thought this was a bit of a cheek actually and this is the first time ever I've been asked to pay for the use of a travel cot at a hotel, i've stayed at numerous hotels with my children in the past. Also, the room given to us did not even have the travel cot set up as they said it would, we had to query this with reception again. Finally we all had the worse night of sleep ever that night!! The level that the room was on picked up all the noise from the entertainment room, there was some function or something happening downstairs and the music was very loud until very late hours, thus creating a very disturbing sleep for my husband and myself and a very unsettling sleep for the children. We did complain on checking out about this but there was no remorse shown. I think at the end of the day we will stick to Premier Inn hotels, at least you are guranteed a peaceful night sleep and dont have to incur a cost for the use of a travel cot. I did not get a "family" atmosphere at this hotel which was sad, even at breakfast the staff made us sit at a table that was clearly in the way and kept on getting bumped and it took ages for them to serve us. It's quite sad actually but i think people with families should be aware of this sort of thing before considering it as an option.

Booked the one night stay the day before we arrived. For the money we paid it was excellent. Both parties were upgraded to a room with sea view at no extra cost, very comfortable. Breakfast had a good choice and the staff were very attentive. Building and decor may have needed updating and refreshing, but at this price we have no complaints.

It was with some trepidation that we arrived at The Cliffeside for their New Year package having read the somewhat mixed Trip Advisor reviews after booking. We were therefore pleasantly surprised to be directed to a spacious room overlooking the seven glorious miles of Bournemouth seafront. The room itself was extremely comfortably furnished with an adjoining large and modern bathroom. Fortunately we did not envisage watching the tiny TV, but this complaint could be levelled at most UK hotels with few exceptions. The staff were attentive throughout our stay and being New Years Eve there were complimentary pre-dinner drinks provided. The facilities of the two neighbouring hotels were available to Cliffeside guests which gave the choice of attending the alternative cabarets or dances. We found this unecessary however as the entertainment at the Cliffeside was particularly good. There was however a major disaster, as an hour or so before the Gala New Year Dinner the whole area suffered a power cut, surely any hotelier's worst nightmare! The management therefore opted to switch the New Year dinner with the cold buffet planned for the next evening, not popular with everyone but no doubt in the circumstances the only option. It was particularly impressive the way the hands-on manager (Moira, I think) dealt with the stressful situation by apologising to each dining table in person and doing everything in her power to give guests an enjoyable time. All in all, a New Year to remember and an hotel I look forward to revisiting!

Got this hotel on the internet for a super price, Its right on the seafront, the food is great and the staff could not have been more obliging. They upgraded me to a double room at no cost and I felt so at home. Another great plus is that on the same site you can use the indoor pool and sauna at the Suncliff and they have a great Brasserie at The Cumberland for food. Will defintly return.

Had my works Xmas party here this weekend, loved it! Atmosphere was great, food was lovely and plentiful and the drinks where at a great price - which is esential for a party! Thanks to the staff at Cliffeside for making our night enjoyable

I wouldnt let my dog stay in this hotel, i booked a room at the cliffeside for the night of my wedding - we didnt have much of a budget but were happy to stay at a "3 star" hotel for the night and booked the honeymoon suite. My partner went off and checked us in at 9pm so we could head straight back after the wedding party. When we arrived at the cliffside around midnight we were told that there was a leak in the honeymoon suite we had paid for and we had to be moved to another room - this was a dissapointment as we werent being moved to another honeymoon suite - however it was late and we were happy to take another room. The room we were given was disgusting - it was damp and smelt like mold, the bedding looked like it had never been washed a real dark and dingy room - we decided it wasnt good enough and went downstairs to complain. The manager had no customer service skills what so ever (would advise she took a customer care course or a job with no customer contact!) we said we were not happy with our room and asked if we could be moved - she advised us if we wanted 5 star accommodation then we should have stayed in a 5 star hotel! i was shocked by her comment and told her about the lovely ramada hotel that is located around the corner and also a 3 star hotel which in comparison to the cliffside is like buckingham palace. we ended up leaving the hotel in the middle of the night and ended up going home. A disgusting hotel - i would strongly advise against staying here - the beach is much cleaner!

Thank you for making my partner and I so welcome on our wedding day. We couldn't afford much but where upgraded for free to a sea view room, which was wonderful. The dinner was lovely and at special rate for people staying at the hotel. I was very nervous when I booked this hotel as I had read some of the other reviews, I think that a lot of people go away so they can be disappointed, if you pay a three star rate don't expect a five star upgrade. I was very pleased with our stay and couldn't ask for more. Thanks

This is supposed to be a 3* Hotel - never never in a million years is this the case - the rooms are shabby beyond belief. We arrived and booked in and was apalled to see the room we had been given had lamp shades hanging off the wall and looked like they had been in a fire with burn marks all over them - the main light did not work and the wallpaper was hanging off the wall. The room was at the back of beyond with no view whatsoever (we had been promised a sea view) I asked to change at reception and was given the keys to two other rooms to view - well there was no difference hardly at all from the first one. I chose a room on the 4th floor - god knows why really and then went on to discover there was no central heating - there was a little heater on the wall that went off after 15 minutes - the room was freezing and we had the worst night's sleep ever - the next day a little electric fire was left in for us. The whole hotel was freezing wherever you went there was very little heat. We had dinner in the restaurant on the Friday evening which was a very expensive £25.00 - we had the steak which was an extra £8 supplement - when the steak came it was dry with no sauce whatsoever - I asked where the sauce for the steak was and the waiter replied what ketchup!!! Need I say more - do not waste your money on this really really poor excuse of a hotel.

This hotel was so depressing. We were allocated the hotel through last minute.com's secret destinations - and told we would be allocated the hotel on arrival and that it would be one of three. No wonder they kept it secret! Our room was appalling; tiny, the light switch behind the wardrobe just inside the door, dressing table drawers wouldn;'t open properly as pushed up against the side of the wardrobe, the dressing table mirror not in front of the chair and only reachable by squeezing alongside the wardrobe, rusty brown grubby shower, gurgling toilet cistern Didn't complain at the time as with friends but manager not very accomodating when subsequently emailed.

My wife and I drove to Bournemouth form Berkshire last week for a last minute two-day break. We had previously been offered what seemed like a too-good-to miss weekday deal by the hotel and soon started to wonder how they did it for the money - £85 per night in double room with sea view, breakfast and three course dinner. That price for TWO people, not EACH! Our one year old Cavalier spaniel (£6 per night) was sometimes boisterous but still loved and welcomed by all other guests and staff alike. Restaurant food and service were excellent, although the two Spanish speaking managers, doing their double act at breakfast, might have been well placed at Fawlty Towers. The view from our second floor room, with sun rising over the needles was stunning. The situation, twenty minutes walk from either Bournemouth or Boscombe piers, either along the beach or clifftop road, was handy. Many of the other reviews are far too scathing and I wonder whether the authors are ever satisfied with anything in their lives. True, the decor and furnishings in the bedrooms are now more than a little tired, and the lift too small to cater for a coachload of OAPs; but the public rooms are immaculate and the overall stay was very enjoyable. One thing we must moan about. The drinks list which appears on every table in the bar advertises Happy Hour "DAILY 5-7pm". On the Friday evening the barman announced that there would be no happy hour because it was the weekend. And the small print did warn us that the management could withdraw the offer without prior notice. Nevertheless I have always believed that daily means seven days a week, not just Monday-Thursday. A small correction at the next reprint of the bar list would minimise any risk of feeling misled. In all other respects a superb break. And we would not rule out another visit.