Royal Esplanade Hotel

The most disappointing holiday we have ever had, what should have been something pleasureable became an ordeal. We booked with Shearings which wasn't cheap and expected high standards. The first room we were shown in a word smelt! There were big black marks on the carpet, as you opened the window pigeon droppings on the balcony, which was had been there sometime, and the bathroom shower curtain was mouldy, we immediately complained to the manager, who readly gave us another room as he realised how bad it was. The second room was slightly better, it was a little cleaner, but had no shower which I found difficult. We went in middle of July and got told that the swimming pool was not open at this time of year, however we went to look at it and it was full of algae, this was why it wasn't open. Food was poor and sparse, only two squares of butter per breakfast, we were told that the cost of the inclusive breakfast and dinner was £4.00. Please find a nicer hotel to stay at on the beautiful Isle of Wight.

I was visiting my friends on the IOW (it was their daughter's 5th birthday & I was guest of honour face painter!!) and by anyone's standards, booked rather late in the day. So I was pleased to find they had a room available, albeit for one night. The cost was reasonable~ they only had a double room, but this was no more than a single. I took a taxi from the ferry to the hotel whereby the driver greeted me with the comment "You don't look old enough to be staying @ the Esplanade!" I was allocated Room 36. I received no offer of help with luggage. Otherwise the service was pleasant. A lift is available, but very slow. On booking, it never dawned on me about the location of the room, but after an exhausting journey I was thankful to be in receipt of a room with a view, overlooking the pier & seafront with double windows. The scenery is what I adore about the IOW and it never disappoints. I'm 43 yrs old and would say the hotel would appeal more to the older folk. It was busy with coachloads of a certain generation and so is very popular in certain circles. I'd like to think that when I get older that I would be well catered for when i travel and I think this is what the Esplanade does well.

went by coach for 5 days. room was great sea view. food was very good. hotel clean. staff are no1. entertainment a little tame catered for oldies. buy in all a great holiday with free drink.

What do these people want? I went with Shearings for the first time. I have been in some wonderful Hotels, mostly in the far east, and I paid a lot of money. Here I paid a reasonable amount for five days, to be driven by coach to and from the IOW, dinner, bed and breakfast, free drinks and entertainment at night, a tour round the island, a boat tour across to, and around, Portsmouth Docks with a short stay in town, a tour of a vineyard and the west part of island, and all with informative drivers. Free newspaper of your choice in the morning. At mealtimes there was a good choice of food, it was wholesome and there was enough. The service was excellent. We even had a lunchtime snack given to us of a drink, fruit and biscuits. Our room WAS small and basic with a poor view. So what? I paid to visit the IOW, not to sit in my room looking out of the window. It was clean, didn't smell and had all that was required. If you want all of the above, it's about £120 upwards. Amazingly, a fantastic hotel with a view and gourmet meals is going to cost a great deal more.

this holiday was a my worst night mare in my hole lift i have never been to a hotel like this one the food was uneatable unless you was eldle and you like smell amounts as for the value it was not worth it.

Staff very good Food plenty and very good Entertainment good there could do with a few alterations to the lounge so every one can see the stage and the bar be nearer. The dineing room floor needs to be cleaned every day. But had a good time. Manager is nice!

I went to tthe hotel with shearings who I was using for the first time and I was very pleased with the hotel and the food was EXCELLENT.As a single person I spoke to quite a few on the topur and they were all very pleased with food and service at the hotel

Not the usual Shearing standard compared to other hotels. Concert room had a poor layout. Could not see artists on stage. Long trek through dining room to the lounge/bar area.Breakfasts OK but evening meals were of poor quality.Meals on menus not available some days. Chef's specialty of the day appeared to be left over meat dishes of previous day i.e. Curried beef or pork in tomato sauce etc. No dancing just bingo and lengthy quizzes.

We went on a Shearings "all inclusive" 5 day tour to this hotel in January 08 and had a really good holiday. The room was comfortable, clean and quiet, not much of a view but for the price paid quite acceptable. The food was good and plentiful with a very reasonanle choice and the service was excellent. The bar staff were also excellent coping with a high demand for "free" drinks admirably. The hotel was in a great position for public transport links, being just across the road from buses, trains, hovercraft and the pier at the end of which is the fast-cat ferry to Portsmouth. The hotel is on the level promenade and the main ,very steep, shopping street is a few yards away.