Carlton Hotel

3 readers found this review helpful

We stayed with our walking group for 5 nights in April 1020 and were concerned having read several poor reviews. We found the hotel clean, the room very acceptable and the food good. This hotel caters for coach parties and we found it quite acceptable for its type, in addition to which the staff were excellent. We would hate to think that other people were put off by damning reviews.
There is no car parking and we had to park on road a few hundred yards from the hotel, which is a disadvantage for those he intend to come by car.

1 reader found this review helpful

i stayed recently at the carlton as i was visiting family. it was basic and in need of a re vamp to update a few of the ammenities in the room. the food i thought was beautiful and staff were helpful and friendly. the area it is situated in is lovely and there is loads to do. the view from my balcony was breathe taking. If you are going for a short break i would recommend the hotel. i myself will be going back.

7 readers found this review helpful

We had a weekend at this hotel to attend a Ladies Festival - what a shame, the people organising the Festival had obviously put a lot of effort in and as we were there with a groujp of friends we managed to enjoy the weekend. But... the hotel itself was awful. The rooms are very small, dirty and need updating and decorating. There was no hairdryer. The shower was a joke, no power in it and at times no hot water, trying to wash your hair was awful. Our toilet handle was broken when we came back at the end of one day and they could not repair it but offered us the key to a room down the corridor to use the toilet in the night! The food was terrible, overcooked, luke warm and reconsituted the next day. The best meal was the final breakfast! The serving staff seemed to be untrained were wearing white shirts that needed a good wash and the restaurant managers looked untidy and did not resolve problems. When we asked for jugs of water for the table we were told that they did not have jugs and asked us for any glasses off of the table (of course they were all dirty) to bring us any water. After asking three times we had to leave the table and go to the bar to obtain some. The waiters were unable to get around the table so we had to pass food and dirtly plates up and down as if we were in a school dinner hall the first night. It was only when I insisted that I wanted to be served that they made any effort to move around the table.
Do not stay here, it was awful and I would never recommend this place to anyone.

6 readers found this review helpful

This is absolutely the worst hotel I have ever stayed in the rooms are cramped and not very clean, there was no hot water in the morning for a shower or in the evening for a bath, the food is very poor, I do not know how a roast dinner can be so completely ruined. There was was food missing from the plates, prawns in mairie rose sauce without the prawns? haggis without the haggis? If you have any self respect do not go to this hotel pleeeease.

9 readers found this review helpful

My wife came away with bed bug bites from this hotel. I know these creatures probably came in with a guest, but the unclean condition of the room makes it an ideal habitat.
The rooms were not cleaned properly during the day, I don't think the room was vacuumed once during our stay. Carpet filthy, curtains torn, dirt on headboard, wife's bed not made one day, maybe the cleaner saw a bug and fled?!
French window loose, had to plug gaps with newspaper to keep warm, double glazing had it in front so lounge and dining area always cold and draughty. I know it was winter (Jan), but this should be put right if the hotel wants to open at that time.
Only good thing good about this hotel was the friendly helpful staff. The food wasn't bad either. Normal 3 star standard. This is definately one hotel I won't be visiting ever again!

21 readers found this review helpful

After recently coming back from our stay in the Carlton Hotel. I have just read the reviews which I thought I'd do you an honest report. The Hotel is situated on the beach front and has brillint views over Sandown bay. The staff were very friendly and polite. The bedrooms were cleaned every day with clean beding. A few dirty marks on carpet. We did have a balcony with sea view which we did find the doors hard to lock, but they did. The bathroom did need updateing but was ok.
The food were small portions and tasty but by the time you had eaten the three courses you were full up. The chefs cheese cake was fantastic. You did have a choice of three options for each course.
The TVs were small and we could only get two chanels, but who goes on holiday to watch TV?
The dinning room was clean and waiting staff very polite and friendly.
Entertainment every night was very good but catered more for the older generation.
The only down fall was there was no carpark! We did manage to get to park opposite hotel, but had to pay car parking. But at the tourist imformation shop bought parking permit for four days which made it a bit cheaper, but you could use in other council car parks on the island.
Over all what do you expect for your money? We will definately go there again!

10 readers found this review helpful

Rooms not clean. No shower gel provided... Is this the only hotel in the world that does not provide shower gel? When we arrived the place stank of cabbage! Grubby marks all over the doors. The sheets were clean but that's the only good thing about this run down hotel.

7 readers found this review helpful

Visited I.of W on coach tour, based at Carlton Hotel, sandown.
Hotel was very poor, the only good features were the waiting staff and the breakfasts.
Rooms, although clean, were in need of decorating, and basic maintenance
One of my tour members had sliding balcony door fall out as she opened it. a lot of balcony doors would not lock, as did some corridor doors. The cards often failed to unlock doors, and the rooms were small, without any freebies such as shower gel, caps, or biscuits.
The restaurant was only available from 6 - 7 pm, and one night I arrived at 6.10 to find that fishcake starter had finished, as had the only meat dish offered. manager advised that chef was on a limited budget and offered a free drink as compensation.
The menu had limited choice each night, 3 starters, one of which was fruit juice, 3 main courses - one meat, one fish dish, and one vegitarian, and three sweets, one being ice cream. Portions were small, especially fish dishes, and vegitables were cold and greasy
The Hotel is widely used by coach parties, and obviously suffers as a result, with managerial stall totally indifferent to complaints, and ignoring most requests for help
This hotel is a blot on a very nice town, and creates a very poor image of standards to be found on the Island.
It wouls certainly benefit froma visit by Health and safety officers.

8 readers found this review helpful

I stayed here as the Maria had overbooked. We were told it was an upgrade.That's ajoke. My sister and I had booked single rooms, and in the Maria they have always been adjacent. At the Carlton, she hasd 311 and I had 241, when I remarked that they were not together, the reception clerk, (male) replied "Well they're only one floor apart!" She was one end of the hotel and I was the other! To communicate we had to ring each other in the internal phone.
The first night I asked for an extra pillow, clerk wrote it down, but it never appeared for 2 days, until I asked the chambermaid.
My tv was about 1foot from ceiling,on the wall bracket, so old that all the print had vanished from the controls, and had no remote control. so I asked reception(male) and was told no remote control available. I could only get BBC1 and ITV. and being 5ft 1" had a job to reach the controls at all!
Food was disgraceful, and obviouusly left overs from day before were used. The menus were nothing like those on their internet site.We had very few fresh veg, and hardly any fruit. So bad and, and portions so small, that we went out for a real meal on last night.
The bulb in my sister's room over bed, had gone , and was never replaced.Her tray was broken one day, and the bits were found onnher bed and in the net curtain, , then the next day they were removed , but melamine tray with jagged edges was left there. After 2 days she took it to reception, but was not offered another.Abysmal service.
The dining room tables had no tablecloths, have never seen a hotel with tables like a cafe.
DO NOT GO THERE IF YOU WANT A TOPCLASS HOTEL

7 readers found this review helpful

could not believe how bad this place is booked for five nights had to sleep one night could not get out quick enough not brave enough to sleep in the bed or eat any food from there can not understand how this place gets any good ratings.Had to find other accomadation.Lost deposit on two rooms and were charged for one very uncomfortable night.