Ventnor Towers

The friendly staff and the excellent sea views are the strong points of this classic, seaside hotel. We booked two rooms (three adults with three children 9-13). Both rooms were sizeable, and had sturdy bunk beds, plus a double bed, and a nice sized bath/shower. Everything was very clean, and our rooms were cleaned/refreshed, tidied and amply restocked with towels, soaps, tea/coffee biscuits, and toilet paper each night. Bedlinen would have been changed too, but we turned that down (no pun intended). Nothing was too much trouble for the staff, and we felt genuinely welcome and valued as guests. Full English breakfast came as standard. We were asked precisely what we liked for the 2nd and 3rd mornings, and had two really nice sausages, bacon, fried egg, hash browns, beans, a running supply of toast, jam and marmalade, two big jugs of orange juice (no thimble-full glass nonsense) and 'proper' coffee and tea - we skipped lunch some days. I understand the hotel is relatively recently under new management, has been partly refurbished and is undergoing more. Some of the decor reflects this, but it's typical of many privately owned hotels of this vintage. Be aware that there is no lift, and the best views are to be had on the upper floors, but that helped us burn off some of the breakfast :o) There is ample parking, and the hotel is very well situated. As we were driving away, my eldest daughter said that we had to come back to the Isle of Wight, and that we absolutely *had* to go back to the Ventnor Towers. Result!