The Belmont

Their staff (especially their receptionist) is pathetic and awkward. Poor and unexpected experience. Their owner must keep a check on staff behaviour and should train them some basic hospatility ethics.

Whoever cannot rate the Belmont as 5* or can in any way find fault won’t have stayed at the same Belmont as we just have. It’s by far the best B&B hotel we’ve visited. Linda and Des run it in their own way very different and much better than elsewhere. Our comfortable room (20) was huge with direct access onto the front veranda. The breakfast choices were numerous, the pool area very inviting and when it’s wet (we had two days of it) the large lounge is yours for however long you wish with a tempting sweets and snacks cabinet nearby alongside the ice cream freezer apart from which sandwiches and more can be ordered for lunch so if needs be there’s no need on such days to go elsewhere except of course for dinner. Shanklin has a wide variety of restaurants, pretty pricey on the whole it has to be said but that’s how it is wherever you go. At the cheaper no frills end we ate at the Happy Haddock and the Paramount (booking very much recommended) but watch evening opening hours at both, while the others were the Village Inn and Amici (a very good Italian restaurant) where booking quite well in advance is essential at both (we booked a couple of weeks before leaving home), all of which are in the High Street, and finally the Steamer Inn on the seafront who don’t take bookings so be ready if necessary to wait as it’s very popular. And when you get back to the Belmont there’s a well-stocked bar. As for getting about, the island bus service is reliably good so forget the car unless it’s necessary. We left ours at home, using our county bus passes but if you do the same they are acceptable on all regular numbered routes but not the specials. That said, if you’re 60+ a 24-hour ticket on the latter will cost you just £9.30 and considering how far that can get you it’s good value. Despite a cold wind blowing for a large part of our two week’s stay we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and can very much recommend the Belmont.

We enjoyed our stay at The Belmont Hotel. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming and our room was large and comfortable and overlooking the sea. There were plenty of places to eat within walking distance and a bit further afield and the beach was five minutes walk from the hotel. We could not fault the breakfast; large selection of well presented cooked options plus cereals, toast etc.