The Cumberland Hotel

Families and couples on a seaside vacation and wedding parties are the predominant guests at the Cumberland Hotel. Separated from the beach by a narrow roadway, the property looms large with its bulky, white-painted stucco finish and Art Deco-style sign. At night, floodlights wash the exterior in pale blue with the poolside bar tinged with pink. Inside, the reception desk, a shiny, black wood counter in a corner, overlooks a marble tile floor with a giant circular CH in the middle -- the hotel's own monogrammed brand. Charcoal-colored, curved banquettes with lime green accent pillows offers seating. But the elegance of this is marred slightly by a gleaming disco ball by the ballroom and a "Wall of Fame" niche with signed head shots. The Mirabelle Restaurant is dominated by a shiny, white grand piano in a spacious room with mirrored surfaces and black and white decor with lipstick-red accents. The Ventana Bar has dark leather club chairs and a loud red ceiling topped with chandeliers. There's brasserie style dining at the Ventana Grand Cafe, whose draperies and furnishings are a pewter gray with bright fuchsia accents. Outside the cafe is a terrace with red and white chairs and white tables overlooking a bright turquoise pool with lounge chairs. With its bright white paint, neon lights, and palm trees tucked around, the vibe is a mix of beachy and clubby.

Bournemouth, the largest town in Dorset, is a seaside resort town on the south coast of England. It has nightlife, Victorian architecture, and Exmoor ponies and Shetland cattle, making it a popular destination for British families. While The Cumberland is directly across from the beach separated by a narrow road, reaching the water takes a five-minute stroll to the nearest access point. (And those with mobility issues will need more time to navigate the steep decline.) There is, however, also a funicular to zip guests from the top of the cliff to the beach for a fee. From the hotel, it's a 14-minute walk to the Oceanarium: The Bournemouth Aquarium and one more minute to Bournemouth Pier. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is a nine-minute walk away. The Bournemouth International Center is a four-minute drive. For rail service to the hotel, travelers can use Bournemouth Railway Station, a five-minute drive or 17-minute walk from the hotel. The Bournemouth Airport is an 11-minute drive or 28-minute train ride away.

A glossy, Hollywood Regency style is at play in the Cumberland Hotel's guest rooms. Gilt-trimmed wallpaper, mirrored surfaces, and wall moldings give a glamorous veneer. But some furnishings are dull or worn. For example, the Seaview Family Room has wallpaper with silvery vines and cranberry blossoms paired with dark headboards and wardrobes with white trim, but the furniture shows scuffs and nicks and the upholstered seating is becoming threadbare. Still, rooms are spacious, and several have sea views or terraces furnished with loungers or a set of chairs. They're also good for accommodating families, with spacious Family Double Rooms that connect to Single Rooms. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, coffee and tea facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Given the punchy decor elsewhere, bathrooms are underwhelming and utilitarian, usually outfitted in large-scale beige tiles, fluorescent lighting, and a fiberglass tub and shower combinations. Toiletries are in a wall-mounted dispenser. 

Most guests gravitate either to the beach -- an attractive sandy spot accessible by a zigzagging walkway or paid funicular -- or the outdoor pool, a jubilant spot surrounded by loungers and crowned with a spouting dolphin. But The Cumberland has enough to keep guests busy even on rainy days, with its indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, squash court, and table tennis room. The spa offers a range of facials and massages as well as manicures and pedicures. Decor here is a departure from the Art Deco style elsewhere and is more Southeast Asian in feel, with stone statuary and bronze accent pieces. Two restaurants and an on-site bar serve all meals including afternoon tea and a popular "British roast" Sunday lunch, and 24-hour room service is on call. There's a business center and conference meeting rooms as well as a big ballroom that often hosts wedding receptions. A small fitness room is also available, though its equipment is a bit dated. Wi-Fi and parking are free.