161 Banks Road, Sandbanks, Poole, United Kingdom | (888) 635-3814
Prime seafront
setting with superb views and direct beach access
Late 19th-century
hotel features bright, elegant interiors
Impressive
leisure facilities include an outdoor pool and large spa
Most rooms extend
to furnished balconies with sea views
Next-door ferry
port brings visitors to nearby nature reserves
Fine dining
overlooks the sea from a scenic outdoor terrace
Free breakfast and Wi-Fi
Some room decor
is a bit dated and bland
No elevator
access to some rooms
Wi-Fi is slow in some areas
The 84-room Haven Hotel
is a lovely seafront property dating back to the late 19th century that's situated
on Poole's Sandbanks peninsula. The location is particularly enviable as it's overlooking the sea on two sides and offers direct access to a long sandy beach.
Most rooms open to balconies with superb views, though decor is on the generic side. Leisure facilities are certainly impressive (including a big outdoor pool and large spa) and scenic waterside dining is a big plus. While not the cheapest option in the area,
the setting is spectacular. Wi-Fi is free.
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Scene
This late 19th-century seafront hotel features bright, airy interiors and period ambience.
A driveway passes
though a smart, wrought iron gate bearing the hotel's name and leads directly to the
main building of The Haven Hotel -- one of four prominent Dorset hotels that make up the local FJB chain. Built in 1887, the property has retained plenty of its period heritage
both inside and out, though not without the odd modern architectural add-on.
Interiors are largely pleasantly in keeping with the late 19th-century ambience
with classic Victorian-style decor blending with some Art Deco touches. Despite
its old-school atmosphere, numerous skylights and ample swathes of windows
ensures plenty of natural sunlight and makes a particularly impressive feature of
the surrounding waters.
Location
Prime location on the tip of Poole's Sandbanks peninsula, next to the beach and ferry port
The hotel features
a prime setting at the end of a long waterside road that leads to the tip of the Sandbanks
peninsula in the picturesque Dorset town of Poole. There is a ferry practically
in the hotel's backyard, which takes passengers across the bay -- where visitors
can explore expansive nature reserves with immaculate white Jurassic-era cliffs.
The start of a great stretch of sweeping golden sand beach can be accessed
directly from the hotel, while those with a car can explore Bournemouth and Poole
town center, both of which are about a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Rooms
Most rooms are bright and spacious with sea-vista balconies -- though others are in need of updates
The hotel has 84 rooms,
all of which are decorated in a simple, modern style -- though decor can feel on
the chain-y side, with some of the rooms in need of a refresh. Most rooms are
bright and spacious and extend to furnished balconies with sea or harbor
vistas, however some of the cheaper options are cramped with little in the way
of views. Free Wi-Fi, electric kettles, and flat-screen TVs come standard, while deluxe and suites also provide bathrobes and free mineral
water. There's no elevator access to some parts of the third floor.
Features
Excellent leisure and spa facilities and fine-dining with sea views
Impressive
leisure facilities at the Haven Hotel include a heated outdoor pool with
loungers, several indoor spa pools, and a sauna, steam bath, and outdoor hot tub -- though access through the restaurant feels a little awkward. A range of spa treatments, a well-equipped gym, and a floodlit tennis court are
also available to guests. A breakfast buffet is served in the Art Deco-style
space of the Peninsula Restaurant and it's included in the rate -- though this restaurant doesn't feature the superb sea views of the La Roche Restaurant, which offers
fine dining throughout the day and a terrace overlooking the waters. Free
parking is also available to guests, though the parking lot can get crowded with
weekend visitors. Wi-Fi is also free of charge throughout the hotel, though
coverage can be patchy.
