Dorset Hotels

Poole Hotels

Poole is a large town on the south coast of Dorset. It has a seaport, and it well-known for its sailing and water-sports. The town is a relaxed combination of old and new, and this is reflected in its architecture. The Old Town in Poole contains buildings that date back to the 17th century. For more in-depth details on what to do and where to go in Poole, take a look at the iknow-Dorset Tourist Information Pages on Poole.

Poole hotels have a good blend of traditional and contemporary styles and features. Some of the hotels in Poole are located close to the coast with rooms that have great views of the harbour, while some of them are more centrally located. You shouldn't find it a problem to find family friendly hotels in Poole, or Poole hotels with conference facilities. Poole hotels range in price from under £25 to over £45, but this depends on the type of hotel or what the hotel offers, and of course the hotel's star rating and location. You can find quality budget chain hotels in Poole (Premier Inn Poole Centre or Holiday Inn Express Poole), but, although they provide very clean and comfortable rooms, breakfast often comes at an extra cost from the base rate of a room per night. These types and other budget Poole hotels usually cost between £25 and £35 per person per night. If you are looking for accommodation that includes everything from breakfast to ensuite rooms, then you probably should look at 3, 4 or 5 star luxury Poole hotels. Hotel accommodation of this calibre will set you back set you back at least £45 per person per night.

Lyme Regis Hotels

Lyme Regis is a visually stunning, historic town on the West coast of Dorset. It is famous for its fossil hunting and close proximity to the Jurassic Coast. The old harbour, known as The Cobb, is a wall of beautifully-rendered buildings set against a hilly backdrop that faces the sea. For more information about Lyme Regis and what's available to see and do, take a look at the iknow-Dorset Tourist Information Pages on Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis hotels are variable in size and quality, but abundant in and around the town. Depending on what you want from one of the hotels in Lyme Regis, the prices will differ. Some of the hotels offer rooms with views of the coast and sea, others with views of Lyme Bay. It's easy to find hotels that are family-friendly, whose pets are welcome, and they often have facilities for children, such as high chairs and cots. Hotels in Lyme Regis cost from as little as £25 to £45 per person per night. Budget Lyme Regis hotels cost around £25 per person per night, and for this price you may or may not get a breakfast. You can find this out by contacting the hotel proprietor via the iknow booking enquiry form. If you want a hotel room with great views, and accommodation with all the amenities and necessities, then check out some 3, 4 or 5 star luxury Lyme Regis hotels. For such accommodation, you will look to pay at least £45 per night per person.

Weymouth Hotels

Weymouth is situated on the coast of Dorset. It is an attractive place that covers quite a large area. From Weymouth, you will have access to the rolling hills of Dorset, long-stretching beaches (Chesil beach), quaint seafront Georgian architecture, as well as Weymouth Bay and Weymouth Harbour. For more detailed information on what to do and where to go, take a look at the iknow-Dorset Tourist Information Pages on Weymouth.

Hotels in Weymouth vary widely in size, quality, age, location and price, and the price of a night's stay is affected by many of these factors. Typically, though, the price of Weymouth hotels starts from under £25 and can go up to £45 and over depending on your expectations. Hotels on Weymouth seafront number more than hotels in Weymouth town centre, and could be a little more expensive overall, but you will be in close proximity to Weymouth beach, and your hotel room may have some brilliant sea views. Alternatively, there are a few hotels near Weymouth that overlook famous locations like Chesil beach and Fleet Lagoon.

Weymouth seafront is by far the most popular destination, and a lot of the hotels are built in the Georgian architectural style. Budget Weymouth Seafront hotels should cost between £25 and £35, but this is based on whether breakfast is included, or whether you have a room with a seaview. If you want the best of the best, you had better look at either 3, 4 or 5 star luxury hotels on Weymouth Seafront. For this you are almost guaranteed lovely sea views, a choice of breakfast, as well as other features. Such hotel accommodation comes at a premium price of at least £45 per person per night. A good example of this type of accommodation is the Hotel Prince Regent. Hotels here are usually family-friendly, and, being located next to Weymouth Bay, there is convenient access to water-sports such as sailing, kite-surfing, and water-skiing.

Portland Island is located not far from Weymouth (just 5 miles south), and you can get there very easily by car (the A354). If you wish to stay overnight here, there's lots of accommodation on Portland to choose from.

Christchurch Hotels

Christchurch is a small town located on the coast of Dorset, just east of Bournemouth. It is noted for its harbour (Christchurch Harbour), quay, historic buildings and the Norman Christchurch Priory, which dates back to the middle of the 11th century. More information can found in the iknow-Dorset Tourist Information Pages on Christchurch.

Hotels in Christchurch are close to most of the important places of interest. Prices typically range from under £25 to at least £45. Cheap to budget Christchurch hotels will cost roughly between £25 and £35 and may or may not include breakfast. This you will have to check with the hotel proprietor (by email or telephone). Luxury hotels in Christchurch will cost at least £45, but for this price you will get the best of the best: probably a very good location, a hearty breakfast, and en-suite accommodation. You can also find quality budget hotel chains in Christchurch: Premier Inn Christchurch West and Premier Inn Christchurch East. Based on two people sharing a room, the cost would be around £25 per person per night, without breakfast.

Many of the hotels in Christchurch are child friendly, with facilities for young children and babies. There are also conference rooms available, as well as hotels with private gardens. But it would advisable to check any specific details beforehand. You can find out hotel specialities on each page of listed hotels for Christchurch under the category 'speciality'.

Hotels in Bournemouth

Bournemouth is Dorset's largest seaside coastal town, and is a favourite destination for family-friendly holidays. Bournemouth is home to a wonderful, stretching beach with its Victorian cast iron pier as a central focal point. Award winning gardens are dotted around the town, and attractions for the family are never far away. For more in-depth information on Bournemouth, see the iknow-Dorset Tourist Information Pages on Bournemouth.

Hotels in Bournemouth can be found on almost every street in town. Prices vary from under £25 to over £45, but this of course depends on the type of hotel you require, and what facitilites and amenities you need. Cheap hotels in Bournemouth can cost as little as £25 per person per night, and may or may not come with a breakfast. Budget hotel chains, like the Premier Inn Bournemouth Central, often do no provide a breakfast with the base rate of a night's accommodation. With independent hotels, you had better check with the hotel proprietor to see what they offer. Three star mid-range hotels in Bournemouth cost between £35 and £45, and for this you can expect good quality service as well as breakfast and en-suite facilities. If you want the premium service with all the trimmings, you will need to look at 4 or 5 star luxury hotels in Bournemouth. Per person per night, the cost will be at least £45.

Because of the family-orientated nature of holidays in Bournemouth, many of the hotels provide accommodation that is child-friendly, and comewith facilities specifically for children and babies: high chairs etc. It's always a good idea, though, to check exactly what hotels offer. You can do this by using the 'speciality' filter on the page with the list of Bournemouth hotels.

Bournemouth is quite a large place, and there are hotels around Bournemouth. These hotels have easy access to the beautiful Dorset countryside, as well as neighbouring towns like Christchurch (see Christchurch hotels)

Country hotels in Dorset

Hotels in the rural Dorset countryside are usually quite different to the hotels in seaside resorts along the Dorset coast. In the countryside you will find large country house hotels which are often set in several acres of grounds and provide great bases for walking holidays and golf breaks. These traditional country hotels are sometimes in grade II listed buildings or stately homes, which elude an elegant style and are full of character and charm. Whilst country house hotels are usually found towards the top end of the price scale, it is possible to stay in more basic rural hotels where you can still enjoy the Dorset scenery and outdoor pursuits for a low price.

Whatever your budget, if you are going to Dorset for a romantic break, you can find quiet, secluded hotels in picturesque locations. These rural retreats are perfect for romantic getaways, and for a special occasion such as Valentines Day, you could find a charming rural hotel with a four poster bed or a private Jacuzzi in a beautiful country location such as Sherborne, Shaftesbury or Wareham.

Coastal hotels in Dorset

Hotels around coastal resorts such as Bournemouth and Weymouth seem to be more aimed at people booking family holidays or weekend breaks by the sea in Dorset. In coastal hotels, family rooms will usually be available as well as facilities for children such as adventure playgrounds, children’s menus, cots and high chairs. The price of sea side hotels in Dorset varies, as cheap budget hotels and luxury hotels are both found along the Dorset Coast. As in most seaside resorts in England, the hotels on the sea front tend to be a little bit more expensive for the same quality accommodation, as they have better access to the beach and some rooms will have sea views.

If you are staying in a hotel by the sea, it is worth asking for a room with a sea view, as while some hotels charge more for this, in other hotels the sea view rooms are allocated randomly. As many people who stay in hotels along the Dorset coast are there for a beach holiday, the price of hotels increases during the summer months, and hotels can be particularly expensive during the school holidays in family resorts such as Bournemouth, Weymouth and Poole. If you are staying in cheap Bournemouth hotels with children, it is worth noting that Bournemouth is a popular destination for stag and hen parties so you may want to check with the hotel to make sure that your stay is as quiet as you would like. Likewise, if you are planning a stag or hen do in Bournemouth, check that the hotel knows that you may make some noise!

Star rating of hotels in Dorset

Most hotels in Dorset have been graded by Visit Britain, which carries out a quality assessment of hotels and awards them between one and five stars. The criteria used are extremely rigorous and look at cleanliness, ambience, hospitality, service and food. The more stars that are awarded, the higher the level of quality the hotel offers. A 1 star hotel in Dorset will be simple and comfortable and all rooms must be ensuite or have private bathrooms. A 2 star Dorset hotel will be well presented and well run with dinner available in the evening. A 3 star hotel in Dorset will have a good level of quality and comfort, all rooms must be ensuite and room service must be available. For a 4 star hotel there must be an excellent standard throughout, with 24 hour room service and at least half of the rooms having both a bath and a shower. 5 star Dorset hotels are of an exceptional standard, with a degree of luxury and enhanced services such as concierge or full afternoon tea. Visit Britain also awards silver and gold awards to hotels which provide exceptional quality in all areas, in particular in service and hospitality