Estoril

We did not book the Estoril hotel but the Penzance Seaside studios. It is the same place, although confusingly, when you arrive the signage is all for the Estoril Hotel. Well located within a 5 minute walk of the promenade and (up the hill) a 5 minute walk to the town centre, the hotel is an old victorian buidling with a small well kept tiny garden with attractive summer flowers. Car parking was a problem. You can park on the street outside after 5 pm and before 9 am (if you can find a place) and the hotel has two small and hard to get into parking places. We struggled to find parking actually. Some things about the place are good. Our 'delux' appartment was in fact a large high ceilinged room with a double and a single bed, a tiny kichen area (with sink, microwave, hot plates and adequate crockery and cutlery - even some tea bags and a fridge) The toilet was in a tiny cubicle and the bathroom (with a bath) was also in a narrow windowless cubicle. The room had a coffee table, wardrobe, two easy chairs, a table for eating or working, a hair drier, good free wifi and a large screen TV. BUT IT WAS SO OLD! The furniture was very old - 1950's ? the curtains were ancient, the bed linen was uncomfortable and two hot for summer and everything just looked and felt old and tiired and worn and frankly ready to throw out. We paid £135/night for this place (no breakfast) and were so disappointed by the standard of the room. The owners, Eddie and Nong, keep the place tidy and clean (although our room was never serviced in three days) and were helpful enough. Through this review I implore them to spend some money and refurbish their rooms. If you are charging top prices people expect better. It is rare that I write such critical reviews but the place is in serious need of some money to be spent. Until that happens I can write anything more positive.

Estoril is a new type of bed and breakfast modelled on the anonymity of Easyjet or HMRC – in other words, the absence of human contact. It works like this. You book online and they leave a key outside in a key box that needs a code. Then you get the key for your room. But you have to chase them to get this information. Breakfast is ordered via a form and appears outside your room at 0800, not earlier, not later. You don’t actually see anyone. With this arrangement you think, won’t the bacon and eggs (or whatever ) go cold? Don’t worry, you ain’t getting any. Just a cheese sandwich and a croissant., some fruit or cereal. But five items only! Gotta watch those margins. You want coffee? Well, you’ve got sachets of Nescafe instant in your room, what else do you want? I can’t speak for all of the rooms, but the one I had was taller than it was wider, the bedside light had all the power of glow worm in a tea cup,. There was one light in the centre of the room. It had all the atmosphere of a bus station. Though clean, it cried out for a make over and the toilet seat was amusingly mobile when you sat on it. It calls itself a private hotel and charges accordingly. If you are running a B & B in Penzance, this is a reassuringly low bar to easily clear. Next night, in Falmouth, I was at another B& B – half the price and amazing in every respect. But that’s another story!

My sister in law booked this hotel for us all for a family break we stayed 2 nights. Although it was self check in it was so easy. Front door was open all day. Beautiful flowers in garden and a small pond with seating outside . In side was quirky but gorgeous decor pretty cushions and furniture. Someone was always there for emergencies and help. Lots of helpful information in room. Breakfast was ordered night prior and arrived on time and was delicious. Cleaning was amazing beyond our expectations. Couldn’t fault any aspect beautiful rooms and some communal areas if you want to sit downstairs with friends. Perfect

Spent 5 very comfortable nights here , bathroom clean , bedding clean and bed made every day . Breakfast left outside doors in line with COVID cautions . Good choice . Owner makes her own yogurt . Whilst it is probably some people’s taste it was too sour for ours . Advise to give a go and judge for yourselves . Stairs to upper rooms . Pretty exterior. Interior slightly dated but clean . Ideal base to see Penzance and surrounding area . Not to far from a couple of good restaurants “ Mermaid Alley” and “ the Alverne” Two minute walk from seafront . Friendly owners , although so well run didn’t really see them apart from a couple of mornings on our way out .

After viewing the website and reading the reviews I booked with confidence and had high expectations for my stay, unfortunately it proved a disappointment from the start, there was so many issues, some contentious, some personal, but a lot irrefutable for a property within this price range, and it would take an age to list them all. I stayed in the suite which on the website is portrayed as having period charm but, a room with period charm and one that’s tired uncomfortable and in desperate need of modernisation are close neighbours and I certainly know which type of room I stayed in. I think I can forgive anything provided I’m offered three fundamental services, parking, sleep, and breakfast and, we received none. From the moment we arrived parking became a major issue for the duration of our stay, the mattress was so old and lumpy it was like sleeping on a sack of potatoes, seriously, how can you allow anyone to sleep on such an old lumpy mattress and expect them to have a good night’s sleep. As for the breakfast, while I will not dispute the quality, it was very limited and unappetising. My partner is gluten intolerant, yet they could not accommodate her breakfast needs, so we had to purchase our own bread from the local supermarket and give it to you and ask that it be used for the breakfast sandwiches. With so many places, even budget hotels like Premier Inn, providing quality comfortable accommodation the bar of expectation has been set quite high, unfortunately your establishment falls well below that level. I have never been one to question the price but, I will always question the value for money, and I felt that they were not offering that. I guess if anyone arrives by public transport, has low expectations, no food intolerances and can sleep on a clothesline, then I think they’ll enjoy their stay but, for me, unfortunately I’ll not be returning anytime soon.

If you fancy a quirky small room with a landlady who learnt her English from Manuel and her customer service from Basil then this is your place. The room is designed for the elderly with two chairs and a writing bureau from the 1930s . The bed is from an earlier era when torture was the in thing . The mattress is so thin and uncomfortable I took a look to see if it was actually a giant cream cracker . The breakfast is at 8 in the morning, whether you want it then or not it’s EIGHT . No earlier no later. You get a knock on the door and your breakfast is left outside .Then an hour later she knocks again wanting you out of the room so she can clean it. Ps don’t forget your feather quill 🪶

This is such a lovely hotel! It was clean had bags of personality but for me the best thing about it was how quiet it was in the evening and how comfy the bed was. I think it was the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on in my life. I would love to know the brand of mattress - it was very hard to get up in the morning, but the breakfast was great and delivered to our door ( COVID restrictions meant we didn't see anyone). Thanks so much!