Pros
- 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
Cons
- Some room decor is a bit dated and bland
- No elevator access to some rooms
- Wi-Fi is slow in some areas
Bottom Line
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.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
- Spa
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.
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.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Beach
-
Business Center
-
Cabanas
-
Cable
-
Concierge
-
Dry Cleaning
-
Fitness Center
-
Free Breakfast
-
Internet
-
Jacuzzi
-
Kids Allowed
-
Meeting / Conference Rooms
-
Pool
-
Room Service
-
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
-
Spa
-
Tennis Court
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
