Bournemouth Carlton Hotel, BW Signature Collection

We had chosen this hotel because of daylight-lit indoor pool and parking, and were let down on both. First and foremost, the check-in time is 4PM and they mean it - you'll be told there are no rooms available if you turn up earlier, even though it is easy to tell the hotel is not busy from the number of cars in the car park and the scarce guests on hotel grounds. Considering check-out is 11AM, that is inexcusably late. Secondly, despite the 'signature' in the name, the hotel try to charge you for every minor extra, like some cheap hostel. Even the towels at the pool are chargeable. Parking is not free and is charged at £20 a day. I actually blame Hotels dot com for not making bookers aware of the fact, as we would have opted for another property if we knew. Upon arrival the receptionist will tell you that you have 10 minutes to register your vehicle or get out, as otherwise you risk getting a parking charge notice. Just FYI, parking on nearby Meyrick and Gervis roads costs £10 a day (9am-5pm) or £21 for three days, so don't assume the hotel offer you best value here either. The indoor swimming pool looked nice on the photos, but turned out to be 5x5 metres large and 1m deep. The pool area is as shabby as the rest of the hotel and has just three random chairs standing in there, no loungers, no robes, towels at a cost. Changing facilities also just as small and uncomfortable as the rest of it. Breakfast was OK, but again nothing special. Not coming back here, for sure.

The breakfast was very good. Room could be cleaner - rooms need decorating (not modernising just watermarks on most walls!) bar service was really poor, but apart from that an enjoyable stay

Everything was good. Great sea view from my room. Only gripe was the car park charge of £20.00 per night. I mentioned this on check-out, but the receptionist insisted that they are the cheapest in Bournemouth. This is of course untrue - if you are the cheapest for parking, why not advertise it as a benefit, not keep it under wraps until guests arrive and havevpassed throughvthe car park cameras.

Hotel was a bit tired looking in places, but good in others, shower a bit poor and mattress was not very good. Breakfast great though and the hotel was very quiet

Small problem with our room was sorted out pleasantly and efficiently. All very professional.

The staff attention was outstanding. The hotel is outdated. It needs a refurbishment. The bedroom carpets are mouldy as are the other carpets. The cleaners do a good a very good job, however this does not compensate for the circumstances of the outdated rooms. The public areas are generally well kept.

Television not working properly. Cracked sink. Poor decoration. No spa facilities working. Expensive to park overnight.

Huge room …but very tired in some areas but over all had a nice 2 night break …staff were lovely x

Had not problem at the hotel , rooms large but basic staff were really good

The room was large and clean with a very large bed.Unfortunately the property is looking tired. The plumbing in the bathroom was very noisy overnight. We have stayed in the Charlton for many years as we have a timeshare in the building, but the hotel could do with an update. The steam room wasn't working, nor was the spa

We were very frustrated with our experience staying here. We stayed in a family room but from 10-midnight or a little after, there was ridiculously loud music/bass coming from the room above us. I went to the front desk about it twice. I was initially told it was a party on an upper floor, only to later find that our room was nowhere near that space. There was no urgency in resolving the matter and never any sort of check in with us afterward. My whole family lost sleep and anyone with children knows that it’s hard enough all sharing a room, let alone with added loud music and partying happening nearby. I wouldn’t stay here again.. but I will say that most other aspects were fine.

Good hotel but rooms need to be updated as they are stained and worn

The wait staff was absolutely accommodating and friendly. The room was ok. Bed was confortable.

The hotel and grounds are in need of complete refurbishment from replacing draughty secondary double glazing to updating the whole bathroom. The shower is small and water pressure poor. The Seaview rooms are large but have poor furniture. The food in the restaurant is good however there was a lack of attention to guests from some of the staff

Great size room and the hotel staff are lovely but the room and hotel is in need of some maintenance and a deep clean

Had a lovely time. Breakfast was very nice, comfortable and friendly staff, Brandon was very helpful. Lovely comfy bed. Ten minute walk to the centre of Bournemouth and was uphill coming back! Beach just accross the road but down a zig zag path.

A lovely hotel - lovely room but massively let down by shoddy broken spa facilities ; now not a disaster in life terms but Sauna and Jacuzzi not working means it was a rubbish experience and indemic of a dropping BW previous high standards. AS a BW devotee I will now start looking elsewhere as 2nd poor experience in a row. Really should have been told in advance . And £20 to park a car is unreal ; tip street parking is half the price and freely available so dont be mugged off !!

I have been staying at the hotel for many years as my granddaughter loves the air show. It’s for the location more than anything. The hotel is very tired in many places, needs upgrades in lots of areas. The staff are very nice but totally overworked. They need to employ more staff especially for the air show weekend. The jacuzzi and sauna were both out of order. If it wasn’t for the location I would not stay there

The communal parts of the hotel are spotless, and welcoming, and staff were lovely too. Unfortunately the family room we were given was in a very tired part of the hotel, and was too warm, had a mouldy smell and the beds had seen better days. We had to sleep with the windows open and awoke to the smell of a long time dead seagull outside the room. Not great, but family members had a sea view room which was modern and comfortable, and A/C, so we were maybe unlucky. Breakfast was great, and the location is fab for the beach.

I will not come again