TWO more Isle of Wight hotels have been named among the best in the country by a leading travel website.
The Swiss Cottage, Shanklin, was named the 12th best UK family hotel in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2012 and the Wight Montrene Hotel, Sandown, the 16th best.
Both fought stiff competition from establishments such as the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, near Hook, and the Crowne Plaza, London Kensington, placed 20th and 24th respectively.
Keith Beckett, 49, who owns the Swiss Cottage, at St George’s Road, with wife, Christine, was thrilled.
"We have always been one of the top hotels in Shanklin but to be one of the best in the UK takes it a step further. We get a lot of hits from Trip Advisor so it’s good advertising for us and we hope it will have a positive impact on the business," he said.
"In the five years we have been here, we have refurbished the hotel and won a Silver Award from Visit England.
"This is our home, we have just eight bedrooms and pride ourselves on our hospitality. We really do go that extra mile to create a home away from home for our guests."
The Wight Montrene Hotel, at Avenue Road, is much larger, with 41 bedrooms, restaurant, indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa.
Owners John Amor and Fran Size are experienced hoteliers and have been at the Wight Montrene for six years.
Mr Amor, 68, said: "This is a considerable accolade. Trip Advisor has rated us the top hotel in Sandown and among the top ten on the Island for quite a few years now but to be in the top 25 family hotels in the UK is really marvellous.
"It’s great for the Island two hotels have this accolade, it’s really good news for the tourism industry. There are lots of small, coach tour bed and breakfast places in Sandown and Shanklin and this shows there is more to the Island."
As previously reported, the Hillside Hotel, Ventnor, was also commended in the Trip Advisor awards. It was named the second best hotel in the UK.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk