The Empress Hotel

The is a great location along the promenade with easy walking access to the beach and a longer walk to the shopping and restaurant area. The hotel's restaurant was good with a nice buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The offer a High Tea but you have to reserve 24 hours in advance. The staff was very helpful. We took the local bus from the airport to the hotel, it stops right out front; and a taxi back - very easy. Make sure you say "Hi" to the fairies when you cross the fairy bridge. :-)

The rooms were small for the length of our stay. There was a bed and a desk with little room otherwise. We looked at other rooms and this is standard for our part of the hotel. If you are staying for an extended period, suggest you ask about a larger room, especially if you have large suitcases. We travel with carry-on luggage and even this was in the way.

I really liked the hotel - gave a nice balance of a classical IOM Victorian property on the seafront. The views from the sea view deluxe rooms were great (I would highly recommend going for these). The restaurant area and bar were perfect, spaced and with a recent innovation. You literally cross the road, and you are on the beach. It gave a great opportunity to pop out and jog/run along the sea front of Douglas, or if it’s your thing, yoga on the beach facing the sun rise (when the IoM actually has some sun..). Breakfast was good. Also, it sits about a 10-minute walk from the main town which is a perfect withdrawal/de-stresser and gives a bit more of a holiday feel as it sits on the sea front – a totally casual flat walk into town along the sea front.

If you need to close to offices in Douglas and a 10-15 walk isn't for you, do consider. Being a classic victorian building, the hallways to the rooms are a bit of a maze and a little tight, this is offset by the wide open and modern bar and restaurant area on the ground floor.

Everything at the hotel was great. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left we were very comfortable. Plus we have already booked for next year as we were so pleased with it all. Lovely room that came complete with a bath and a shower ! Great sea view especially good on the night that fireworks were set off in the bay for the launch of the new Steam Packet ferry ! A member of staff I must mention is Lucas that was serving in the breakfast area on the last day of our stay.

Only one issue but a very small one. On the last morning at breakfast the young man Lucas asked me if I wanted breakfast tea or any other, it was the first time that had been asked all week. Thanks Lucas you are a star Plus squeaky floorboards from the floor above our room.

Conveniently located, walking distance to town centre and on useful bus routes. Not outrageously expensive (we researched prices it seemed about average). Near beach (stoney in places). Food good - breakfast freshly cooked and replenished regularly. Good menu for evening meals but same menu for the four nights we were there. We had seaview room so cannot comment on other rooms but our room was spacious with ironing board, iron and tea/coffee, kettle. We enjoyed the pianist who played in the bar in the evenings.

Nothing we could complain about. Weather wasn’t as good as we would have liked in August but not the hotel’s fault!, Parking may have been an issue but we didn’t a car so not an issue for us.

Breakfast was great and a varied selection and as much as you wanted, lovely seating area and staff were super friendly

My friends booked a twin room for the same amount of time as myself who booked a single room as we travelled to and from the Isle of man together on motorbikes, we booked maybe a day apart maximum yet I paid more for my stay than they did which I found strange, we both got free breakfasts as part of the booking, also the price list on the wall stated that they charge £90 per night for a single room yet my bill was £591 through booking.com. My friends bill was less for their twin room through booking.com

Location was great not too far from the centre of Douglas and by the sea with nice views from the café. Looks beautiful outside and the café/ bar inside. Breakfast was really nice, with a good variety and other items like porridge you could order. Room was very cozy, clean, good strong water pressure from the shower. Staff were friendly and helpful on many occasions.

My bed was close to another door that was slammed every time the other guest went in, waking me up at night and in the morning. They have a sign before you enter the area but I think this was ignored. My room faced the backyard of the building, staff had cigarettes in this area that travelled filled my room with the smell and smoke. Some of the bathroom décor was a bit dated but was clean and useable. Accessibility was hard, I had a few suitcases and it was very difficult going through the numerous doors, I counted 8 from entrance to room. Its an old building so I wouldn't expect it to be different.

I do very much like this hotel , having stayed in it a few times. The location is excellent on the prom and by the beach. The breakfast is good and the beds comfortable. The shower was good too. The food in the bar was pretty decent and the portions were generous.

The windows in my room didn't open very wide and in the warm weather the room was airless. Time to do away with the old fashioned net curtains too and get some blinds. The staff aren't consistent. Some are friendly and welcoming but some were not.

The staff were excellent and always greeted us with a smile and a 'can do' attitude, always happy to help with a request or guidance. The room was clean and the bed comfortable. The room had the usual elements you would expect such as good wardrobe space, TV and tea and coffee making facilities, and although towards the back of the hotel was very quiet. We had a bed and breakfast option and the food was well prepared and plentiful. A good variety of breakfast types (cooked, cereals, fruit etc) you could also upon request ask for kippers and porridge at no extra cost.

Room was a little tired, chips around the bath and a torn net curtain, however for this price point, these were minor issues and as we were in the room only really to sleep and get dressed and changed, these did not impact our stay. We did have one meal in the bar area (bar menu - not dinner) which was mixed - jacket potatoes were enormous (and great value) yet my steak and mushroom panni was more mushroom than steak - maybe a word to the kitchen there

We spent 8 nights at home away from home in the Balmoral Suite. Everything was great. Buffet breakfast every morning was very good. Lots of hot and cold choices and some special order items including kippers. A couple of days we had a late lunch in the piano bar. Good location within walking distance of everything in Douglas. The bus that passes out front will take you everywhere on IOM. Great getaway spot.

Can be a bit noisy from the Piano Bar on some nights depending on the location of your room.

Great location on Douglas promenade with brilliant views while eating lunch or dinner, breakfast was amazing. Freshly topped up regularly, everything you need to start your day off right 👍 Really relaxing stay , friendly and very helpful staff .Beautiful building, lovely dinning areas and bar. Plus the Single room I booked was spacious, clean , nice to relax in and a realy comfortable bed .

I didn't like that I had to check out so soon ( my own fault for not booking a longer stay ), I should of booked a for maybe a week or two more . Maybe next time I will be able to do just that so I can go through the food menu some more , everything I ordered was very good, well presented , good quality fresh ingredients and very tasty.