“IT is impossible to imagine a prettier spot” is what Queen Victoria said of her beloved Isle of Wight. Having recently visited the island for the first time, I’m inclined to agree. My sister Sophie and I travelled to the Isle of Wight with Daish’s Holidays, specialists in UK coach breaks.
The family-owned company, which has its 45th anniversary this year, has 12 hotels at resorts including Llandudno, Blackpool, Weymouth and Scarborough, and a fleet of luxury coaches. I love coach trips, so this was right up my street. From our Bradford pick-up point, we travelled in a brand new coach to Portsmouth, taking the ferry to Fishbourne.
We stayed four nights in Daish’s very first hotel, winner of the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. The hotel dates back to the early 18th century and once hosted Queen Victoria herself as a guest. The elegant 72-bedroom Daish's Hotel is in the charming seaside town of Shanklin.
Our spacious, comfortable twin room overlooked the hotel garden, where we relaxed with a beer and got to know other guests. The holiday package includes a three-course dinner each evening; there’s a wide choice and the food is excellent. With a menu including honey roasted ham, beef and onion pie, chicken tikka masala, various quiches, chocolate fudge gateau and morello cherry pie, we were spoilt for choice.
Our highlights included delicious creamy fish gratin, vegetable lasagne, chicken caesar salad, salmon fish cakes and yummy rhubarb crumble and lemo.