Folkestone. Worthy of a visit

Advantages: The area is definately seeing a renaissance
Disadvantages: Poor night-life, run down in areas.

...The idea of writing a review about a place is quite daunting to me. My grammar is poor, my vocabulary limited, I've stuck to writing average reviews on products before now, so I hope this review is as informative and interesting as anyone reading this would like to see. Folkestone was my home for a period of my youth. I lived there until I was about 10, then moved back for a short period when I was 18. I know very few people there now, and rarely have any occasion to visit. But visiting this town every few years one thing strikes me, in someways how desperate a state Folkestone was in for a while. Visually little has changed in Folkestone, it's still as pretty as it ever was. But Folkestone seems to be having a bit of a renaissance. So lets get this review started. Where is Folkestone...

djrx 08.08.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Folkestone (England)

Folkestone, A Traditional Resort

Advantages: Traditional. Nice architecture in parts
Disadvantages: Some run down areas,. High unemployment

...Folkestone is a very traditional seaside town in Kent which has managed to retain a good deal of its Edwardian charm and yet at the same time provide modern amenities,facilities and entertainment for residents and visitors alike. Perhaps the nicest feature of this coastal town is the Leas, a broad-cliff-top promenade of flower beds and well manicured lawns. Several major entertainment places are also to be found along this pleasant promenade including the Leas Cliff Hall which hosts live musical performances varying from jazz,rock to classical music. There is also the Leas Bandstand and during the summer months military bands will often be performing to entertain visitors. Below the Leas,along the seafront are a number of traditional amusements including a fairground, an amusement centre, a novelty golf course and a Sunday...

ashford 06.10.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Folkestone (England)

Lovely Folkestone!

Advantages: Great fun for the whole family
Disadvantages: car parking

...I haven't been to Folkestone for years but over the weekend we ventured down there and I wondered why we don't come here more often. It is easy to get to buy car although once you get there it is difficult to park. We drove around for the best part of an hour so be prepared to wait! It was also quite expensive so if you can get there by train or bus, that could be your best bet. Once parked there is quite a choice of things to do. Every Sunday and Bank holiday there is a giant market. There are all sorts of stalls there so Im sure that you will find something for you. There is an amusement park that isnt big but will keep the kids quite for a bit. Folkestone also boasts a Victorian cliff lift. Its probably not a good idea if your scared of heights as it does make some terrible noises but its very cheap and well worth...

flossy 31.08.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Folkestone (England)

Folkestone - Deserted and Desperate

Advantages: easy routes to greater things
Disadvantages: derelict buildings

...Having lived in Folkestone for the past couple of years, I and many of the other residents have watched this town decline rapidly no longer is it this the place that was once visited by Queen Victoria, the edwardian houses are derelict and crumbling, the shop owners are departing rapidly. The harbour that once thrived with people travelling to France for the day is now deserted and looming through the fog desperatly seeking salvation gone has the seacat and with it the heart that one beated rapidly. However there is one advantadge to visiting Folkestone, here you have the key to the Garden of Kent, hotels are cheap and acceptable,20 minutes by car and you are in Dover port and have access to France via P & O, or Hoverspeeds new Superseacat, 10 minutes up the motorway and you can join the Eurotunnel or 20 Minutes up the motorway...

macgould 26.09.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Folkestone (England)

I'm not Burstin to return!

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Ran out of food

...Never judge a book by its cover and the same could be said about a hotel, don?t go by outside appearances! For our Ruby Wedding celebrations we had decided to go on a cruise from Dover to the North Cape of Norway and as we needed to be in Dover quite early we decided to find a hotel near by and travel down on the previous day. Finding a hotel with parking seemed difficult and then suddenly we found one nearby in Folkestone, great prices offer included dinner too, so we booked quickly as only a few rooms left. Can you hear all the pitfalls? The website made the hotel sound good, and so after guidance by our faithful TomTom we arrived about 4.00pm on a beautiful sunny Saturday in May. This hotel is on the front of Folkestone and was built to resemble a ship. What could be nicer? Parking! Where can I start? We couldn?t get parked, in...

jo145 17.06.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone

The Garden House WAS a Good Hotel

Advantages: This was a very good hotel in it's day
Disadvantages: Burnt down in 1999

...Review of The Garden House Hotel, Folkestone, Kent, England You will note that my title for this review states that the Garden House Hotel WAS a good hotel. So why is the word WAS in capitals? Well, Ciao is a little out dated as this hotel actually burnt down in 1999! The Hotel I was born and brought up in Folkestone, Kent and remember this hotel as one of the grand old Victorian buildings that used to dominate my home town before the property developers moved in and turned us into a concrete jungle. Folkestone is a seaside town on the South East coast of England. It is around 70 miles from London and around 16 miles from the city of Canterbury. The cross Channel port of Dover is approximately 7 miles along the coast. Folkestone was a very popular holiday destination from the time of Queen Victoria. The Garden House...

brittle1906 23.02.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Garden House, Folkestone

Portland Hotel, Skuba And Grill Resturant

Advantages: RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE MUST SEE'S AND DO'S OF FOLKESTONE
Disadvantages: PARKING

...! The terrace part of the garden that has the entrance to the main door has an awning which is the only one of its kind in folkestone (possibly kent) which allows you to smoke outside when its rainy or windy. Further down is more garden like tables and benches, still very stylish. The bar is designed like waves. Hence the name 'Skuba'. It definitely has a Mediterranean feel to it with tiled flooring, comfortable leather sofas and other table and chairs. Food is served Monday to Sunday with roast on a Sunday and a variety of other choices on the menu. Dare to be adventurous? Foor is served from Midday till 3 Usually then from 6 till 9 if not kept on alll day. Drinks are fairly reasonable. These are the prices below of what you can expect. Beck Vier - £3.00 XXXX - £2.90 Stella Artois £3.10 Boddingtons £2.70 Murpheys £3.00 Strongbow...

XFactorBoi 16.09.2007 (06.10.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The Portland Hotel, Folkestone

Tunnel or Ferry - handy for both

Advantages: proximity to cross-channel choices, new, good staff
Disadvantages: close to the motorway so some rooms could be noisy

...dispenser. On the right as you enter the room there is a mirror and hairdryer, a shelf with a kettle, tea and coffee and hanging space. There is also a desk with a Samsung flat screen and cable modem. Wi-fi is free in the room. As well as a nice firm double bed, there was also a double sofa-bed in the room which was well decorated in rusts and creams. The room had two opening windows which I like but there was also the choice of air con. **Check Out:** There were a lot of people checking out in the morning but it was quick and hassle free due to the two very efficient staff members. **Things to do in the area:** If you find yourself with a bit of extra time in the area, apart from the obvious stops of Folkestone and Dover , Canterbury, a Macarthur Glen Outlet Centre and Port Lympne Animal Park are all within 20 miles...

BristolBud 29.08.2008 (31.08.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Holiday Inn Express Folkestone Channel Tunnel

Is it really so Grand?

Advantages: Fairly Cheap Accomodation.
Disadvantages: A bit tatty, often very busy.

...The Grand Burstin Hotel Folkestone. This is a rather strange hotel in that it was designed to look like a ship or ferry, The hotel was best viewed on incoming ferries from Bolougne. Which is sad as ferries no longer make the trip. It is a fairly large hotel with somewhere in the region of 450 rooms. Parking: Parking can be a real problem at the hotel Burstin, especially if you book in late. They have a small underground car park which is extremely messy, some of the parking spaces are taken up by piles of rubble and there are randomly strewn bits of pipework and metalwork. There is also parking to the side and rear of the hotel. This is well kept, but the amount of spaces is limited. Checking In: Being such a large hotel from the very start this can lead to problems, If you arrive at the same time as a coach, you may...

djrx 28.07.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone

Foreign Students - how to be a Host with the Most!

Advantages: A great opportunity to meet people from all over the world
Disadvantages: Pay isn't great

...Living on the Kent coast as I do, we seem to be well provided for with English Language schools - there are 3 within walking distance of my home. The Folkestone School of English Studies (SES) is by far the most professional of the three in my opinion, (more of which later) and for the past year has been a fairly constant source of students for us to play host to. The obvious advantages of being a host family are: 1) The extra money. OK, it's not brilliant, but every little helps! It pays around £175 per fortnight for adults and slightly more for under 18s. For this, you provide a room (obviously!), breakfast and evening meal on weekdays and a packed lunch at weekends. Sometimes under18's are required to have a packed lunch during the week as well, so that means full board. SES pay regularly straight into my bank account, and you...

alleycat01 11.08.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of School of English Studies - Folkestone