Edelweiss Guest House

The Edelweiss takes up a white-painted Victorian house on Palace Terrace, part of the long seafront run of Queens Promenade in Douglas. It is a small private hotel rather than a chain, and it has been in the same hands for a long time.

The frontage is easy to pick out from the pavement: black ironwork along the boundary, deep bay windows, and tubs of roses and pink bedding plants either side of the door beneath the painted sign.

Damask, mirrors and the front lounge

The look inside is black and white damask paper set against fresh white woodwork, with dark upholstery and mirrors. The lounge at the front is where people settle, tall windows letting the light in, plants along the sills and sofas turned towards the glass. A serving counter sits beside reception, and the dining room is laid with white cloths and high-backed chairs. A lift reaches the upper floors.

Rooms that face the bay

Bedrooms come as doubles, twins and a triple, each with a private bathroom, a flat-screen television, desk, wardrobe and kettle. Several look straight out across the water, bathrobes hang in those ones, and one of the doubles has a bath rather than a shower.

The terrace out front

At street level there is a terrace with umbrellas and planted containers, and above it a balcony set behind ornate iron railings.

Steps from the sand

Douglas Beach starts across the road and runs the whole sweep of the bay behind blue railings. Douglas keeps its shops, harbour and ferry terminal at the far end of that curve, and the promenade takes you there on foot.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants the sea in front of them and a short walk to everything else. Good for couples, for two friends sharing a twin, and for guests who would rather not carry cases up a staircase.