There’s just too much to do at Riviera resort

10:24am Friday 21st September 2007

which combines four hotels, The Toorak, Victoria, Carlton and Derwent, all situated on the hotel mecca of Belgrave Road.

All four hotels can be reached under cover, in case the unthinkable happens in Torquay - rain!

There is so much to do at the resort, it has everything under one roof to occupy all ages. There are bars, restaurants, ballrooms, a hair and beauty salon and even a full-size bowling green.

To keep the youngsters entertained there are soft play areas, a huge games arena with ten-pin bowling, internet café, TopPutt golf challenge and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

The piece de la resistance for me was the Aztec Spa - a haven of tranquillity which would not be out of place in a fivestar hotel. Next door is the impressive Aztec 25-metre pool,which is spectacular when lit at night. There is also a goodsized gym with lots of equipment - a rarety in a hotel these days.

TLH prides itself on its entertainment programme. There is nightly entertainment throughout the year - anything from cabaret artists to karaoke and magicians.

Although TLH is such a big resort (it employs 330 staff) and has thousands of guests staying at any one time, there isn't a feeling of being overcrowded.

If you do fancy finding a quiet spot to relax on your own, there are plenty of little rooms, inside and out,where you can have time to yourself.

The resort itself reminded me of the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip in the USA (without the thousands of noisy slot machines) which are designed with everything for the holidaymaker in mind so there is no need to leave the resort.

This is the only downside - you need to stay for longer than a weekend, otherwise you will be too pre-occupied to venture outside and discover the beauty that is the surrounding English Riviera.

Editor's Choice