As I have mentioned before being retired we can take leisure breaks at very short notice. Often in the UK. We do this as the weather forecasts leave a lot to be desired in accuracy, this I have to say is due to our position as the first substantial Land mass to receive the Atlantic weather and not a criticism of the forecaster’s skills. Therefore if the next 24 hours look good we try to take advantage of it and get away.

So I booked two rooms at A HIX in the resort area of Bournemouth as our favourite the Southampton HI did not have our choices of room available. THE HIX rooms were £59 ($100). I, as usual, emailed even at that late hour and by return had confirmation of our requests. Although there were not non-smoking rooms available they said that there would clean up the two rooms that we did book.

Our arrival was quick and efficient; I noticed that at the reception desk there was a large folder giving all the local information. This is an Idea that the higher brands could well follow.

Our rooms which, were unfortunately classified as smoking did not smell at all of smoke and in one the air cleaner was on which had obviously worked well. The rooms were on the highest floor and had a view of sorts so we had been given probably the best available rooms. The power of the pre arrival email!!.

The reception team had all the answers as far as local trips were concerned plus a map which highlighted the points of interest.

The Breakfast was adequate with a bigger than usual HIX selection, and this property is unusual in the UK by offering hot food in the evenings. A number of other eateries are available about 10/15 mins walk away on Poole Quay.

They advised the best sightseeing trip which was a mini cruise around Poole Harbour. This is the second largest natural harbour after Sydney Australia in the world.  There are five or six islands in the harbour including Brownsea Island which is the site of the first Boy Scout jamboree and Baden Powel has a lot of connection here. It is a Nation Trust are so free access for members but others need to pay to land. Some of the other Islands in the Harbour are rich in oil and there are wells, nodding donkeys and so on. They pump substantial oil from here as well as new finds yet to be exploited.

As our trip would have taken us past normal check out time we asked and received a late check out. I have to say, that apart from the location this is an excellently run HIX and would for a similar reason stay again. Of course as it is located very close to both some major financial regional office and a big Hospital so they do get a lot of business people staying. It is also very good for “park and go” with the France and Channel Islands ferries port very close by.