stayed at the above with a coach party of 30 people, mostly retired, first impression is that the place needs a makeover, the front in particular - dirty curtains, paint peeling off the window frames, inside the place was dingy - poor lighting, no proper directions for the rooms, bars etc. our room was a good size and most important - clean!, but then we noticed that it was quite shabbily decorated, definitely done on the cheap - we talked to three couples in our group and like us they had no lock on the bathroom door on the plus side the food was very good with a carvery both at breakfast and the evening meal and the staff (mainly east european) were very good, but like I said I wold'nt go back - the whole town seemed tired!

My room was a disgrace. The loose wallpaper had been stuck back on the wall using adhesive that left horrible brown stains along the joins.
The toilet seat was loose.
The hidden areas (e.g. tops of cupboards) had several months (years?) muck on them.
The dining tables had a unique non-slip surface made which, I can only assume, was due to the table tops being wiped with unclean cloths.
After two days I has spent ten hours away from the hotel to find there was only cold water available for a shower (acceptable at Sam's place in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, but not Torquay, England). When I enquired as to why I was told that a 'techncian' was 'on his way'.
I then asked that ths problem had occurred many times according to Internet reports and that one person I met in Torquay had the problem FOUR years ago.
I said that I thought I was being told lies and left to stay in the Grosvenor, 100yds down the road.
If you care for your family and frends, I suggest you do not use the Rainbow International, Torquay.

I stayed at the Rainbow with a friend of mine for 5 days in April. I did read some adverse comments before travelling, and was fairly concerned, though to be honest I stayed at this hotel last year, and found it fine, so I didn't worry too much.

I stayed in a terrace room, which had about 5 beds in, ideal for a family, although there were just 2 of us. We had a little terrace, and overlooked the outdoor pool - although we had no intention of using it! The room was clean and very large, though not luxurious. Every evening there was bingo, a quiz, music and a sort of cabaret, which we watched about 3 evenings. A wonderful comedian with a great voice is on every Wednesday - can't remember his name, but he is GOOD! The other 2 evenings we strolled down to the harbour, which was nice, but cold when we were there.... the harbour and lovely park opposite the hotel are very pleasant areas, and I think we were just unlucky with the weather, as the other times I've been to Torquay, the weather has been wonderful.

The food was excellent! Breakfast I just chose from the extensive cereals and fruit, but there was a large choice of hot traditional breakfast things. Dinner is a carvery with a roast, and various other meat/fish dishes. But as a vegetarian I was particularly impressed with the nut roast, a wonderful chickpea and lentil curry with all the trimmings, and some stuffed aubergines, every night there was an imaginative vegetarian alternative.

All in all I think this break was extremely good value for money, and I would recommend a stay. I found the staff, particularly in the restaurant, also very friendly and helpful.

there were so many problems i dont know where to start the rooms we were first given were a very long way from reception impossible for elderly parents this was because hotel was really two with a long corridor connecting them we were moved nearer but rooms were up two flights of stairs with no lift again impossible for elderly people the rooms were dirty especially the toilet and the shower was cracked and still had the soap suds from previous occupant on it the toilet would not flush and had to be repaired leaving a mess windows were dirty lampshade stained etc radiators extremely noisy food was very basic and a cooked dinner every night the starter was soup or soup the entertainment was the bingo caller singing she didnt even do the bingo well as people checked their own tickets self service not what you want on a holiday all the queuing for food is not on other people also were complaining in front of me about lots of things one woman said that she had never been to such a dirty hotel and i agree another woman had cut her foot on glass that had not been cleared up and lots of people said things did not work etc i would never return to this hotel there was not even a welcome it was a really bad experience