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The Hartlands is a delightful Victorian holiday centre situated in Shanklin on the south coast of the beautiful and tranquil Isle of Wight. The centre has been designed to provide quality self catering accommodation and facilities to support families, schools and care homes with members of any age on the Autistic Spectrum. For a holiday where Autism is understood and catered for.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Quaint
Location
41 Victoria Avenue, Shanklin PO37 6LT England
Spectrum Breaks
16 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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This is truly a great place for a family. It caters to all, including siblings of autistic children. We have now visited 5 times and it delivers every time. Autistic son loves it - he is free to use facilities as he wants. Daughter loves it as she has space to be herself while he is happy. Beach is not far away and is great!
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Having just read all the reviews so far there is little to add. Our family visit in a very wet February was not spoiled by the weather thanks to the relaxing well equipped tailormade facilities of Hartlands which has " heart" at its centre. Autism is truly accepted, catered for and embraced! Our grandson had freedom to be himself and his parents felt relaxed and enjoyed the ambiance of this well planned facility. Thank you to the team. Bonus was the priority booking on the Ferry. We very much hope to return.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I hope a parent of an autistic child reads this and books. You won’t regret. It is incredibly well thought out with so many personal touches it means you can really unwind. The sensory room, cinema, pool and music room are outstanding spaces. Excellent hosting with lots of care. Fabulous location next to Shanklin beach and shops. The facilities are 5 star and the space you get for price is amazing. Much better then the photos show. We will back as our son loved! Very memorable. Thanks for creating such a needed haven for SEND families
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great facilities for our special family member, he especially loved the music room and the pool. The extra safety and security features make for a relaxed stay. Helpful and thoughtful staff. Will book again.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We haf a great holiday. Lovely and understanding owners. Lovely accommodation and super facilities for all imcluding our grandson who has many problems and is severely autistic. Super swimming pool and large sensory room enabled relaxed and happy holiday. Great value too.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our second visit to Hartlands and it was as good as the first. Accommodation is fantastic and Colin and his family really go above and beyond to make your stay as easy and comfortable as possible. The swimming pool is fantastic and you get to have it all to yourself. Our boys love the garden especially the swing! We didn’t use any of the other facilities this time but they are also superb. All of the above leads to a relaxing holiday without worry and lots to do. We can’t wait to go back again
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3rd amazing stay for my family. Really felt supported. Facilities were excellent and accommodation had all we needed and was very clean. Perfect place for my son who has autism. We wanted to stay longer than a week!
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
While taking over an order of some of our sensory products, I was invited look around a new holiday centre on the Isle of Wight recently, The Hartlands hotel. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, there are so many ways that ‘Autism Friendly’ can go horribly wrong, from overly clinical, everything on lockdown, to a total sensory overload, where every other socket has a bubble tube attached to it. The Hartlands hotel is neither of these. It is beautiful, homely, welcoming, calm, serene, but at the same time manages to be safe, practical and full of entertainment whatever your ‘thing’ is.
I’m not a massive fan of going to new places and usually duck out as quick as I can, but after locating the front door (an issue Elaine and Collin were very quick to react to, and plan to sort out) and entering the beautiful hallway, with its pastel colours and fantastic, repetitive herringbone floor tiles I was hooked and stayed for several hours. Elaine and Collin are so welcoming and friendly, and really understand what they are offering. They have a wealth of personal experience which is what makes all the difference.
The music room is full of every type of instrument, trumpets, trombones, pianos, rainsticks, drums you name it, its there. There is a self playing piano, which plays itself by moving the pedals up and down with your feet, giving anyone the opportunity of becoming a musician. The music room has pictures hanging down around the room from the picture rail. Thinking back to when my boy was younger this worried me, I would be worried all the time about him pulling them off the wall. ‘thats fine’ says Elaine. ‘If things get damaged we don’t mind’ and I honestly don’t think they would mind at all. ‘If parents want us to remove things or move things to feel more comfortable then that’s what we will do’
In the sensory room and play area, the ceiling is covered in lights which can be changed colour. Colin and Elaine are really keen to make sure that they fill the area with items that people like to use. There are giant bean bags, rolling tubes, light boards and lots of small items to be picked up and explored. Its a wonderful space to relax or spend energy. The wooden bar area is beautifully tactile, there are different texture everyone to be touched and enjoyed. There is a seating area to sit and chill, the centre has lots of seating areas that provide quite places to relax and chill, all with wonderful textures, tactile materials and calm colours. The art room has plenty of resources, all carefully selected, the pencils are made from tree bark so the feel amazing to hold. There is kinetic sand to play with, as well as the usual art ad craft activities. The games room has plenty to keep people amused, as well as a gym, and sauna. The centre is brimming with rooms to go to and activities to keep families busy.
The swimming pool is divine. Its difficult to capture just how beautiful and relaxing it is in a photograph. There are coloured lights and iridescent tiles on the bottom of the pool, which catch the light and shimmer through the water. Gentle water jets move the water, and the pool is heated properly , with no chemicals in the water making it incredibly relaxing
The apartments themselves are simply stunning. I was amazed at the size of them. Having been on many self catering holidays with my family over the years I have experienced A LOT of self catering apartments. ‘sleeps 4-6′ usually means ‘ should sleep 4 but we can squeeze another 2 on a sofa bed in a tiny lounge/diner/kitchen’. These apartments are like full size flats. Each bedroom is a full size room, carefully planned, beautifully designed. Each has a full sized bathroom either with bath or shower. You could esily go on holiday with the kids, grandparents and even a carer in tow and have space for all of you.
The kitchens are bigger than my kitchen at home and fully equipped. They have safety features like induction hobs, safety cut off kettles and irons. If a kitchen that can be locked off is needed, they have an apartment for that, if a kitchen that be can used while keeping an eye on the kids is needed, there is an apartment for that. There are washing machines and tumbles dryers. Colin and Elaine know that for some people toileting is difficult, and again this is fully understood and prepared for. Even walls are painted so that they can be scrubbed clean as and when needed. The apartments are planned so that plans can be made regarding door locking, with door alarms available. Apartments with balconies are planned for in terms of safety, and they welcome people to call them and discuss any requirement so that they can make preparations, and advise you on the best apartment for your needs.
Personally I cant wait to go there for a holiday. Hopefully Spectrum Breaks will get on board with Family Fund so that more families can enjoy a holiday with them. I will be going back for another visit with a friend in the next few weeks and can’t wait!
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Date of stay: October 2016
Value
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Speak to the owners to select the best apartment for your particular needs
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place is amazing. Firstly we stayed in Emily cottage, beautiful room, kitchen is better than mine at home. So fully equipped and has everything you need to make or even bake anything you want to. Bedrooms nice and comfortable, and the living area was lovely.
Swimming pool was lovely, balls and a few things that can be used in there, it being heated was such a bonus and being able to use it by yourself is such a plus.
The pool tables are a great idea and we used them every day and it's very relaxing. We had fun in the music room even though no one found a hidden talent it was fun to try. The gym was also a good area and we used it occasionally. We didn't use the sauna but it is a very nice extra.
The cinema was nice and so was having some computers to play games. The sensory room was great, not too much going on but enough to keep my son busy and he loved it. We didn't use the art room as my son is a little too young but from what we saw it was really equipped and had lots to do.
The whole place was clean and tidy and you were never felt like it was anything but like your home aswell. And the owners are lovely and always there to help no matter what time it is.
It's a lovely place and we'll definitely be returning and it was lovely to have a place that my son could also enjoy.
So different but so excellent.
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a fantastic time staying here. There is so much to do that even if you had a wet weather week you wouldn't be bored. The flat was very comfortable and well equipped and having the outside terrace was a bonus too.
Well located too. Short walk to town. It's also on the bus route between Ryde and Newport with a stop just outside.
The owners have obviously put so much effort and time into making this a fabulous holiday destination for families with an autistic member. We certainly hope to return one day.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Shanklin area.
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandIsle of WightShanklin
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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