Whitstable doesn't have many hotels, so the competition isn't fierce. However the Continental does make an effort with some things. It is clean, bright, and the staff are friendly. No residents lounge, but the bar is comfortable. The hotel stocks the local Whitstable Brewery beers.
The rooms are good, recently redecorated, but some are very short of storage space - hanging space in particular in number 5. If you are planning to stay for more than one night, ask about this at the time you book. The cheap winter rates make a sea view room very affordable.
Overall a nice comfortable place.

I booked the Continental for a couple of days away with my girlfriend, feeling slightly worried after having read negative reviews here. All I can say is that I think some reviews might need to manage their expectations.

We stayed just for Saturday night for a special rate of £70, cheap by Whitstable standards even in January. We turned up to find the car park full, but the friendly receptionist directed us to an overflow carpark just up the road. Our room was at the back (no sea view) and quite small. But it was perfectly clean, had a good shower and a comfortable mattress for a good night sleep. Breakfast (a buffet) was very good and the bar below the hotel was a nice place to hang out (good to see lots of local beers).

As some people have said the hotel could do with a lick of paint and some of the furnishings could do with being replaced. On the cold weekend we stayed the bathroom was cold too as it didn't have a radiator. But the location more than makes up for this - walking back from the town centre along the seafront at night was very romantic.

For £70 I thought it was a great deal, and would happily pay more for a sea view and/ or in peak season. You're not going to get 5* comfort for that kind of price. Some people have suggested that the Premier Inn up the road would be a better bet. Now I'm sure that the rooms are bigger and the decor better, but it's also a mile inland and surrounded by a car park. I think it's a case then of knowing what you want out of your hotel and stay.

The reviews listed against this hotel seem incredibly harsh, almost to the point of being annoyingly misleading.

I panicked when I was pushed into booking this place as there were no other rooms left in the town; having taken the trip advisor reviews into consideration, I really did look everywhere else.

To give some context, it was a surprise trip that I organised for my girlfriend. When we arrived at Whitstable on a sunny Saturday afternoon in late September, I was hoping that the surprise of staying over would excuse a potentially poor hotel room. The surprise was all mine however: the room was pleasant!

Yes, it was helped by a beautiful view and some pleasant weather. But, in decoration and feel and cleanliness, it was simply a nice room.

I'd say that £140 may have been a bit pricey for the time of year (during term time) but the service was accommodating - smiling, even - and the breakfast was better than most I've had in other "regional" hotels.

So the verdict is: get a room with a view and you won't go far wrong. For £70 a head, it is much much better than some people on here would let you believe.

We were familiar with the hotel from staying in the fishermans huts several times over the past few years but this was our first stay in the hotel rooms. Yes the hotel is a little tired in places but we were pleased with the size and facilities in our family room. The shower was a little slow but the bathroom was very clean with fresh towels. We only stayed for one night and thought what we paid was good value for a family of four given the location of the hotel. Breakfast was delicious with plenty of choice. We love Whitstable and would definitely stay at the fishermans huts or the hotel again.