TT 2018 Accommodation
The Isle of Man TT races is one of the greatest motorcycle events in the world. The circuit is over 37 miles of public roads, speeds approaching 200 miles an hour with only the unforgiving tarmac between man, machine and what you would think would surely be certain death. The obstacles are many, lamp posts, garden walls and uneven road surface. The spectators line the hedgerows, as close to the action as you could get. No safety fences separating the faithful from the danger here, because this is an event like no other.
The TT Festival takes place over two weeks in May and June every year and attracts upwards of 45,000 spectators. TT 2018 dates are 26th May – 8th June. More and more each year are lured to this tiny Isle in the Irish Sea to watch one of the greatest spectacles on earth. It is on every biker’s bucket list to see the races at least once in a lifetime. Everywhere you look, it is all things bike, every road throngs with visiting motorbikes and the sounds of the hum of machine and the thrill and excitement of the races to come is in the air.
With such a massive influx of spectators, you can imagine how difficult it might be to find a place to stay. Every Hotel and Guest House is full to overflowing, every camp site fills up and there is even an Isle of Man Government initiative called ‘Home stay’ which sees the residents of the Island opening their homes and spare bedrooms to help with the massive demand for beds.
This article will hopefully help you find somewhere to stay or at least know where to look for a TT bed. TT 2018 will be no different.
There are 19 Hotels and Guest Houses situated on Douglas sea front, plus one Aparthotel and one self-catering establishment. The sea front is approximately two miles long. The South side of the Promenade which comprises of Loch Promenade and Harris Promenade is nearest to the Port, Douglas Quay and the main entertainment, shops and restaurants of Douglas. The North side comprising of Central Promenade and Queens Promenade is closer to the Manx Electric Railway, furthest away from the Port but has two very popular public Houses – the Terminus and the Queens.
The South side of the sea front is where the evening entertainment takes place with the famous Bushys Beer tent now relocated to the Villa Marina Gardens on Harris Promenade for TT 2018, and the new Hooded Ram Brewery tent on Loch Promenade again new for TT 2018, both with live music and TT entertainment. There is also a visiting fun fair on Loch Promenade with virtual rides, traditional rides and dare devil experiences. The TT grandstand is within easy walking distance from all areas of the Promenade with the closest being those on Central Promenade. By motorbike all are pretty much similar in terms of distance due to the one way system on some roads.
Here is a list of sea front accommodation with their contact details for your convenience:
Accommodation on South Promenade (Loch Promenade, Harris Promenade):
The Sugarland Guest House 01624663456, No website Loch Promenade
The Claremont Hotel 01624698800, www.claremonthoteldouglas.com Loch Promenade
The Town house, Aparthotel 01624626125, www.thetownhouse.im Loch Promenade
The Cunard self-catering apartments 01624676728, www.cunard-accom.com Loch Promenade
The Chester house Hotel 01624617068, www.chesterhousehotel.im Loch Promenade
The Ellan Vannin Hotel 01624 674824, www.ellanvanninhotel.im Loch Promenade
Cubbon House 01624670799 www.cubbonhouse.com Loch Promenade
The Sefton Hotel 01624645500, www.seftonhotel.co.im Harris Promenade
Accommodation on North Promenade (Central Promenade and Queens Promenade)
The Empress Hotel 01624661155, www.theempresshotel.net Central Promenade
The Savoy Guest House 01624621695, www.savoyiom.com Central Promenade
Best Western Palace Hotel 01624662662 www.palacehotel.co.im Central Promenade
At Caledonia Guest House 01624624569 www.caledonia.im Queens Promenade
Trevelyan Guest House 01624616631 www.trevelyanhotel.co.uk Queens Promenade
The Rutland Hotel 01624695240 No website Queens Promenade
Penta Guest House 01624680656 www.penta.im Queens Promenade
The Inglewood Guest House 01624674734 www.inglewoodhotel-isleofman.com Queens Promenade
Silvercraigs Guest House 01624677776, www.silvercraigshotel.com Queens promenade
The Hydro Hotel 01624676870, wwwhydrohotel.co.im Queens promenade
Acacia Boutique Guest House 01624660600, www.acaciaboutique.co.uk Queens promenade
Kings Guest House 01624620829, www.kings.im Queens promenade
The Regency Hotel 01624680680, www.regency.im Queens promenade
There is even more accommodation available just off the main Promenade of Douglas, Upper Douglas and outside of Douglas. Ramsey and Peel are very popular destinations with TT events going on in the evenings and weekends. Here is a link to a list of all IOM accommodation registered and inspected by the Isle of Man Tourist board https://www.visitisleofman.com/where-to-stay
Other accommodation situated close to the sea front in Douglas:
The Mannin Hotel 01624602555, www.manninhotel.im Broadway (off Central Promenade)
The Devonian Guest House 01624 www.thedevonian.co.uk Broadway (off Central Promenade)
Athol House Guest House 01624629356 www.atholhouse.net Broadway (off Central Promenade)
The Rotherham Guest House 07624315654 www.rotherhamhouse.co.uk (off Central Promenade)
Bed & Blueberry Guest House 01624670002, www.bedandblueberry.com (off Central Promenade)
The Welbeck Hotel 01624612349, www.welbeckhotel.com Mona Drive (off Central Promenade)
The Ascot Hotel 01624675081, www.ascothotel.im Empire Terrace (off Central Promenade)
Mereside, Glen Mona, Roslyn Guest Houses 01624676355 www.hqbar.im (off Central Promenade)
Island & Fairfield Guest Houses 01624673418 www.iomguesthouse.com (off Central Promenade)
Edelweiss Guest House 01624675115 www.edelweiss.co.im Palace Terrace (Off Queens Promenade)
Don’t leave it too late to book your TT 2018 accommodation as beds fill up really fast. As a general rule of thumb you should be securing your accommodation at least two weeks before the current TT race week, around the 20th May of the previous year. By the end of race week most establishments will be fully booked for the following year and you may have missed a lot of your first choice accommodation. Don’t despair if you do struggle as another good time would be around Xmas and early January. This is where some travellers may drop out of their planned bucket list trip and some rooms can resurface for sale as a consequence.
Be prepared to pay more for the first weekend of actual racing which is the most popular. Most establishments will expect you to book a minimum one weeks stay and to pay in full at the time of booking. However Practice week is usually an excellent choice for value as room prices can be much less and yet there is ‘practicing’ every day weather permitting. There have been many lap records broken during previous ‘Practice weeks’ and the spectacle is just as exciting.
TT Homestay
TT Homestay offers accommodation with a local family in their home on a bed & breakfast or room only option or sometimes you are able to rent their whole house or apartment. Your hosts will vary from retired couples, family units, singles and young couples. This type of accommodation is inspected by the Company who coordinates TT Homestay. This Company called Miquando are new for TT 2018 and part of their role is to ensure that what is offered still meets the basic requirements for travellers. To book a homestay accommodation for TT 2018 follow the directions on this link details of the available properties are not loaded until closer to the date of the TT Festival so keep checking from about the middle of October of the year before travel. New properties or rooms continue to become available right up to the start of the Festival.
Snooze box
Snooze box are shipping containers converted into temporary sleeping accommodation. Each snooze box can sleep up to two people and they have comfortable beds, flat screen TVs and en-suite shower rooms. They are by all accounts very comfortable if not a little noisy when it rains. But hey you are comfortable and dry! The units are situated behind the Grandstand in Nobles Park so they are very handy for the Paddocks and the entertainment at the Grandstand. Snooze box will be updating their availability for 2018 in the next few weeks. Keep in touch with their plans on their facebook page for TT 2018
Camping and Glamping
There are lots of established camp sites, temporary camp sites and glamping pods all over the Island, many are even situated along the TT circuit and in Douglas. You can choose from fully installed and equipped tents and pods where all cooking, eating, sleeping and living are provided to the other end of the scale where you bring your own tent, erect it and dismantle at the end of the Festival. Here are some useful addresses that you can check out your favourite locations and options for TT 2018:
Wherever you choose to stay, enjoy your TT 2018 Festival and stay safe. It really is the greatest show on Earth!
If you are interested in staying here, at the Ellan Vannin Hotel, please don’t hesitate to contact us!