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Douglas is visually stunning and nice to see the horse tramways back after some recent funding difficulties. A fantastic base with excellent transport links to the rest of the Isle of Man which is a paradise for coast and hill walkers and general outdoor activities. The free Manx museum is well worth a visit on a rainy day.

The Isle of Man is great for vintage transport. Douglas is not as prosperous as it once was but there are many nice bits and lots of good places to eat. The countryside is excellent, the train, trams and buses mean much can be seen without needing a car.

Ballasalla is conveniently positioned for the south of the Isle of Man - whether heading to The Sound to watch seals, or using the wonderful historic transport links - Victorian steam railway, horse drawn trams at Douglas etc. The island is beautiful with plenty to do. Not really a review of Ballasalla itself, but Ballasalla is a good start point to visit all parts of this island. Isle of Man people are incredibly friendly and helpful. The island is a brilliant place for a long or short break.

Coming to Douglas was like i was stepping back in time, with the Victorian hotelfronts the Promenade along the big wide bay, the gorgeous Clydesdales pulling the trams along "the Prom" and always the cliffs and crags of the coastline on both ends of the city. Oh, yes, there is a miniature castle out in the bay, built by some romantic for his wife. Besides its history as the playground of the past, we were drawn by its long history of racing in the rallies and in the T.T. motorcycle races. These are one of the few and best bike races in the world. Better get reservations now, if you can! One suggestion about the races: Isle of Man is much larger than we knew. While they have an excellent bus system it was very complex and difficult to get to the different stages of the rally races. We would suggest a simple, frequent shuttle bus service going to each stage. Even the US does shuttle buses to help people at an event get around. It was time-consuming, complex, and not much fun to be constantly trying to get to the stages. Out of 20 stages at the September rally, we were able to get to two of them. We were too tired to try to reach any more stages. Probably our fault, but we had come a very long way to visit Isle of Man, and it would have been lovely for a little organizational help. Last suggestion: we hope you can update and stabilize the many hotels along the promenade. It is a lovely image, but it needs a great deal of work and funds, I am sure. Even if they were gutted and modernized inside, it would retain the spirit of the past that is so worth preserving on the Isle of Man. PS: A great thank you to your first rate Tourist Office and to a young man named Joseph. He was most helpful and knowledgeable, and is to be commended. Thank you. Shirley and Larry Ice Atlanta, Georgia USA

A good place to base yourself for a trip to the Isle of Man, with all amenities you require, perfect if arriving by Sea but beware of the taxi fares from the Airport if you are staying in Douglas as the Airport is a £25.00 ride away.

My first time visiting the Isle of Man and it would be in the middle of winter. Despite this, my visit felt warm, restful and deeply engaging. I was intrigued with the city itself, so clean and orderly, having a sense of enchantment. Douglas has a great scope of shops and eating places, rich with colorful people and characters happy to share their space with you. Douglas people are great hosts. The public transport system is fabulous, and most places around the island are accessible by bus or taxi. You can also hire electric bicycles to go to those off the beaten track places. I have fallen in love with Douglas and would love to return and experience it in the summer time.

This ref is not just Douglas but the whole Isle of Man. Douglas itself, the largest city on the Isle, is a lovely small town with an interesting pedestrian shopping area. There are good restaurants and your typical high street businesses. It is an older area, a bit quaint, but I would not call it picturesque. Excellent dinner at Tanroakgan, famous for their fresh fish. Great service. We covered many highpoints of the Isle in our three days there from tip to tip. Most impressive were the northern tip with views to Scotland down to Port Erin, the ancient crofter village, Cregnaesh. The lookout past the village was well worth it, The Calf of Mann. Peel was enjoyable. Take the walk around the castle. The town of Castleton was one of my favs due to the village square. Well preserved castle, perhaps the most well preserved in Europe. Check opening times. Unfortunately, it was closed when we were there. Overall, very friendly island with spectacular scenery and historical sites. We were there in Feb and it was damp and cold. Go prepared.

My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Isle of Man. We came from the West Coast of the U.S. because our great-great grandmother was from the Isle. The best tourist-friendly location we have ever used and we have traveled the world. The transport pass was invaluable. The curator at the Leece Museum was so personable and full of information--a real highlight of our trip was meeting such a real person.

Douglas is a very good place to stay, with very good transport links to other parts of the Island. The Isle of Man would appear to be well served by buses, with a bus every 20 minutes or so to the airport, for example. Journey time to Douglas around 30 minutes. The sea terminal is based in Douglas, with regular buses - not forgetting the Horse Tramway which runs along the promenade. There is also a steam railway which runs from Douglas to Port Erin - highly recommended. Also recommended is the Manx Electric Tramway, which runs from Douglas to Ramsey, with a mountain railway branching off at Laxey, to serve the the summit of Snaefell - the highest peak on the Isle of Man of just over 2000 ft. On a clear day, views are superb, but the Ramsey line and the steam railway also go through very pleasant countryside. Plenty of eating places and bars, with a wide range of shops. Many hotels and guest houses to choose from. Over the years and since my first visit back in the 1990's, a lot has been done to improve and transform the sea front. The Isle of Man is well worth a visit - irrespective of those who go over for the TT races. Plenty of interesting places to go, including museums. A walkers paradise and those who enjoy stunning scenery.

Douglas is a stunning town - dominated by the beautiful bay, the town wraps around it, and the promenade is an absolute must. Immaculately maintained, with beautiful gardens and plenty of benches to sit and look out to sea. The horse-drawn tram is another must - and perfectly in keeping with this quaint and quirky island. Douglas is a central location from which to explore the sights of the island, and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from. The Isle of Man is an absolute gem - where quirky/quaint meets the cutting-edge technologies which are a mainstay of the Island's economy - and Douglas is at the very heart of the Island's essence and culture. Always a warm welcome from the fabulous Manx community. Highly recommend a visit.