to a leading British national newspaper.

The Times featured the Island in the travel section of last Saturday's edition -- levelling criticism at the cost, service standards and attitudes of staff in hotels.

Reporter Mary Gold detailed run-ins with rude restaurant staff, the high price of dining out and the lack of cultural attractions.

But she highlighted the natural beauty of the Island and the hope for the future with resorts such as the Daniel's Head eco-village.

The reporter complained about being asked for dinner reservations when she had only arrived at the hotel 15 minutes earlier, and an "equally rude waiter, who said `yeah yeah, I heard ya the first time', when we asked for our long overdue drinks''.

But she wrote "we had a good lunch at the Frog and Onion, served by charming (foreign) waitresses'', adding "prices are staggering. A light lunch for two with a bottle of house white never cost less than 50, and, try as we might, we couldn't get our dinner bill below the 100 mark.'' TOURISM TOU