I'm reviewing my day at the Pennyhill Hotel spa. I enjoyed my day very much and the spa almost…read moremerited a full 5 stars but little details let it down. Please bear in mind that I'm judging it by the very highest standards but such a place aspires to such heights. Firstly, it proved a little difficult to get an answer on the phone when I rang to try and book - it took me 3 phone calls to get through. Secondly, the person taking the booking didn't seem to know that certain treatments were available although they were on the spa website. The hotel is only 5 minutes from junction 3 of the M3 and the opulence of the place is immediately obvious as you enter its grounds. The spa is housed in its own building away from the main hotel. I was intrigued by steam coming off the outdoor pool and hot tubs as we walked past them on the way into the main spa building. As it was a working day, the spa was quiet though the huge corridors would definitely be able to cope with a lot of guests. On the drive to the hotel, I had been contacted by mobile to say that one of my treatments had to be cancelled due to staff illness and that I would be offered an alternative. This and the welcome were handled efficiently by the staff. Perhaps, it's a reflection of their regular clientele but I did feel that everyone at the spa was quite formal, a slight contrast to other spas I had been to. The spa was labyrinthine and really exciting to explore on my first visit there. The changing rooms themselves were enormous and the opulence of the place was reflected in the size of the shower cubicles - enormous with 5 jets of water spraying you from the ceiling and also from the walls. However, it would have been nice to have had a demonstration of the locker system - in the end, I had some advice from the other guests. Also, it would have been nice to have had some way to attach the locker key card to the arm/leg rather than having to leave it in my bathrobe pockets when I went into the steam rooms and saunas. Another disappointment was that the bathrobes weren't as luxurious as the rest of the place. My robe was worn through on one shoulder and mine had a dirty spot on the sleeve. The facilities were top notch and fun to discover. There were men's and women's only sections as well as communal facilities, one letdown being that there were certain facilities available only in the single sex areas but not in the communal area. However, the huge variations of steam rooms, saunas, reflexology thrones, massage chairs, etc. would fill any possible needs of the guests. The swimming pool was lovely and there were some classes going on while we were there. I was keen to try some of the outdoor pools I had spotted on the way in. One of them has a connection to an indoor pool but 2 others required a quick dash out from the main swimming pool area! Having swum in outdoor pools in ski resorts, I knew it was possible to make it without catching a fatal dose of pneumonia (I visited at Christmas time). Lunch was included in the day package at Café Themis. The café prides itself on the provenance of the food and I can confirm healthy options, large portions and tasty food. The fresh juices and smoothies were especially yummy and come in huge glasses. My server was very helpful in pointing out that most people don't have the 2 courses included in the deal at lunchtime but instead have one course at lunch (big portions!) and come back later for tea and a cake. The listed prices on the menu were quite expensive for a café though and I was pleased to have it as part of the package. I had booked 2 half hour treatments and the spa treatment area was very calming and nicely decorated. The rooms were nice and big though the second treatment room was quite cold. The treatments ranged from an excellent reflexology massage to an OK foot massage. All the therapists were very friendly but perhaps the late staff illness meant a slightly inexperienced practitioner substitute but everyone tried their best. There's even an incredible room for sleeping in - with heated waterbeds and duvets! So overall, I had a really nice time but couldn't quite award Pennyhill spa the top 5 stars. I had intended to book a stay at the hotel before but was quite surprised to find that their normal room prices don't include entry to the spa, which is very surprising considering the cost of the rooms On the way out, I popped into the main hotel and asked to look at a few rooms. A lovely Romanian receptionist showed me round. The rooms are all decorated in individual styles and my advice would be to find out about the room you're booking as they're all very different, even within the same price bracket.

Driving through the relentlessly murky streets of Bagshot on a rainy day, I was relieved and more…read morethan impressed with the grand iron gates that welcomed me to PennyHIll Park and The Spa. The grounds are vast encompassing a golf course, shooting range, tennis courts, an archery pit, clay pigeon shooting stations and of course the spa. On arriving at reception in the main stately PennyHIll Park Hotel, I was welcomed by beaming smiles and a warm open fire. The oil paintings, rich, opulent rugs, flagstone floors and butlers in tailcoats all add to the feel of a country house at its best. All rooms are extravagant and individually designed. My room overlooked the delicately manicured gardens and cleverly incorporated the cosy feel of luxurious antiques including wrought iron chandeliers and deep mahogany furniture with a particularly modern and luxurious bathroom. The rainforest shower and deep bath with flat screen tv strategically placed for ideal viewing was the height of indulgence...until I visited the spa. Claiming to be the largest spa in England, it holds 21 therapy rooms, 8 indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs as well as some very original rooms for those looking for that little something extra. The minimal marble hallways will lead you to the Ice Grotto for use after a sauna or steam. It has frozen walls and an ice fountain producing flaked ice for scrubbing the skin. The Schnapps steam room uses aromas based on the drink but if you're looking for more, then you can take a lie down on the heated ceramic ergonomic chairs or take a seat on a heated reflexology throne with massaging foot jets and pebbles. During my stay I enjoyed a Kodo massage. A rhythmic body massage inspired by traditional Australian aboriginal techniques aimed to tone and re-align energy flows, enhancing mind and body balance. A truly magical experience leaving me in a trance like state which led to the most incredible nap ever taken! The spa is an adult only zone which meant that I was undisturbed and dozed alongside the peace and quiet of the crystal blue ballroom swimming pool. Had I taken a swim in the pool, I am told I would have enjoyed the underwater music - another example of attention to detail in classic PennyHill Park style. For dinner, there's the choice of the in house Michelin star Latymer restaurant or the more casual dining in The Brasserie. I chose the Brasserie and sat at a table overlooking the Spa where I secretly planned my strategy for experiencing even more of the treatment rooms for the following morning. The service was impeccable and the food, superb. The courses were rich in flavour but I managed to find just enough room to enjoy all three courses. I am not often defeated! The wine menu is excellent and accompanied by a friendly sommelier for those wanting advice. On arriving back in my room, I slumped in to bed (it had been a hard day!) feeling satisfied in every way. I had selected my pillow of choice from the pillow menu, placed my PennyHill Park teddy bear outside my bedroom door thereby indicating I did not want to be disturbed and enjoyed a blissful long nights sleep in my king size four poster bed. There really is something for everyone at PennyHIll Park and Spa and with the added benefit of incredibly friendly staff and it's close proximity to London it is no wonder it was voted No. 2 in the 'Top 50 Most Desirable Spas 2010'. * * As voted by readers of Professional Beauty Magazine

Good location on the Portsmouth Road next to a bar and restaurant with good access to the…read moremotorways...nice accommodation as you would expect with lots of parking

AVOID AT ALL COSTS…read more story time. i booked an overnight spa stay for 22nd august- 23rd august to celebrate my girlfriends birthday. we did not stay where to begin. on our way there we received a call from the spa telling us we could have our pre booked massages at 4pm and 4.30pm respectively or both together at 11am the next day - this being the same time as check out we went for the former. we knew that with check in at 3 this would be tight but had no choice. firstly its not a spa- its a dated hotel made for weddings with a small leisure centre across a car park. there's no better way of describing it. we arrived and there was a wedding on. not ideal to be wheeling a suitcase down some gravel while you can see the bride and groom reciting their vows. the hotel is nice- but like something from Alan partridge. arriving at around 2.30pm we were told to drop off our bags and check in at 3. we were then made to book a table at the restaurant for a certain time and shown the menu- which is extortionate for what is essentially pub food. 30 mins to kill, we had to find someone to serve us at a very small bar and paid 9 pounds for a tea and a tiny coke bottle. we then checked in when there was now a line. this was tricky for us as you were told to arrive in plenty of time for your treatment at 4pm. the room we were put in at around 3.15-20pm was the same layout as a travelodge room and more run down. bear in mind we booked a 'deluxe double'. upon opening the window we saw there was the brick wall of another building about 10-15 feet from the window, giving up on the view we switched on the tv which worked for a minute before losing signal and not being able to find any channels again. we left our room quickly to go for our treatments. getting to the spa we saw that it was not a spa but more of a gym that locals come to with a pool, tiny sauna and steam room. we were given a key card and dressing gowns. my dressing gown did not have a cord- i went to the desk and asked for one and they told me they didnt have any cords and had them 'on order' the changing rooms were not clean, the pool was very very busy and any sun loungers had long been taken. a spa is supposed to be a relaxing place however there were families with kids in and out of the pool and it wasnt exactly quiet. the massage treatments were good and relaxing- but after all that had gone before and how much i had paid it was hard to enjoy them. i can assure you that if we werent rushed in to taking them we wouldnt have probably avoided this too and got our money back. we went back to the room and packed all our stuff up and decided to cut our losses we spoke to the staff and they said that the general manager on site would give us a full refund. when we spoke to the general manager after asking for him 3 times and waiting for 30 mins he arrived and told us we could only be given £100 back as we had 'used the room' which we had been in for all of 10 -20 minutes. he then said we hadnt booked a deluxe double until i showed him the booking where he admitted we had. he then said we could have a voucher for another stay- after we had told him all the things that were completely unacceptable and why we wouldn't be staying. incredible. after around 30 minutes of back and forth we cut our losses took the £100 and I'm now in the long process of trying to get a full refund from spa breaks which seems impossible. i want to make it clear here that the staff were LOVELY, they have clearly had this from customers on a daily basis so are used to people not being happy with being the victims of false advertising. on the website it looks like a quirky, country estate hotel and spa with large pool and facilities. and for all of that for £210 seemed like a reasonable price. it is not that and its not worth that. i paid £110 for a 20 minute massage i didnt want, 2 lengths in a packed pool and a 20 minute stay in a Travelodge room. please don't make the same mistake i did.

Rung them well in advance to confirm my booking and explained I was booking other stuff locally so…read morewanted to be absolutely sure the room was booked and confirmed ahead of time, which they confirmed on the phone and in writing. I have just been called at 2.15 pm the day before check in stating they have to cancel as they have had a 'last minute exclusive event booking'. Rung the reception back to confirm if this is actually the case, and surprisingly it is! Receptionist apologised but seemed to think because 'half the hotel' was in the same position that I shouldn't be so disappointed about this situation. Absolute joke of a company, and a complete waste of my time trying to book here. No offer to arrange alternative accommodation, and will now have to have last minute hassle sorting THEIR mess out. Go anywhere else, as this group will not value your business. DO NOT BOOK HERE

Luxury at its finest…read more Wonderful meeting facilities, conference rooms, seating, water closets, luncheon and the cafeteria was just top-shelf. Worth every penny. Dinner, artisan wheat rolls, gazpacho, salmon appetizer, bass with endive and peas. Of course, a bowl of mini-potatoes cooked to perfection. Bedrooms clean, large, and comfortable. A wonderful staff that is friendly. No negatives whatsoever

Came here as part of a company retreat and wow this was such an amazing experience!…read more Good - I stayed in the Main House and it was so conveniently located to the restaurant and the bar! - Great running trails nearby in the Stinley Forest! - The spa and sauna was luxurious - I loved every day going into the sauna then the cold plunge - The rooms were clean and promptly made every day - The breakfast was so good - breakfast bowl was very healthy and the buffet had so much good fruit Bad: - The rooms did smell a bit weird at times, a bit musty Overall this was a great time, super happy I came and would come again for the spa experience.

I mean.... wow. This place has everything going for it, English countryside? Check. Horses? Check…read more Great dining options? Check. Room service? Check. Spa? Check. Fields of wildflowers?!?? Of course! I would adore coming back to this wonderful local again and again! The spa is wonderful, the food is great, the ambiance of the entire grounds is just indescribable! The beauty!! Make sure to make a reservation for dinner or you will end up eating room service as I did, which was also amazing! Final thought: GO!

Coworth Park have it all…read more If you want the fine dining dinner jackets and la de da then I suggest the main house but if you want something a little more laid back then check out the barn at the back for lunch or dinner. The service is tip top and if can't be bothered to walk then they will call you a golf buggy to run you around. Sunday lunch at the barn is fabulous for traditional roast beef and Yorkshire puddings or maybe go for their modern day twist on the lamb. Whatever you choose you won't be disappointed with the setting or the food Make sure you take advantage of the 2 /3 course deal

I've stayed here a few times now, it's central, the rooms are alway spacious & the breakfast for…read morethe health conscious isn't too bad, but could do with a greater choice of fruit. Use of multiple-storey carpark being free is v useful too. Eaten here once at night, food was ok, not bad but not tops.

A tiny bit outdated in my opinion. The British sofa is surprisingly hard to sit on. Forget the soft…read morecomfy bed because it's not available here, well at least with my room.

I've been staying here 3 times now, and it improved every time…read more I have the feeling that the feedback form you are asked for fill via email a few days after your stay are indeed read, which is really positive (for example the tables in the bar area are now being cleaned more often). The road side is loud because of the quite busy road almost all day and night. The inner side is not better, young people use to hang around in the car park opposite of KFC... The staff varies, some are really friendly and helpful, others are more cold. It is a budget hotel, and I only stay there because our UK office is in walking distance. I wouldn't stay for holiday here (Camberley center is a long walk away), but for a few nights of a business stay its sufficient. Rooms are mostly clean and ok, the furniture is very basic and the rooms look a bit empty. So overall Traveldoge Camberley is OK (there are worse hotels in the area). Edit: My 4th stay went as the others before, it seems just to stay the same forever ;-)

So, it's a travel lodge the room lay out is the same as them all clean but basic! I had the…read moremisfortune to stay in this hotel for 2weeks and it looks onto the main road through Camberley, if you don't know it all i can say is lots of traffic at all times of the day and often impassable at rush hour! Then, there is the fact that the hotel is actually above a KFC drive through and some DIY Bathroom store..so think to yourself very noisey (particularly Fridays!)and that day old takeaway smell Add to that the vending machine whch dispensed some sweets which were 2years out of date..and i wasn't very impressed! They do have a VERY small bar/eatery with a limited menu - mainly pizza (but never fear as KFC is only down a flight of stairs!) i can recommend the cheese cake!