I'm reviewing my day at the Pennyhill Hotel spa. I enjoyed my day very much and the spa almost merited 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. read more
