to wonder why people pay for spa breaks?

[RedEyedGirl]

I don't get it. The spa hotels cost about £250 for one night, without including any food, check in 3pm and check out 11am the next day.

You also have to pay extra for treatments.

Why do people pay so much just to sit by a nice indoor pool and use a steam room? Spa breaks are very popular so please tell me if I'm missing something!

Oooh now hoar cross comes up on secret escapes a lot...hurray!

A yes from me for Hoar Cross Hall. It’s quite a drive from London but I went for a hen party weekend and it was gorgeous. Lovely bedrooms, food and treatments.

Because something like this is a relative bargain and the food is lovely
www.ribbyhall.co.uk/the-spa-hotel/pampering-and-pyjamas

YANBU. Lying naked being mauled by a stranger to whale music is my idea of hell. There's a lot of time lying around with nothing to do except worry about stuff, which is not at all relaxing. I love a nice hotel but resent paying for spa facilities which I won't use.

Aeth Treatments aren't compulsory and I never have them.

Someone asked about spas in Yorkshire. I've heard good things about Rudding Park and the Center Parcs Sherwood one looks good, but I have never been.

Depending on where you are in Yorkshire, the Woodland in Burnley might be worth a trek. I'd say it's probably one of the best in north west England. It takes about an hour to get there from Leeds.

Thanks for the Ribby Hall link Moo. The day spa offers on that website look interesting.

PumpkinKitty I don’t think anyone thinks going to a spa is a badge of honour, it’s not exactly an achievement. It’s just a leisure activity that some people like and some people don’t.

Surely they go because they enjoy the experience? I hate camping but others love it, everyone is different.

Everyone wastes money on none essentials. Be it spa days, alcohol, makeup etc.

Because they like spa breaks?
I'd have thought it was a no brainer.
Sounds like something I really wouldn't enjoy so I don't do them.
I realise not everyone's the same as me though.
Each to their own.

Ah, pre-kids, my friends and I loved a good spa break! Lounging around, with the only decision the indoor or outdoor jacuzzi, amazing food and drinks, pampering treatments, girly night in the hotel room with champagne and a film and a lot of gossip...

I am glad it’s not for everyone, as it means the spas aren’t too busy

Barbara - Rudding Park is amazing. Even if you don’t like spas, there are other things to do, but it is one of the nicest spas I’ve ever been in.

When we checked in, they’d put out cookies with the children’s names iced on them, and for the younger ones they had foam letters spelling out their names in the bath. Just tiny touches but they made us feel very welcome!

Chewinggumwalk do they let children in the spa at Rudding Park?? That would be a massive turn off for me!

I used to go for 3 nights at Grayshott Spa. Great food, good treeatments. About £800.
Worth every penny to me. Time away from husband, kids.

I love a spa day and would never consider it wasted money. We normally pay about £100 for a day and like another poster commented, because it costs more, it is a bit more exclusive and less people around. Last year we went to a cheaper one and in comparison, there were more people there, the food was no where near the standard of the more expensive one and the facilities were older/less maintained/not the standard we were used to. None of us are snobs, at all, but we just don’t mind paying for a day of complete peace and quiet, doing nothing but thinking about ourselves and where to put our bodies next (swimming pool, sauna, steam room, massage chair, water beds etc). The silence is brilliant.

Spas are a nice idea but ime they are often disappointing. More often than not the ones I’ve been to have turned out to be a bit tired, on the grubby side, with half the rooms not working properly. And they aren’t particularly relaxing if you’re sharing them with a cackling hen party.
This could of course be because I’ve never paid £250 for the experience.

happily it would massively put me off going to a spa if there were children there too. I don’t spend massive amounts of money to listen to other people’s children in a spa! But obviously if a spa decide to accept children they aren’t after my friends and I as customers!

Ha, no - children are allowed in the hotel though! Mine are very young, so they just stayed in our room/played in the gardens. I wouldn’t want them in the bar either. Bars are very important for relaxing adults .

From memory, there are some set hours when older children are allowed in the pool, but there were certainly none in the jacuzzi, steam room, relaxation rooms etc. The rest of the time is adult only.

When you have your treatment, there are several different types of relaxation room for afterwards. The sleep room was just so nice. God I wish I were there now!!

Here you go - no children under 16 in spa but they can use splash pool during certain hours: www.ruddingpark.co.uk/spa/explore-the-spa/planning-your-visit/

Disclaimer - I do not work for Rudding Park

I only like spa breaks on my own too.

Center Parcs Sherwood is fabulous. I had a half day there & it was nowhere near enough time!

Nottheboreworms...where is this amazing deal you speak of for £75??

I love spa breaks and try and do at least 2 spa overnights a year with girl friends. I've never paid £250 and I've stayed in 4*spas and usually get a deal with 2 course lunch, spa use, a 3 course dinner and breakfast. Don't tend to pay for extra treatments as they're extortionate and I'd rather go to my local beautician. Usually pay between £100-150 for the above deals. Spas are great for just lying in the jacuzzi catching up with friends.

We like the Q Hotels chain and always get a good deal. For around £105 each we get: light lunch, use of facilities, 60 min treatment, £28 towards evening meal each, bottle of fizz, overnight stay and full English next day. I think that's good value and we always look forward to it.

I’d never pay that much but I get good deals where it’s sround £70 for dinner, breakfast, lunch and overnight stay with use of facilities. Good to go in summer so you can use the grounds.

mama Bedford Lodge in Newmarket through Spaseekers. Best deal I've ever found!

I like spas, but not at the cost the OP mentions. There's a lovely one near Amsterdam called Spa Zuiver I visit when in the area, and it costs a lot less than £250 each even for a weekend. The only thing is that most British people would have a heart attack or seizure if they went there, as people have no swimwear on.