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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want a lounger when on a spa day

73 replies

1CantPickAName · 25/03/2019 11:57

I am currently at a Bannatyne spa and there are only 8 poolside loungers, all taken, I went to reception to ask where am I supposed to sit if I’m here all day? The reply was “sorry, that’s all the loungers we have”? I am so annoyed, I just want to spend my day relaxing which includes reading a book or newspaper uninterrupted by my kids. There is a relaxation room with heated beds but it’s not bright enough to read in here and the beds get really warm after a while.
I’m here with 3 friends who don’t seem to mind. I haven’t told them how annoyed I am as I don’t want to put a downer on their day. If I was here alone I would have asked for a full refund and left immediately. As it is, I’m waiting in the relaxation lounge until my treatments in 45 minutes. I’m here until at least 4.30 as my friends’ treatments are this afternoon. Surely somewhere to sit is a basic requirement when at a spa. Obviously it is not a ‘day’ spa as advertised!

Also, I went to the cafe for a sandwich. Really awkward as I was the only one there in a robe. I waited 20 minutes for a blt which was two dry slices of bread, no butter, 2 bits of bacon, some iceberg lettuce and 2 cherry tomatoes cut in half, not even sliced!

What a waste of a day off!

OP posts:
MountPheasant · 25/03/2019 11:59

I would ask reception for the refund and leave. Tell you friends you aren’t feeling well. Why waste your money and your day?

kingfisherblue33 · 25/03/2019 11:59

YANBU. That's a basic requirement. 8 loungers?? How many people are at the spa??

FuckertyBoo · 25/03/2019 12:01

Yep, that’s crap. All of it sounds crap. I’d also want to ask for refund and leave, but appreciate you don’t want to leave friends. I’d rather go to a pub for a lovely lunch with them instead... could they be convinced?

Travis1 · 25/03/2019 12:01

Yup seems to be common in locations that offer 'spa days' we did one at a Q hotel recently and it only had about 12. Was at a hotel at the weekend, we just went in for a swim and steam whilst staying and they advertise spa days and again only have about 10 beds. Very poor.

elQuintoConyo · 25/03/2019 12:03

Sounds stressful. You need a spa day WinkGrin

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 25/03/2019 12:03

that does sound rubbish. Lounging in a fluffy robe is all part of the experience, surely?!

Original poster
1CantPickAName · 25/03/2019 12:07

I can’t leave as it is a 45 minute drive home, we took my friends car and I deliberately didn’t drive because they advertised a bar and I thought it would be nice to have a glass of wine with lunch. There is no bar or restaurant, just a coffee place in reception.

We regularly used to go to the sanctuary spa in Covent Garden. That place was fabulous

OP posts:
peachgreen · 25/03/2019 12:08

You're all going to posher spas than me - I've never heard of a lounger per person being an essential requirement?! Isn't the idea that you rotate around the sauna, steam room, pool etc?

FuckertyBoo · 25/03/2019 12:08

Taxi?

DontCallMeCharlotte · 25/03/2019 12:09

I'd be really pissed off too. And it's one of the (many) reasons why the idea of a spa day holds no attraction for me whatsoever.

(I think it's a climber in the "first world problems" charts though Grin)

Nicknacky · 25/03/2019 12:10

Peach if you are there for most of the day you would want to be seated somewhere. You wouldn’t spend all day in the pool etc.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 25/03/2019 12:11

So what are you meant to do all day when you're not having a treatment? Surely they are not expecting you to swim, sit in the sauna or a hot tub for hours. That's not relaxing at all.

I don't think you are being even a little bit unreasonable. Surely the whole point of the day is to relax and chill out, I certainly wouldn't find a warming bed relaxing so wouldn't want to use that either.

Also I understand that space might be limited, hence the small number of loungers. However, if they know they only have 8 loungers they should be operating a system that encourages people to not hog them all day.

Dalesgirl16 · 25/03/2019 12:14

I went on a spa day once and went straight to the pool. It was very crowded and there were no loungers available do I went t the cafe to get my free smoothie. I was ignored for half an hour while staff fussed over some footballer so I asked for my money back and left. It was supposed to be a (expensive) birthday treat so not worth the hassle.

peachgreen · 25/03/2019 12:17

You wouldn’t spend all day in the pool etc.

I would Grin but I'm a bit of a water baby. Fair enough, I'm definitely in the minority!

Original poster
1CantPickAName · 25/03/2019 12:20

@peachgreen I wouldn’t expect a lounger per person but only 8 is really poor

@DontCallMeCharlotte first world problems 🤣 you have made me get some perspective

OP posts:
pootyisabadcat · 25/03/2019 12:22

This is why spa days are shit. I'd put in a formal complaint.

MotherOfDragons90 · 25/03/2019 12:23

YANBU! Are the loungers being used or just occupied by towels?

For the expense of them some spa’s really don’t get it. I went to one recently with no loungers but some sort of raised platform with a mattress on for everyone. We managed to squish on but it was cramped and not at all pleasant being sat on a giant damp bed with strangers. Then I felt bad when there wasn’t room for anyone else.

My gym has a pool/spa area which they use for spa days and there is ONE lounger. It’s crap. I’ve never been on a specific spa day there as it’s all included for me but I’ve been down to use the hot tub and seen groups of women in robes wandering around with books Etc with nowhere to put them. The pool is also open to everyone so there are often screaming kids in there on a weekend/evening. I’d be fuming if I’d paid good money for that!

Defo complain!

Greenteandchives · 25/03/2019 12:25

Can you not sit in the cafe area, the bit where there are sofas?
Most Bannatyne’s have these. No one minds the robes.
To be fair to Bannatyne’s they were not really built as spas. They are usually urban gyms with the spa bit added for a bit of extra income for DB.

Hollowvictory · 25/03/2019 12:27

How much was it?
Center parcs is about 100 for a spa day tonnes of loungers, water beds, day beds etc and really excellent. I have heard bannantynes are a bit 'Groupon' I. E 2nd rate.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 25/03/2019 12:29

Can you not sit in the cafe area, the bit where there are sofas?

Surely if the OP had to do this she would have been better just going to sit in a coffee shop in town for a few hours. She is at a spa for a spa day so can reasonably expect to sit in the actual spa part of the establishment.

Sorry if that sounded snarky but whilst a good solution in this instance. It does rather negate the whole being at the spa element of the day.

DarlingNikita · 25/03/2019 12:30

Sounds shit, not just the lounger but the service and the 'cafe'.

I'd plead illness and get a taxi home, then write to the chief exec.

Babysleeeeeeep · 25/03/2019 12:31

@motherofdragons90 was that in Shrewsbury by any chance?

AryaStarkWolf · 25/03/2019 12:31

I'd be more annoyed that they said they had a bar but didn't Angry

Nicknacky · 25/03/2019 12:32

green I’m guessing that the op is at the Bannatynes Spa, not just using the pool facilities at the gym.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 25/03/2019 12:34

I've done a few of these groupon type spas for friends birthdays and always found the same. You end up competitively eyeing up the loungers from the pool waiting for a group to make their move to treatments. Not relaxing at all