Wowcher spa day - place is…. Yuck!

[CruisingDuck]

DH and I got a wowcher spa day deal for Christmas as we enjoy these. We are in Scotland so normally go to places like Dunkeld House, Norton House etc. todays venue is a new place and I knew from the beginning it would be different - again fine. The hotel has very recently rebranded from Double Tree by Hilton to a group I’m not familiar with.

have arrived today anyway and I’m really disappointed. First impressions on arrival was grounds are neglected, couldn’t get a locker that worked, so ended up leaving my bag in a locker - if someone wants to steal my bra, go ahead lol!
there’s not enough loungers for the people here, there’s also kids swimming lessons happening now in the pool and it’s generally quite dirty - hair everywhere and it just looks like it needs a very good clean.

I have 2 treatments soon which I am looking forward to, but I feel bad that my parents have spent at least £150 on this voucher and it’s really not a pleasant experience so far.

when my parents ask later how it was, I’ll probably say it was fine, but should I complain to wowcher about this? The place is clearly very run down but the photos on the website do not show the true state of this place.

Yabu - suck it up, it’s a free day
Yanbu - report to wowcher

edited to add, when I say complain to wowcher, I’m not looking for something in return.

not sure if voting enabled - sorry!

I’ve come to relax and there’s back to back toddler swimming lessons going on.

I have a toddler myself (not here) but I just wanted to chill and zone out today :(

The class won't be on for long

Everywhere looks run down in the winter enjoy your treatments

@Maddy70whats the excuse for the broken lockers, the dirty pool side with hair everywhere? It honestly looks like it hasn’t been cleaned all weekend. Changing areas worse too…

Take photos and complain if it’s that bad

Have you raised your concerns with the hotel?

I’ve taken pictures and I’ll speak to the front desk.

YANBU, I did one on a hen once that was at a Marriot; the pool was freezing with a discarded plaster on the side 🤢 , the changing rooms were filthy and I couldn't go in the sauna because it absolutely stank.

I did bring this up by email afterwards, not to get anything out of them but to let them know. They apologised and thanked me for the feedback.

From my own experience (there might be lovely ones out there but I've not seen them) if it's a chain hotel with a pool/hot tub/sauna etc, it will not be a relaxing spa; because it isn't. It's seen more of a nice to have but not necessary, as the hotel is the main thing. You'll be lucky if it's clean. If it's linked with wowcher or Groupon, chances are you won't be so lucky.

Complain to hotel at the time, not to wowcher.

I always think if they are sold on wowcher there’s a reason. It’s not a spa if there are swimming lessons in, it’s a hotel that has a pool. I went to one years ago with two friends, went to lunch and we were expected to sit with all the other people on the Wowcher deal. I refused , staff member was very unhappy.

I’m definitely going to mention it to the staff today. It’s an afternoon tea as well. I hope the treatments are decent lol, but I said to DH that I want to go back to Norton for my birthday and he agreed.

pics of the floor beside me.

30 minute break before the next swimming class are in. Heard the instructor said she’s working till 3….

More

It’s not a free day, though. Your parents paid. Wowcher will not care—talk to the spa/hotel manager.

Saving grace is that the treatments were amazing!!

Toddler swimming lessons in a spa?! That's ridiculous, I'd definitely complain.

Erm, I have a spa membership and they manage to clean in winter! Anyway, it’s Spring and that place needs a Spring clean. Disgusting.

Id complain to both the hotel and Wowcher, I had one of these once and it was at a health club rather than a hotel but it was the same, a bit grim with loungers next to kids swimming lessons.

Good thing you’ve got your flip flops OP! That floor is minging and hair in the plug is so gross - I’d definitely be writing an email as it’s not a free day out. And even if it were….jetwash the fecking floor!

Glad you’ve had lovely treatments…and hopefully the food was good too x

I agree but the pictures were put on after I posted. And also the op was getting upright. I was trying to get her to enjoy it and ignore the imperfections

Yuk! That floor is revolting. A spa experience should be relaxing. How can you relax looking at that?! That floor is a veruca party!

I’m member of a local health club that you can pay to attend for a spa day. The nicest pool (nicely decorated, more loungers etc) is also the family friendly pool, and I often think I’d be really miffed if I’d paid for a spa day to have a bunch of children jumping around?!

Vile but if it’s on wowcher there’s usually a reason! Plus £150 for a spa day for 2 incl treatments is phenomenally cheap! You get what you pay for!

Definitely complain it looks revolting... keep those flip flips firmly on!!

Would be interested to know where this was OP

Yeah, toddlers do not belong at a spa!

It was Westwood hotel in Cumbernauld. The pictures on the website are nothing like reality.

food was good, treatments fantastic. I did say to the front desk about the state of the floors and she said she would speak to the leisure team.

we left the pool at 12 to go for treatments and the swimming instructor was packing up, so guess she was working elsewhere, but the lessons were loud, singing too. I just feel they should have made us aware there were swimming lessons on as we would have booked another day.

nothing against kids, I have a 3 year old myself, but on spa days, I want to relax. I spent a long time in the relaxation room after my treatments though lol!