AIBU to say this is not a spa and I want a partial refund?

[cakeinthecakehole]

Recently booked a spa day at a local hotel and spa. Paid £250 which included spa access 9-5, three treatments, lunch and afternoon tea.

Arrived, had my first treatment immediately and was then shown to the “spa”. Which was a few lie flat beds and chairs next to a swimming pool, and a tiny sauna. The swimming pool was open to hotel guests and gym members. It was noisy, packed, there weren’t enough beds and people everywhere, many on their phones.

I have been to many spas before and was expecting a quiet, restful environment. At the very least a separate quiet room or space to escape to. It felt like being at a holiday park! Within 15 minutes I realised this wasnt going to be the relaxing day I desperately needed so I went and spoke to the front desk, politely explained it wasnt what I was expecting and said I’d like to leave and receive a partial refund. They apologised, gave me their email address to put my request in writing so they could resolve for me.

Now they’ve replied to me by email to say no refund possible but would like to invite me back to finish my day in January! There’s no way I would ever want to go back there.

AIBU to push for a partial refund on this one? I’m cross that my relaxing self care day has now turned into another battle on my endless to-do list!

I've been to somewhere like this. If it has a swimming pool, sauna, treatment rooms and lounge beds then it's a spa...maybe not a great one, but still a spa. There are nice spas and not so nice ones.
I stayed in a hotel a few months ago that advertised as a spa hotel....only had treatment rooms and they were fully booked during our stay!! Luckily we didn't go there for the spa, just the hotel.

Ask for a full refund, and expect a partial one.

Lots of these pool side add ons at hotels call themselves spas.

it is misleading.

A proper spa day, think Eden or Ragdale Hall would cost you the price you paid without any treatments unfortunately.

I would price up th treatments you had from the hotel menu and any food you ate and ask them to refund the rest ie. The ‘spa’ element

Review them factually
. They will lose out more than you have.
I got more for the £70 I paid many moons ago.

That is disappointing and is a lot of money to waste. A lot of hotel spas are like this but you can also find similar at “proper spas”. If you look at a decent spa you would not get three treatments for £250 let alone the food and use of facilities. I have been to spas that are lovely one time and terrible another due to noisy guests. I would always look at the photographs first, for me a decent length pool, choice of steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzi and outside pool are my minimum.
Were your treatments at the end of the day? If they were not I wonder why you did not have a treatment and then see if the vibe changed. Often in hotels it can quickly empty. Or maybe you could have had a walk and come back for treatments and lunch. There would not have been a lot of time for lounging round the pool between treatments lunch and afternoon tea.

If there wasn’t a bed then it’s pretty wank regardless of how it was advertised! I don’t think £250 is cheap either! Are you all minted? I bet they were the 30 minute treatments that are usually about £30. Food can’t be more than £30 a meal surely? £100 to use a pool and a sauna - no thanks. Keep pushing for a refund OP.

It wasn’t what you hoped for, fine, don’t go back and choose somewhere else next time.Two meals, three treatments and pool access sounds good for £250. Personally I’d go back but on a non-school holiday time.

Have you priced up the treatments alone? It at be that they’ve thrown in the lunch and/or afternoon tea so not sure you can expect more unless they specifically advertised it.

There was something other than the gym and pool, there was the tiny sauna you mentioned.

Most hotels don't allow people to sign up to their gym, it's for guests

Unless they lied in the advertising I don't think you have much chance of more money back. Give them an honest review on trip advisor. I agree it sounds dire.

I don’t know about ‘most’, but some certainly do.

I'm a gym and spa member at a hotel.

I also get discounted hotel stays, it's a good deal.

Once i booked a “spa” day via group on - there was no pool or sauna, just a hot tub. When I asked the reception where was the spa she said they had water beds I could relax on for 15min. And some indoor sun beds. Ridiculous! Rebooked the treatments earlier and went home after that. People call themselves spas when they provide treatments and have a hot tub!

I used to belong to a gym/swimming pool and used it regularly. It was quite expensive,but it was worth it to be able to swim without the crowds at the Leisure Centre. The pool was small but adequate.Then the club started doing Day Spas,and every time I went,there were numerous women just standing around in the shallow end of the pool,just yakking,not swimming at all,so impossible for anyone to swim lengths etc. In the end,I resigned my membership and joined another club which did not have day spas and was bigger.So I would keep away from hotel spas or anywhere likely to be crowded.You get what you pay for.

My business means I know most hotels in our area well, and the majority that have a spa / gym allow local members. Some limit numbers to ensure a good experience for hotel guests… some don’t.