Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa

The afternoon tea gave our stay a lovely touch, and the staff were helpful and welcoming throughout. We also found the rooms clean, comfortable, and cozy, and the spa and pool were a nice way to unwind after a long day. Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa in Camberley has a beautiful classic English manor feel, with peaceful gardens that made it relaxing from the moment we arrived. It's a memorable getaway near London, and I'd happily come back for that mix of traditional charm and a calm spa atmosphere.

The treatments were wonderful. Antonella, my therapist, noticed my skin felt cold and was kind and sympathetic when I mentioned the pool. She gave my cousin and me a free spa pass for another day, plus a coffee. The spa was clean, with a nice relaxing area. The pool itself was clean but freezing, and people kept heading into the small sauna and steam room to warm up, often having to squeeze in. Our afternoon tea was simple and lovely, just the sort of no-frills menu I liked. There was a small mix-up, but they fixed it when I showed my receipt, and they let me swap some sandwiches. The spa day was okay. I'd recommend it, though maybe visit in summer when it's warmer.

The meal was surprisingly good, with generous portions, but the rest of the stay was a letdown. I paid extra for a deluxe room and regretted booking here. It smelled damp, the carpets were dirty, curtain rails were broken, the curtains were ripped, and the robes were damaged and uncomfortable. The photos of the hotel and rooms look faked, airbrushed, or very old. Cleanliness clearly wasn't up to standard. The building looked run down when we arrived. The receptionist was rude and scruffy, and we felt hurried out of the coldly decorated reception. Facilities weren't much better: the sauna was a tiny box for no more than two people to fit comfortably, the pool was small, there was nowhere to leave belongings, and there were only four loungers. Breakfast was unpleasant too, with coffee in tall flasks and barely enough to taste. After paying nearly £400 for one night, I won't return or recommend this hotel. It would barely merit a three-star rating.

Nidhi was great at keeping in touch and arranging decorations in our room for my wife's birthday. The junior suite was huge and comfortable, with its own living area, and the restaurant staff were warm and friendly. Tasha provided excellent service, and the spa treatments were amazing. The hotel is dated and needs modernising. The sauna was small and only lukewarm, though the facilities overall were good and I enjoyed the stay.