Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness

The view from our room is the only reason this gets a star. The hotel looks like an upper-class place, but it’s run chaotically. I can’t understand how it manages day to day. Staff seemed to have no idea what they were doing or how to treat customers. Kevin, in management, was rude. I don’t know how he hasn’t driven all the guests away. The spa was the least relaxing experience I’ve had. The sauna smelled odd, the steam room didn’t work, and my husband’s clothes got stuck in a locker before we went in. We reported it and were told it would be fixed by the time we came out. It wasn’t. When we asked, the original staff member said, “Oh, I didn’t think anything was in it,” then tried and failed to open it. Maintenance had to be called, but didn’t answer.

We had a lovely spa day for five, with fantastic service from the moment we arrived at the hotel. The woman at the spa desk was welcoming, cheerful and incredibly helpful. Dinner was very tasty too, and our server was friendly and helpful. We’d highly recommend it and will go back.

I’ve stayed in more than 40 hotels over the past six months, and Saunton Sands was among the worst. The place felt chaotic and the staff seemed all over the place. The room was dated apart from the bathroom, breakfast was mediocre, and I wouldn’t really call the spa a spa. The sauna was barely warm, the lockers broke on us and the hot tub smelled damp. Kevin, the manager I dealt with, was rude and had no manners. I wouldn’t recommend staying here. I submitted a complaint to the hotel. Edit: I contacted the hotel about the complaint and heard from general manager Anthony Kingdon. His response was dismissive, avoided taking responsibility for my concerns, and he was difficult to deal with. He wouldn’t answer my questions and eventually refused to pass the complaint to anyone, despite what I see as clear negligence. That says a lot about how the place is run. Avoid it and save your money. You can find much better a short drive away. Second edit: I then contacted director Peter Brend, who runs Saunton Sands Hotel. He said that by sharing my frustration on several review sites, including Google and TripAdvisor, I’d removed any chance of getting my complaint resolved. I replied that I have the right to share my experience after the way I was treated, and that I still hadn’t received a decent response. He never replied. It’s hard to have confidence in how this place is run when none of these managers seems able to resolve a complaint.

My son gave me a twilight spa voucher, and I booked the evening I wanted with a friend. The staff were friendly, and robes and complimentary flip-flops were provided. We tried the outdoor pool first, then the indoor one. The facilities were fantastic and spotlessly clean. I nearly forgot the cool glass of Prosecco, and the relaxation room had wonderful views. Great value for three and a half hours of unwinding.