Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa

Take towels into the changing room before you go in. There weren’t any by the pool or in the changing room, so I had to walk through the main hotel in my wet swimsuit with my things getting soaked. I told reception that guests entering the changing room from the main hotel don’t pass the spa reception, where all the towels are. I got a nod and a smile. The rooms are spacious and the location works well for the link roads, but the place is looking dated. Bring your own hairdryer if you can, since theirs only works while you hold the button down. Our TV had old-fashioned Freeview and no home page, so we had to scroll through channels one at a time. Breakfast was okay. Some guests had fresh food cooked to their table, but nobody told us that was an option. If you want the room serviced, remember to put the sign on the door or it won’t be done. Definitely feels like a three-star hotel.

Afternoon tea was a highlight, with tasty sandwiches and cakes that were good quality and nicely presented. The facilities were modern, clean, and well maintained, and we enjoyed using them. The spa was very busy, though, so towels and used cups were sometimes left lying around. It seemed more like guests weren’t tidying up after themselves than staff weren’t making an effort. We’d read some negative reviews before our spa day at the Botley Park Hotel & Spa, so I was pleasantly surprised by the facilities. The staff were friendly and welcoming, but things felt a bit disorganised at times. It was a good experience overall, though the crowds affected it a little that day.

We enjoyed dinner and skipped breakfast, opting for a relaxing lie-in instead. The beds were lovely and comfortable, and everywhere was clean, though parts of the hotel looked a little dated. I stayed here before taking a cruise from Southampton.

My mum was left stressed and uncomfortable instead of relaxed. During her treatment, three therapists took turns, one for her facial, another for her legs, and a third for her back, with long waits between them. It disrupted the treatment and cut into the time she actually received. She’d booked an 85-minute spa package at Macdonald Botley Park for her birthday, which cost £159, and the experience was far below what had been advertised. When she mentioned the problem at reception, they said they were short-staffed. Even so, the spa was still advertising a 50%-off offer and taking bookings they couldn’t properly accommodate. I sent a formal complaint and was offered a refund, which I appreciated at the time. More than a week has passed, and they’ve ignored all my emails since. I’ve called the spa several times too, but can never get through. The poor communication feels incredibly unprofessional and has made this even more frustrating. This was supposed to be a special birthday gift, but it’s turned into stress. I’m still waiting for the refund they promised.