Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa

The bar, restaurant, spa and reception teams were all amazing, and nothing was too much trouble. The food and drinks were excellent, and the spa was incredible. I had one of the best massages I've ever had. Everything felt special and relaxing. We chose Carden Park for a special anniversary and birthday, and it was absolutely perfect. We couldn't have picked a better place and would definitely return.

The food was excellent, especially the burger and sticky toffee pudding, which were absolutely delicious. Service from the staff was second to none and they deserve all the praise. We ate at remonds restaurant, overlooking the sculpture garden, though breakfast in bed was also an option if we'd filled in the form and hung it outside the room before 2 am. We stayed over Boxing Day for my wife's birthday. I booked the Country Estate king view room with the Carden Spa retreat package. It included a 50 minute treatment per adult, full English breakfast, £30 dinner allowance per adult, use of the hotel leisure club, and one Afternoon Spa Garden and Thermal Experience per adult. Each of us could choose a Cleansing Back & Leg Ritual, Time Expert Radiance Facial, Soothing Hand or Foot Ritual, or Foot and Scalp Ritual. The spa garden and thermal experience was amazing, and we left relaxed and rejuvenated. We even used the button in the hot tub to order a drink, and a waiter came to take our order; wine and beer arrived within minutes. Our room was spacious and cosy, with a small fridge containing water and milk, plus the usual facilities like an iron and ironing board, TV and coffee machine. My one quarm is that I mentioned on the booking and spa intake form that it was my wife's birthday, and said little extras or treats would make our first stay more special. I was even willing to pay and noted that on the booking, but nothing happened. No complimentary bubbles or birthday wishes from staff. I know not every place does those extras, but I was disappointed. Apart from that, there's not much that could have made the stay better. We'll likely visit again.

We enjoyed our stay, but I don't think we'd return. The building is nice and the hotel itself is fine, with potential. Rooms were okay even after the staff urged us to upgrade and literally said our room was rubbish because the other one had been refurbished. They keep trying to upsell, which feels too pushy when you're trying to relax. Service was pleasant, though most of the staff seemed very young and inexperienced. It lacked a high-end touch, but they were trying and could use more training. The hotel pool and saunas were basic, with no beds to lie on, so you're either in the water or you can go home. The gym was nice. Robes and flip-flops cost extra. The indoor spa is very small. The outdoor area is lovely in good weather, but there aren't enough beds or space for the number of people. There were some arguments, and we paid 40 quid for two cocktails. There were also lots of groups, including shouting and drunk groups of women talking through all their stories. It gets tiring when you want to relax.

The room had a great view and was a good size. It also had a smart TV, which I hadn't expected, and it was easy to connect our phones to play music and cast movies from Netflix. We'd been to Carden for spa days before, but this was our first time staying over. After this fantastic spa break, I'd always stay. The room, breakfast, dinner and spa were all amazing. There were lots of lovely choices at breakfast and dinner, including ample vegetarian options.