Ruslamere Hotel & Conference Centre

I booked the spa through Wikideal because I needed a manicure, and the options listed in the deal sounded good. We weren’t asked what treatments we wanted when we arrived, though. They chose for us, with no alternatives. My husband and I both got body scrubs, but the “salt scrub” was just soap and an exfoliating glove. They used the same bucket of water to wash and wipe both of us, and the hygiene didn’t feel good. I’d also expected a manicure, but they switched us to a pedicure, which amounted to soaking our feet and trimming our nails unevenly and badly. The therapists seemed lost for most of the appointment, almost as if it were their first day. The idea behind the deal was good, but the actual treatments were terrible and didn’t match what was promised. I didn’t stay at the hotel, so this is about the spa, but I wanted to warn people. I couldn’t find any recent reviews of the spa before booking, and knowing what it was like, I wouldn’t have gone.

My room was clean and simple, tucked into a back corner of the hotel. There was construction going on. The service was professional and good, and breakfast was pretty good too. It’s a basic hotel, nothing spectacular, but the rooms are clean. It’s close to highways and main roads, so you can hear quite a few loud cars and bikes.

I was only passing through, so I didn’t stay long enough to give the place a full review. It was a comfortable, safe place to stop while travelling, with secure parking, which is always a plus. The staff were friendly and service was fine. The room was clean and adequate, and breakfast was the usual conference-centre buffet. The buildings looked a bit run down, though they were doing work on them while I was there, so it didn’t seem neglected. I think they’re just old.

I had an appointment booked for 2 pm on 21 July after weeks of trying to arrange it, and it was confirmed by email on Friday. I got there 15 minutes early, but the spa was locked and nobody was around. I waited outside in the cold until 2:15, then left. The communication was really poor, and the whole experience was bad. I wouldn’t recommend it.