The Hotel

Walking up to the hotel entrance with an old green rucksack slung over my shoulder, I felt throughly underdressed. Mirroring the exterior of an old manor house, it looked like the sort of place you’d catch Carrie Bradshaw sauntering around, swathed in Gucci and mink – and here I was in trainers. After checking in and denying the option for a porter at reception, I found myself led to the most gorgeous of open-plan rooms.

I’d landed the executive suite, and it was even larger than I’d imagined. The room followed a green and gold colour scheme, with high ceilings punctured with a crystal chandelier, and wide glass doors opening out to my balcony. With the light filtering in through the white voile curtains, my room was bright and airy. I immediately began to fill the massive wardrobe with an array of obnoxious outfits and popped open a bottle of sparkling water. It wasn’t hard to see why this place had such a high status.

The balcony was gorgeous, overlooking the gorgeous golf course surrounding the resort. Enveloped in my new matching robe and slippers, I ordered room service and sat outside snacking on sorbet – a stunning selection of raspberry, lemon, and apple cider, brought in on a silver platter.

It didn’t take long for me to understand the concept of a ‘staycation,’ where people book little holidays away in gorgeous hotels, spending the time relaxing and truly taking advantage of the services available. I spent a good hour lounged out on my massive and ridiculously comfy bed (which would easily have fit four people, with enough space for them to starfish), and chilled around the room for a while – taking it all in, reading, and drinking coffee.

The bathroom was pristine, with a massive bath and accessories from the White Company. It didn’t take long the massive bath was filled to the brim with scalding water and bubbles, where I submerged myself and lay uncontactable for hours. After, I slathered myself in the White Company’s moisturiser and dived into the millions of pillows of my bed, feeling truly cosy and cared for. With the help of my complimentary ‘sleep spray,’ I fell asleep easily.

The Food

As I made my way to the Vale Grill for AA Rosette dining, my heels clacked on the shiny reception floor. Walking into the restaurant surrounded by candles, flowers, and art, I was led to a table where my chair was pulled out for me and a napkin was placed over my lap. The chefs were visible at their assigned stations at the back of the restaurant, frying and sizzling and roasting. It didn’t take long for the place to fill up.

The food, as expected, was stunning. Having grown up in a household run by chefs, I pride myself in being able to spot good, high quality food – and the Vale Grill definitely lived up to standards. I sampled the salmon en croute with pea puree and watercress salad, with the pastry being perfect and the dish well-balanced. That was followed by pan seared chicken with crushed new potatoes, baby vegetables, and salsa verde, with a side of leek and spinach. The chicken was cooked flawlessly, although it could definitely have done with more sauce – especially as it came with a tower of potato, you don’t get a lot of moisture from the food itself. For dessert, I followed a recommendation from my waiter and went for homemade toffee cookie dough ice-cream and it was stunning – although, full from the rest of the meal, I sadly couldn’t even come close to finishing it.

In the same location you would also have your breakfast, which would come in the style of a buffet. With an abundance of fruits, cakes, and fry-up ingredients, you can fill yourself up for hours. Next door, you have the Vale Bar, where I whittled away several hours sat amongst the plush green and grey chairs, minding my own business as I wrote and sipped green tea. At some point the Welsh rugby team sauntered past my table, and I was reminded of the sort of company I was amongst.

Lunch was included as part of my spa day, so I headed to the Chai Cafe for food which again came in my favourite form of dining – a buffet. Helping myself to smoked salmon, falafel, tomato soup, meats, tarts, and an array of salads – from quinoa to Greek to classic veg – I ate a ridiculous amount. Due to the fact that it was all healthy, instead of feeling bloated I felt energised and ready for the afternoon ahead.

The Spa

I was taken on a tour around the spa (recorded to be Wales’ largest) prior to my treatment, and was shown around dozens of traditional and holistic treatment rooms and relaxation zones. They had a sauna, steam room, whirlpool bath, indoor pool, ‘slumber’ zone, ‘float’ zone (the best one), and a room where you could just sit back and rub a stone Buddha’s stomach for good luck. It didn’t take me long to realise that this was where I would be spending the majority of my down-time. After my tour, I was handed a branded drawstring bag – perfect should I had been better prepared and arrived with a book – and went into the dressing room to change into my robe and slippers. Surrounded by Hollywood-esque dressing tables, I felt excited at my upcoming treatment. Spoiler: it turned out to be amazing.

Having never had aromatherapy before, I didn’t have a clue as to what to expect when I went in for my treatment. As it happens, the basic idea is that you’re slathered in essential oils and then massaged for healing purposes. I’m not sure as to how much the massage actually healed my ailments – instead, I merely felt more relaxed than I ever had in my whole life. It felt surprisingly good to have my body go through a thorough kneading, and with the background music consisting of Chinese zen tunes and ocean waves, I very nearly fell asleep.

When it ended I felt so relaxed that I may as well have just melted into a puddle on the table, and my masseuse brought me a glass of water as after aromatherapy it is really important to stay hydrated as the body releases toxins. I was led to the ‘float’ zone where I spread out on a heated waterbed in a candle-lit room, closing my eyes and feeling engulfed in pure bliss. With a mini indoor waterfall making soft noises in the middle of the room, I felt as if I were in a suspended state like that moment just before you nod off. With snoring lightly coming from the other end of the dark room, I didn’t doubt that that was exactly the feeling we all shared.

My stay at the Vale Resort was one of which I feel blessed to have experienced. Leaving the hotel, I felt thoroughly disappointed to be walking away from a life where I had other people bring food to my room and pull out chairs for me, to a place where I have to wash my own dishes. The Vale was an absolute dream – and I already want to return.

And so, would you guys consider staying somewhere like the Vale Resort, where you can just spend days on end feeling utterly pampered? Let me know in the comments below!

Having just returned from a gorgeous hostel stay, I’ll be the first to admit that my mindset in regards to travel accommodation used to be that they’re just places to rest, and can be as low-quality as they like. After all, I have stayed in rotting rooms in Dublin, pest-swarmed hotels just out of Istanbul, and windowless holes in Warsaw – and couldn’t have cared less. Or at least, that was until I decided to lay down in a luxury hotel, having been swept in with the promise of spa treatments and a panoramic view of the capital.

Trailing a room with windows thrice as long as the super-king-sized bed, with my own dining area and large nude-coloured washroom with a deep-set tub and glass shower, I had stepped into a world unimaginably different to what I was used to. Laying back in my armchair with the option of pastries and desserts brought to the door, I felt like I could happily spend my days exploring the chambers of the hotel – if only I could summon the intent to leave the room.

The rules of day-to-day life seem to disappear upon entrance to the hotel – think mid-morning cocktails in the luxury lounge and casual dips to the Hammam. Arise greeted by charming staff serving breakfast sourced from local farmers, located less than five minutes away from the main shopping district. Easy city links surpass the hotel, with the calm pace of Welsh life awaiting the front door step.

Everyone knows that I’m inexplicably in love with Wales, and so it’s no question that the capital is one of my favourite places to venture to. The bustle of city life intertwines with the laid-back nature of the country, and comes together in a mix of welcoming locals, endless places to explore, and Welsh cakes. The hotel is located within easy travel distance to Cardiff Castle, the Wales Millennium Centre, and Cardiff Bay – and for any Gavin and Stacey lovers out there, a trip to Barry Island is not off the table.

The hotel restaurant is an expert in “bistronomy” – French fine dining with an unpretentious twist. The casual atmosphere and waiters with a genuine interest in their guests renders a dining experience that is worth more than just food – and with luxe decor and design, every aspect of taste is catered to.

I would arise each morning swathed in pristine bedsheets with the sun falling on me through the silky blinds, opening my eyes to the Victorian architecture and early-risers bustling outside. How would I begin each day – a trip to the spa, a dip in the pool, a French breakfast brought to the dining area of my room?

Starting with the base rate of £97 per night, the Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa makes a luxe stay affordable. The spacious rooms, Jacuzzis, and opulent room service are features I have missed out on during so many trips away, but my opinion has now definitely been altered.

Now, over to you guys – what’s your mindset on hotels? Do you think you could ever be swayed? Let me know in the comments below!

To find out more about some of the best ways to spend a weekend in Cardiff, check out my friend Amber’s post on her recent trip to the city!