Wales Guidebook

19 BEST Spa Hotels in Wales [2024 Guide]

KW
Kieren Windsor

Kieren is the founder of Wales Guidebook. A Welshman born and bred, he has lived and travelled across Wales and now his full-time passion is sharing his favourite experiences and travel tips.

Lanelay Hall (1)

If you’re the type of traveller who loves to relax and be pampered during your break, then you’re going to want to stay at a spa hotel. Don’t worry, we have plenty to choose from here in Wales.

Spa hotels can vary greatly in terms of the facilities and level of luxury on offer. Some spa hotels can have a full suite with a sauna, steam room, ice fountains, swimming pools, and more, whereas other hotels that sell themselves as ‘spa’ hotels may just have a jacuzzi.

To save you the trouble of researching every hotel in Wales, I’ve done the hard work for you and compared over 20 different spa hotels in Wales to bring you this list of the very best.

Top Picks

In a rush? Here’s a quick summary of my top picks:

  • Lanelay Hall – Restored manor house in South Wales with blissful spa facilities including outdoor spa garden with walk-through waterfall, swimming pool, sauna, tranquillity pods, and more.
  • Mercure Cardiff – In the heart of Cardiff, The Mercure has a huge pool, sauna, steam room, experience shower, salt room, ice room, and gym.
  • St Brides Spa Hotel – Hotel in Saundersfoot (Pembrokeshire) with coastal views and a heated outdoor infinity. Also has a sauna, steam room, ice fountain, sensation shower, and a salt infusion room.
  • The Quay – In a prime North Wales location between Conwy and Llandudno, this four-star hotel has two pools, a sauna and steam room, a chillout room, and a spa juice bar.
  • Bonus: Lion Quays – Just five minutes across the border in England, this hotel has extensive spa facilities so I had to mention it. Plus, the four-star hotel is very modern and with stunning views across the Llangollen Canal.

Map of Spa Hotels in Wales


1. Lanelay Hall, South Wales

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  • Excellent spa facilities
  • Outdoor spa garden is a blissful place to relax
  • You need to pay extra to access the best part of the spa
  • Can be expensive to stay here on weekends and during peak season

My top pick is Lanelay Hall, a luxurious spa hotel in a restored 19th-century manor house, just a short drive from Cardiff. The hotel itself comprises nineteen individually designed boutique bedrooms and has an elegant Georgian charm blended with modern comforts.

The onsite tRiBe Spa is a tropical-inspired sanctuary with beautiful décor and state-of-the-art facilities. It has a large indoor pool with tranquillity relaxation pods poolside and access to a sauna. But the piece de la resistance is the outdoor spa garden with a vitality pool which you can enter through a free-flowing waterfall.

Access to the indoor pool and sauna is complimentary for hotel guests, however, this is only available at select hours in the morning and evening. if you want to use the outdoor garden and vitality pool, you’ll need to book a spa experience package.

This package includes a treatment, spa brunch with a selection of smoothies, fruits, and bread, as well as 90 minutes of full spa access. Keep in mind that these experiences are among the most expensive out of all the spas I’ve reviewed here and can cost at least £120 but are well worth it.

You’ll need to book this well in advance because they only have limited spaces to ensure the relaxing VIP experience. They recommend booking several weeks ahead, however, when I checked the online booking platform, there were spaces available a few days ahead if you can be flexible on time.

Aside from the spa, another highlight is The Drawing Room restaurant which offers fine dining and has a huge selection of wines. There’s also a courtyard with patio heaters which is a great place to enjoy the longer summer evenings.

All things considered, the hotel isn’t crazy expensive as you’d expect. Rooms can be picked up from £130 for two people on weekdays, although expect to pay closer to £300 on weekends and during busier periods.


2. Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa, South Wales

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  • Heated pool and fully-equipped thermal suite
  • Full spa access for hotel guests
  • Offer both spa and beauty treatments
  • Gym equipment is dated

Mercure Cardiff is a stylish 4-star hotel located in the city centre of Cardiff. It has large rooms with city views and even free-standing baths. Also in the hotel is a bar, award-winning restaurant, and leisure facilities.

The leisure facilities include an 18-metre pool which is about average size for a spa hotel, however, what makes it more appealing than others is that it is heated to 30°C. The thermal suite is well-equipped with a sauna, steam room, experience shower, salt room, and ice room. There is a gym with exercise machines and a studio, however, this is fairly dated.

Treatments are also available here with a full body massage starting at £70 for 50 minutes. This is slightly above average but they also offer 30 minutes for £50 which is more affordable. As well as spa treatments, there are a range of beauty treatments too including pedicures, waxing, and eyebrow tints.

Full spa access is included for hotel guests and the rooms are reasonably priced given its city centre location.

However, this can soon change when there are major events in the city centre. For example, I’ve seen rooms here from as little as £70 per night for two people and the same room as high as £150 when the six nations rugby matches are on.

The hotel has its own parking with a direct lift from the car park to reception. This is especially important given its city centre location where I’ve ended up paying as much as £30 per day before.


3. St Brides Spa Hotel, West Wales

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  • Amazing views from the heated outdoor infinity pool
  • Well-equipped thermal suite with all the facilities you’d expect
  • Complimentary spa access for hotel guests (90 minutes per day)
  • Pool isn’t big enough for swimming
  • One of the more expensive hotels and treatments are above average price

St Bride's Spa Hotel is one of my favourite hotels in Wales by the sea, perched above Saundersfoot Beach in West Wales.

What puts this spa among the best is the outdoor infinity pool with incredible views of Saundersfoot Beach and across the coast. The pool is heated too so you can enjoy it no matter what the weather. However, this is the only pool they have and it’s fairly small, so if having somewhere to swim is important to you, then this isn’t for you.

The thermal suite is very well-equipped, with a sauna, steam room, ice fountain, sensation shower, and a salt infusion room which uses sea salt to eliminate toxins and ease muscular tension.

Using its clifftop location to its advantage, the spa has full-height windows that open so that you can allow the fresh sea air in. They have also partnered with Voya who are marine spa specialists to provide treatments that encapsulate the sea such as a seaweed wrap. All of the usual spa treatments such as massages are also available.

Being a 4-star hotel in an excellent location means this is one of the most expensive places to stay on this list with rooms costing in the region of £200-£300 per night for two people. All of the rooms are individually styled to a high standard and they also have a selection of two-bedroom apartments.

Included in the price is 90 minutes access to the spa each day. Spa treatments are a little above-average price with full body massages starting at £85 for 55 minutes.


4. The Quay Hotel & Spa, North Wales

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  • Excellent location in North Wales with scenic views
  • Complimentary spa access
  • Reasonably priced treatments
  • Limited spa treatment menu (although all the basics are featured)
  • Room prices can vary alot

The Quay Hotel & Spa is a 4-star hotel in an excellent location in Deganwy, right alongside the Conwy Estuary. It’s right in the middle of Conwy and Llandudno, with both accessible by car in less than 8 minutes and good public transport between them too.

Access to the hotel’s spa facilities is complimentary for hotel guests. The facilities include a swimming pool, a spa pool with water fountains, a sauna and a steam room. There’s also a chillout room for relaxing after your treatments and a spa juice bar to quench your thirst.

The spa facilities at this hotel are only open to hotel and spa residents, rather than being open to the public like some of the other spas on this list. The benefit of this is a much more peaceful and relaxing experience. Keep in mind that there is no gym here.

As for the spa treatments, there is a slightly more limited menu compared to other spa hotels, although it has all the basics such as massages and facials. A full body massage starts at £60 which is a very reasonable price compared to other spas.

When booking your room, you can choose between a courtyard view or a sea view, with the latter being a little more expensive but worth it for the stunning view over the Conwy estuary through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The prices at this hotel vary greatly and can be anywhere between £140 and £220 depending on the time of year. Still, even at the top end of this price bracket, it’s a good price given the location and quality on offer.


5. Voco St Davids, South Wales

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  • Incredible views of Cardiff Bay through the spa’s large windows
  • Several hydrotherapy pools
  • Reasonably priced for mid-week stays and spa treatments
  • Rooms and treatments are expensive on the weekends
  • No steam room

Voco St David’s is a 5-star hotel situated right on the water’s edge in Cardiff Bay. It’s an iconic building with its roof shaped like a seabird, but the elegance continues inside. The modern rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and premium bedding whilst other hotel facilities include a gym, a spa, and the onsite Tir a Môr restaurant serving up local produce.

The spa has a 15m indoor exercise pool (not heated) in a room with large glass windows offering views across Cardiff Bay. It doesn’t have a steam room, however, it does have a sauna and several hydrotherapy pools including a hot tub, a water corridor with swan neck fountains, and a spa pool.

Despite being a 5-star hotel and one of the best places to stay in Cardiff, the prices aren’t too unreasonable if you stay mid-week. Expect to pay around £150 for a double room during the week, however, this can double on the weekends.

Their treatment menu is good with both isgha and OSKIA treatments. The ishga treatments are particularly suitable given its coastal location. These use products derived from seaweed such as seaweed oils, algae wrap, and sea salt scrub.

Treatment prices are averagely priced on weekdays with a full body massage starting at £80 for 50 minutes, however, like the rooms, these are more expensive on weekends with the price of the same massage going up to £100.


6. Lion Quays Resort, Shropshire

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  • Huge swimming pool and extensive spa facilities
  • Beautiful view from hotel across the Llangollen Canal
  • Big menu of spa and beauty treatments
  • Not actually in Wales (although only a 5-minute drive from the border)
  • Not all spa facilities complimentary for guests
  • Expensive treatments compared to other spas

Technically, the Lion Quays Resort has no place in a list of the best spa hotels in Wales since it’s in England, however, given that it’s an incredible resort and less than 5 minutes over the border, I couldn’t leave it out.

The rooms are as you’d expect from a 4-star hotel; clean, modern, and with comfy beds. I recommend trying to get a canal-view room so you can watch the barges coming past. The hotel has a gym, spa, and restaurant which I’m told served serves an excellent breakfast.

The spa has a 20m swimming pool (not heated) which is one of the largest on this list. There’s also a small jacuzzi and poolside facilities. Then, there’s the thermal suite which includes the hydro-pool, experience showers, snow cave, steam room, main sauna, and other relaxation areas.

Room prices are typically between £110-£150 per night for two people which is about average for this level of luxury. However, keep in mind that not all spa facilities are included with your stay.

Hotel guests can enjoy unlimited access to the pool, jacuzzi, and poolside sauna, however, you must pay to use the thermal suite. This is available at a reduced rate of £35 per day for hotel guests but includes lunch (they call it a buffet but it’s more like a two-course meal).

The treatments are among the most expensive of those listed here with prices starting from £80 for a 60-minute full-body massage. However, they also have a massage chair you can use instead. They are one of the few spa hotels that also offer salon treatments such as pedicures, waxing, and eyebrow tinting.

A couple of other paid extras include salt flotation therapy and the Welnamis bed which uses soundwaves and water to help you into a deep meditation.


7. Bodysgallen Hall and Spa, North Wales

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  • Full spa access for guests (with dedicated hours for children)
  • Spa facilities can stay open until 9pm
  • Excellent location in a beautiful building
  • Dislike the décor of the hotel
  • Most expensive spa hotel

Bodysgallen Hall and Spa is a beautiful 4-star country house located in a Grade I listed 17th-century building in North Wales, less than 8 minutes away from the popular towns of Conwy and Llandudno.

The décor of the hotel is quite traditional which I’m not a huge fan of, but I appreciate that it’s a listed building and has been done tastefully. You can choose to stay in a hotel room or at one of the 4-person cottages on the estate if you prefer to have a sitting room and garden area.

The onsite spa has a 15m swimming pool which is about average and a jacuzzi, small sauna and steam room. It also has its own ‘Club Room’ which offers a range of light snacks and beverages without having to leave the spa building.

Hotel guests have free access to the spa facilities. I like that there are dedicated hours when guests can bring their children which ensures that the atmosphere remains relaxing outside of these times.

On weekdays during peak season, the spa is as open as 9pm which is great if you want some evening relaxation. However, on weekends it can close at 7.30pm.

The biggest downside to this hotel is the price, it’s easily the most expensive spa hotel in Wales with the cheapest rooms costing at least £300 per night for two people.


8. Tre-Ysgawen Hall & Spa, North Wales

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  • Full use of spa and gym facilities for hotel guests
  • Cheapest spa treatments
  • Large 16m swimming pool
  • Reasonably priced for a 4-star spa hotel
  • Gym isn’t as big as they suggest on the listing

Tre-Ysgawen Hall is a 4-star country house hotel on the island of Anglesey just off the coast of North Wales. It has a spa which is elegantly decorated with a large 16m swimming pool (not heated), jacuzzi, herbal sauna, and experience shower.

Although there is no steam room, they do have a salt inhalation room which uses Anglesey Sea Salt to produce salt vapour which can leave you feeling invigorated.

They also have an ice fountain where you can take ice flakes to cool your body in-between using the other thermal facilities. The spa is open until 8pm every day which is later than many spas, allowing you to enjoy an evening here.

They also offer a range of holistic treatments including some that also use Anglesey Sea Salt. A full body massage starts at £58 for 1 hour which is one of the cheapest prices for spa treatments of all the spa hotels.

They also have a gym which has an adequate amount of weights and cardio machines for a few people at a time, but to describe it as one of the ‘best gyms in North Wales’ is a big push.

Rooms at Tre-Ysgawen Hall are £150 per night for two people which seems to be a reasonable price when you consider that all of the spa facilities are available for guests to use for free during their stay.


9. The Heywood Spa Hotel, West Wales

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  • One of the biggest swimming pools on this list
  • Both indoor and outdoor hot tubs
  • Big treatments menu (and they are well priced)
  • Thermal suite is lacking – no steam room and infrared sauna only

The best part of the spa is the pool facilities, with a large 20m indoor swimming pool which is one of the biggest I’ve come across and both an indoor and outdoor hot tub.

It is lacking slightly in terms of other spa facilities. For example, there’s no steam room and the sauna is infrared rather than a traditional sauna so the temperature is lower than usual which puts me off a little.

What the spa lacks in thermal facilities it makes up for in treatments with a big menu of Pevonia spa treatments including several types of massages (such as Thai), reflexology, pedicures, mud treatments, seaweed wraps, and more. There’s even a salon at the hotel to get your hair done.

The hotel is moderately priced with average prices being between £145-£180 for a two-person room, however, you will save on treatments which are cheaper than most hotels here, starting at £60 for a full body massage.

I also have to mention the great location, less than 5 minutes by car from the popular seaside resort of Tenby which has loads to do for families.


10. The Cliff Hotel & Spa

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  • Hotel has coastal views (although spa is underground)
  • One hour daily access to the spa for hotel guests
  • Pool is not large enough for swimming in
  • Outdoor hot tub is not part of the spa

The Cliff is a 3-star hotel near Cardigan which quite literally sits on a cliff overlooking Cardigan Bay. This is very much a ‘middle of the road’ hotel, with average prices and adequate spa facilities.

The spa is located underground which seems odd for a hotel that has such an amazing cliff top location, nevertheless, the ambiance is relaxing and you can always enjoy the spectacular views from the restaurant later on.

It has a spa pool with a sparkling roof which makes you feel like you’re under the stars, although, it’s not big enough to swim in. There’s also a poolside sauna and steam room. The hotel website mentions an outdoor hot tub and you may see images of this on booking sites, however, this is not part of the spa and is a private hot tub when you book the suite, this is slightly confusing.

As a hotel guest, you receive 1 hour of complimentary access to the spa each day which is more than enough to enjoy the facilities. They also offer facial and massage treatments with a full body massage starting at £70 for 55 minutes which is just above average but not too expensive.

As for rooms, the price is typically between £110-£240 per night for a double. At the lower end, this is reasonable for a 3-star hotel, but the prices can be higher on busier weekends. For the price, you get large, modern rooms and you can opt for a sea view room to enjoy the picturesque scenery across Cardigan Bay.

If you’re into golf, the hotel has its own 9-hole golf course too (extra fee). For those travelling with four-legged friends, this is also a dog-friendly spa hotel.


11. Parkway Hotel and Spa

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  • Well-equipped spa with large heated pool
  • Reasonably priced treatment menu
  • Incredibly kind staff
  • Dated hotel décor

Located just outside of Cwmbran, Parkway Hotel & Spa is perfect for visiting Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons, and the Wye Valley, with all of them accessible within 30 minutes by car. You also have Newport right on your doorstep.

The spa has all of the facilities you’d expect including a heated 15m pool (among the larger ones on this list), jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. All of these are free for hotel guests. Plus, there’s a decent size gym with weights and cardio equipment.

As for the treatments, there’s a full menu of massages, pedicures, manicures, holistic treatments, and you can get your lashes done too. The cost of a full body massage starts at £60 for 55 minutes which is reasonable compared to other spa hotels.

Other facilities at the hotel include a highly rated restaurant, coffee shop, garden terrace and sunbathing patio, This is a dog-friendly spa hotel with dedicated annexes for those travelling with four-legged friends.

The hotel décor is a bit tired and in need of some updating, but, if you can look past this, Parkway Hotel & Spa offers a convenient location and the staff are incredibly helpful. You also have to try their afternoon tea, it’s one of the best in the area.


12. Park Plaza Cardiff

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  • Huge heated indoor swimming pool
  • Unlimited gym and spa access for guests
  • Option to choose a room with a view of Cardiff Civic Centre
  • No sauna
  • No onsite parking so expect to spend a lot on parking in the city centre

Park Plaza is a 4-star hotel in Cardiff City Centre with big, comfortable rooms and modern décor. The staff are very friendly and you can choose a ‘room with a view’ which looks out onto the Civic Centre with the grand buildings at Cardiff City Hall and the National Museum Cardiff.

Hotel guests get complimentary access to the Laguna Health & Spa which includes a 20m heated indoor pool (this is among the biggest pools of the hotels reviewed here). The pool is UV filtered which makes it kinder to skin and hair than other pools.

There’s also a jacuzzi and steam room although it’s one of the few spa hotels that doesn’t have a sauna. Hotel guests can also access the gym which is very wlel equipped with a range of cardio machines, free weights, and cable machines.

There’s also a range of spa experience packages and indivudal treatments using Pevonia products. A full body massage starts at £60 for 40 minutes which is about average. There are also hot stones massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, and more.

The hotel is conveniently located in Cardiff City Centre, however, unlike The Mercure Cardiff which is also on this list, Park Plaza doesn’t have it’s own car park so if travelling by car, you’ll have to pay for overnight parking which can be expensive.

Staying at the Park Plaza typically costs between £100-£200 per night depending upon the time of year and day of week.


13. Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel & Spa

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  • Complimentary access to spa and gym facilities
  • Two golf courses
  • Beautiful and convenient location in South Wales
  • Old fashioned décor in the rooms
  • One of the most expensive hotels with a spa

Bryn Meadows is a golf and spa resort just 10 minutes outside Caerphilly which is one of my favourite places to visit in South Wales.

Spa facilities at Bryn Meadows include a large indoor pool (not heated), steam room, sauna and aromatherapy suite.

Full use of the spa facilities are included for hotel residents from the time of check in until the time of check out. You’ll also get access to their gym which is very well equipped and open until 9.30pm most days.

Spa treatments are performed by ESPA-trained experts and include a range of facials, massages, and skin treatments. They also have dedicated treatments for men and pregnant women. The cheapest full-body massage is £64 for 50 minutes which is in line with the average prices here.

Of course, the hotel is known for its two golf courses, including a championship course and a 9-hole course. There’s also Blas restaurant which has great views looking over the golf course.

This is one of the most expensive hotels with a spa with rooms roughly around £200-£220 per night. The décor of the hotel rooms and restaurant are quite old-fashioned, but it makes up for this with stunning views all around and very attentive staff.


14. The Vale Resort

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© The Vale Resort
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© The Vale Resort
  • Large swimming pool
  • Good range of spa treatments available
  • Hotel has two championship golf courses
  • Pool and jacuzzi can get very busy
  • Some areas of the spa are only available if you purchase a treatment

The Vale is a four-star resort in South Wales best known for having two championship 18-hole golf courses, however, its hotel and spa facilities are worthy of mentioning in their own right.

The Health Club has a large 20m indoor swimming pool which is among the biggest of those on this list. I like that the pool is divided with areas for those wanting to do lengths and those wanting to relax. There’s also a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool jacuzzi. The swimming area can get quite noisy because it attracts a large number of day guests so it’s not super relaxing.

Access to the spa facilities are all included along with access to an impressive gym with over 80 machines and they also have squash and tennis courts available too.

As for spa treatments, they have a large menu of massages for different purposes, including pregnancy, menopause, sports, and more. Full body massages start at £70 for 50 minutes on weekdays and £80 on weekends which is slightly above average but not too extortionate.

If you purchase a treatment, you’ll also have access to one of the relaxation zones afterwards with water beds and twinkling lanterns creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Prices to stay at the Vale Resort are typically between £130-£200 per night based on a two-person room which is about average compared to others on this list. I’ve seen rooms as low as £120 when staying out of season and on a weekday which is very good for a four-star hotel and all the facilities.


15. Macdonald Plas Talgarth Resort

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  • Only spa hotel that has self-catered accommodation
  • Excellent value for money
  • Excellent value for money
  • Well located resort for beach access
  • No spa treatments such as massages or facials

What makes Plas Talgarth different from the other spa hotels here is that the hotel is made up of self-catered apartments which are like little town houses across the site.

The onsite spa facilities include an indoor pool (it’s quite small at just 12m but still large enough to do lengths in, a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. During the summer, they also open the heated outdoor pool.

The biggest downside to this resort is that there are no treatments available, so don’t expect massages or facials.

Having said that, the resort is excellent value for money with apartments costing between £80-£110 per night for two people. For this price, you get a fully equipped apartment with a kitchen and living area as well as unlimited access to the spa, gym, and sports facilities including pitch and putt, sports courts, and an outdoor play area.

Plas Talgarth is very well located if you enjoy outdoor activities or beach days. It’s at the southern end of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and Aberdyfi Beach (one of my favourite beaches in Mid-Wales) is less than 15 minutes drive away.


16. Ramada Resort Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa

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  • Cheapest spa hotel on this list (on average)
  • Access to spa, pool, and fitness centre included for guests
  • Décor is a little tired
  • No steam room
  • Lacking 'luxury' amenities such as robes and slippers

Cwrt Bleddyn is a resort in South Wales around 20 minutes from the Wye Valley area. The resort is part of the Ramada group which has hotels across the world.

The three-star spa hotel is housed in a 17th-century building that looks like it's come from a fairytale. However, the rooms have been refurbished to give a modern feel, although some parts of the building are in need of a little love.

The Cwrtium Spa has a large indoor swimming pool and hot tub, with dedicated treatment rooms too, Plus, the leisure facilities are open until 8pom so you can use them well into the evening.

The spa isn't quite up to the standard of other luxury spas, for example, there are no slippers or robes provided and the loungers dare not cushioned. However, the changing rooms are well equipped with hairdryers and straighteners to use.

There are dedicated pool hours for families so make sure you are familiar with these if you'd like a more relaxing stay without children.

This is the cheapest spa hotel on this list, average prices are anywhere between £90-110 per night for two people but can be as cheap as £70 when you book last minute. This includes full access to their fitness centre and leisure facilities.

Not only are the rooms cheap, but the treatments are among the cheapest too with a full body massage starting from just £60 compared to an average of around £80.

The reason why it’s cheaper is because the hotel décor is a little tired and in need of some TLC. But if you can look past this, you’ll enjoy a stay that’s great value for money when you consider all of the facilities you can use such as the spa, gym, tennis courts, and large grounds to explore.


17. The Celtic Manor Resort

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© Celtic Manor
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© Celtic Manor
  • All spa facilities complimentary for guests
  • Huge indoor pool with simulated sky
  • Large treatments menu with classics and more unusual treatment options
  • Children are allowed in the spa all day (might be a positive for some)
  • Rooms are expensive, especially around big events

Celtic Manor is a 5-star golf and spa resort in South Wales. The spa centres around a pool which is probably the best on this list. It’s 20m and sits underneath a simulated sky which twinkles with stars at night.

Also at the spa is a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, plunge pools, and a café area serving drinks and light snacks.

All of the spa facilities are included for hotel guests with towels, bath robes, and slippers included too. You need to book time slots to use the pool and hot tub facilities whereas the gym doesn’t require this. The gym is also among the best I’ve reviewed here.

Children are allowed in the spa all day and there’s a dedicated children's pool. Personally, I find this to be a disadvantage since I enjoy a relaxing spa experience but you may see this as an advantage if you are looking for a family-friendly spa. I recommend that you try to reserve poolside beds ahead of time as the pool can get busy.

As for treatments, there is an extensive menu that includes all of the classics including a range of massages and facials, but they also have some unique treatments such as coconut rub, seaweed wrap, and mud rituals.

Treatments are among the cheapest of those I reviewed, starting at just £55 for a 50-minute full-body massage. However, the rooms themselves are not cheap.

Rooms cost around £200-£300 per night for two people, although can be far higher when big events are hosted here such as the Ryder Cup, sometimes into the £000’s so you need to be flexible with your dates to get a good price.


18. Metropole Hotel and Spa

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  • Large 18m heated swimming pool
  • Full access to spa and gym for hotel guests
  • Hotel décor dated
  • The Metropole is a 4-star hotel in a large Victorian castle-like building in Llandrindod Wells.

It has an onsite spa with a large 18m swimming pool which is among the largest of all the hotels I’ve reviewed here, plus it’s heated. The pool has a jacuzzi and poolside loungers, plus the thermal suite includes a sauna and steam room.

There is also a gym which is quite small, however, it doesn’t get very busy so it’s usually a pleasure to use. The gym is mainly cardio equipment with a few weights.

By staying in the hotel, you get full complimentary access to the spa and gym facilities and you don’t need to book ahead unless getting a treatment. The spa treatments offered here include massages, facials, and wraps. A full body massage starts at £75 for 55 minutes which is slightly above average but not too expensive.

Whilst the spa facilities here are among some of the best, unfortunately, the décor across the rest of the hotel lets it down a little bit since its quite dated and could do with some TLC.

Rooms here are between £150-£200 per night which makes it one of the more expensive hotels on the list. They have two restaurants onsite, the Brasserie which offers a typical pub menu and Radnor restaurant which has a set menu at £33 per head.


19. The Waterloo Hotel

  • In a sought—after village in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia)
  • Pool, thermal suite, and gym complimentary for guests
  • Pool can get busy with locals
  • No massages available, only beauty treatments
  • Dated decor

The Waterloo Hotel is a hotel in Betws-Y-Coed at the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. It's a 10-minute walk into the centre of the town and there are many attractions and walking trails nearby.

You have the option of staying in standard hotel rooms or in their lodges (one-storey apartments, not log cabins). The lodges have a little more space and privacy but no cooking facilities. I recommend opting for the superior lodges which have a patio and outdoor seating areas.

All guests receive complimentary access to the pool and spa facilities. This includes a large pool for swimming (not heated), a smaller spa pool, and a jacuzzi. There’s also a sauna and steam room. The downside to the facilities is that it’s one of the few swimming pools in the area open to the public so it can get busy and loses the relaxing atmosphere, especially on weekends.

There’s an onsite restaurant which comes highly recommended and there’s also a smaller café near the spa facilities if you’d rather something lighter during your stay.

Although they offer beauty treatments (mainly manicures), there are no spa treatments such as massages here. They previously offered these services but I’m not sure why they stopped.

There is a gym at the hotel which overlooks the pool and is also free for guests. However, it’s very limited in terms of the equipment with a few cardio machines and a few cable machines (no free weights).

The price is a little above average for a 3-star hotel with standard double rooms in the region of £150-£160 per night. This is not surprising given that Betws-Y-Coed is one of the most sought-after and therefore more expensive places to stay in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.


Things To Look For in a Good Spa Hotel

Here are some of the key things that I take into consideration when choosing a spa hotel. I’ve carefully reviewed all of the hotels on this list according to these criteria and ranked them accordingly.

What facilities does the spa have?

The top consideration is going to be the facilities available. At the very minimum, I would expect a spa hotel to have some kind of pool and sauna or steam room, but the best ones can have far more than this including jacuzzis, infinity pools,  experience showers, ice rooms, and more.

Is spa access free for guests?

You might not believe it but not all spa hotels allow hotel guests free access to their facilities and some have limitations on what you can use and how long you can spend in there without paying.

What spa treatments are available?

If you plan to have a spa treatment during your stay, check the menu to find out what they have available and the prices. Massages and facials are typical but some hotels offer wraps, pedicures, manicures, and even beauty treatments such as eyelashes and hair treatments.

Overall hotel rating

Of course, there’s no point in going to a hotel with a great spa if the rest of the facilities are poor. So, the usual standards such as service, comfort, location, and cleanliness apply.

Published: 8 August 2023 · Last updated: 30 August 2023