 |
 |
 |
Sands Resort Hotel (Ocean Breeze Spa), Porth - 2 bubbles
Our Spy found pedibliss at these treatment rooms in a family beach resort. She didn't think she had found an actual spa, though.
Was it easy to book?
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
Was it easy to book?
Yes, although the "spa" at Sands doesn't have set opening hours. This makes the booking process quite hit and miss.
First impressions?
We drew up to the yellow/salmon pink Sands hotel building, just off the main coast road up from Porth beach. A sign, saying that the new spa was now open, greeted us. I could only assume that this referred to a refurb that hadn't been picked up by the keen Good Spa Guide radar. I was intrigued? On closer inspection, however, it seemed that the sign referred more to a re-paint than a refurbishment.
How did they welcome you?
It wasn't at all clear how to get to the Ocean Breeze spa from the main Sands hotel reception. One of the receptionists volunteered to show me. We went along a corridor, down some stairs, and along an industrial carpet-clad hallway.
Then we passed a plug-in air freshener, and a couple of what I assumed were treatment rooms. There were laminated card signs on the doors, with the numbers 4 and 5 on them, and stickers saying "Keep locked". We finally arrived at a door with a message on it inviting spa-goers to use the toilets back up the stairs, before they entered the treatment area, as there were no facilities past this point.
What happens next?
Emily, the spa manager and therapist greeted me. She checked my details and asked me to complete the standard health questionnaire. Emily was friendly and polite and obviously took pride in her job. She offered me a drink then took me through to the functional treatment room.
The treatment room was painted yellow and blue, with laminate flooring. If it hadn't been for the beauty products and massage couch, I might have been mistaken into thinking that I was in a leisure centre or youth club. It was comfortable, and clean enough, but wasn't exactly oozing spa luxury -- or spa anything for that matter.
Which treatments did you have?
I had been invited to the Ocean Breeze spa to try a luxury pedicure, using OPI products (£29, 55 minutes).
What were the treatments like?
The pedicure was rather unusual in that it was carried out while I was sitting up, legs bent, on the massage couch. Equally unusual was the vibrating foot-bath carefully balanced at one end of the couch.
My treatment was enjoyable and competently carried out by Emily, who had clearly done a pedicure or two in her 10+ years at the spa. She was naturally chatty and did a good job of soaking my feet in the foot-bath, filing and massaging my feet into a state of pedibliss.
Emily expertly painted my nails to make them altogether more attractive than they had been when I went in. Emily also made me a cup to tea to enjoy with my copy of New! Magazine, the former of which was much appreciated.
How did you feel afterwards?
Relaxed, and happy with my shiny red toenails.
What happens afterwards?
I went back to my hotel room to let my nail varnish harden. Later, I checked out the indoor pool area, just to one side of the main hotel reception. The pool is a fair size and has a pool for toddlers to one end. It's very much a family hotel pool and not a spa pool. Its rocky design (as in granite, not Balboa) is in keeping with the general marine theme of Sands. Fine for a family swim, but the pool didn't have the relaxing ambience or luxury feel associated with a spa pool.
There are three changing rooms at Sands' pool, again more in keeping with your local swimming baths than a spa resort. Plastic bins are labelled in marker pen that they are for used towels. There are lockers in each of the three cubicles, which didn't make sense to me: you'd have to wait to get your things out if someone else was using the cubicle.
The showers, again three, had standard nylon shower curtains, which were less than pristine. The sealant around the edge of the showers had mildew and there was no shampoo or shower gel to be seen. Again, not very "spa".
There's also a circular outdoor pool at Sands, which is heated during the summer months but was still on the choppy side when I dipped my toe in. On the plus side, it does mean that there's a fair chance that you'll have this pool to yourself for most of an average British summer.
Was it worth it?
I thought that £29 for a 55-minute treatment was excellent value. My previous pedicure had cost almost double that, and there was little difference in terms of end result.
What else could you have?
Darphin facials and massage, including the "Youth Forever" firming facial. Derma Life Jet Spa massages, using a Vichy shower. Ionithermie body lift treatments. Physiotherapy, reflexology and Reiki. There's St Tropez spray tanning, waxing, nail extensions and make-up lessons, too.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
If you do decide to go for a swim at Sands, it's worth bringing your own towel as those provided at reception are tiny.
Any special features?
You have to count the number of people in the swimming pool before you go in. If you tot up more than 22, then you aren't allowed a splash.
Also, if you do decide to stay at the hotel en famille, book one of the "contemporary suites". Not the height of luxury but fresh and comfortable with a separate children's room.
Who do you think would like it?
People looking for a good-value, no-frills spa treatment.
Also, those with a young family staying at the Sands hotel and looking for a bit of me-time. All rooms at Sands have baby listening with room intercoms monitored by reception. There are children's clubs for four age groups, offering two sessions per day. Children can also enjoy two outdoor play areas and a maze. There's also a half-hearted attempt at a play-room but this isn't available when the children's clubs are using the space.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave the Ocean Breeze spa 2 bubbles. Although my treatment with Emily was good, the facilities are disappointing when compared to those at many modern spas. There's no sense of "spa" about the place and, for most of the day, the pool is swarming with excited kids.
We're unsure about the claim that Ocean Breeze is a "spa". In our opinion, Sands is a hotel with some treatment rooms and indoor and outdoor family swimming pools. If I were rating the hotel and treatment rooms alone, I would give the spa 3 bubbles. My pedicure was good and professionally delivered by Emily. However, the pool facilities bring the overall spa experience down to 2 bubbles. Also, one of our criteria for a good rating is that the spa provides an abundant supply of clean fluffy towels; the undersized offerings at Ocean Breeze fell well short of the mark.
Overall, Sands is fine for a quick swim with the kids, but disappointing for anyone expecting an indulgent spa experience.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
If I lived locally, I would go back for a beauty treatment here, but I wouldn't go back for a spa break; I'd save up a bit more to stay at Bedruthan Steps, ten minutes up the road.
We visited Ocean Breeze at the Sands resort and spa in June 2008
See also:
* Contact Details for Sands Resort Hotel
* Pedicures
* Good Spa Guide favourites: products
|
|
|