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Dart Marina, Dartmouth - 5 bubbles
We sent Sweet Spy and Spouse away with an invitation to this impressively located hotel, which has a small spa with three treatment rooms. She loved her pregnancy massage, got over the unisex changing rooms, but is bothering us now because we didn't supply a yacht.
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?
First impressions?
We arrived at Dart Marina Hotel & Spa after taking the Higher Ferry across the River Dart. Coming from this direction, you get an impressive view of the hotel because it sits on the river bank next to the ferry crossing. It's a rather special location and Dart Marina makes the most of the marine environment with its outdoor terraces and its Floating Bridge pub, both giving excellent views over the river and the town of Dartmouth.
The evening before visiting the spa, we stayed in one of Dart Marina's hotel rooms with French doors, which opened to give us that view again from the privacy of our own room. Many of the rooms in the hotel have these views over the river and it is certainly worth trying to get one if you're staying. The location is particularly good for keeping an eye on your yacht, which you can moor at the hotel. If you aren't yachting, it's nice to use the binoculars supplied in each room to keep an eye on the comings and goings on the River Dart.
After we'd done enough people watching from our room, we strolled into Dartmouth. It's about five minutes' walk from the hotel and is a picturesque little town with lots of little side streets and gift shops to explore. We meandered our way through some of these before heading back to the Dart Marina's Floating Bridge pub to have a drink before our dinner in the River Restaurant. The pub has a roof terrace looking out over the river, and is traditional in style. It serves good quality pub food and was busy during our visit. The River Restaurant is a smarter affair serving three courses for £32 but still makes the most of the prime location with huge windows. The hotel also has a Wildfire Bistro & Bar which seems to be a midway point between the pub and the fine dining of the River Restaurant. All serve fresh, local produce.
We returned to the River Restaurant the next morning for a full English breakfast, before visiting the spa. If you're after a lighter meal, there is a wide variety of fruits, yoghurts and cereals to start the day.
The spa and health club facilities are tucked away at the end of the long hotel building. Whilst the main hotel sits comfortably in the spot, the spa entrance gives the impression of being in a newer complex, which isn't as comfortable in its surroundings.
On entering the spa, there is a reception immediately in front of you, with the health club side of things off to the right and treatment rooms to the left. Dart Marina is not a large spa, with just three treatment rooms, a small relaxation area and one, unisex, changing room.
How did they welcome you?
The spa manager showed us around the facilities before taking us for our treatments. The pool is rather small (about 15m) but was empty when we arrived at 10.30 in the morning, and is an ideal alternative if the weather's not quite right for swimming at any of the local beaches. You can even use the current machine to mimic the real thing, but if someone else in the pool is using the machine, you'll also have to swim against a current, too! If exercise isn't what you're after, there's a small Jacuzzi immediately next to the swimming pool and a tiled sauna and steam room located just off this main room. The sauna and steam room could comfortably fit about four people, but we didn't see it being used during our visit. Walking through the room with the swimming pool takes you to the small but well-equipped gym. All in all, the health club facilities are typical of those in a good quality hotel and are a nice addition to the treatment rooms.
What happens next?
A staff member showed us to the relaxation area and gave us a huge plate of fresh fruit. My husband filled out his health questionnaire whilst I ate the fruit.
After a few minutes, our therapists came to take us to our treatment rooms and took the remaining fruit back to chill in the fridge.
I had to use the toilet before my treatment (hardly surprising, being six months pregnant) and so I popped off to do that. The toilets are located in the changing room. These are shared between the spa and health-club facilities, and are unisex but do have separate shower and changing cubicles. Other than shower and toilet cubicles, the changing room (including the locker area) is communal and unisex.
The changing area is well stocked with Elemis products.
After I returned to my treatment room, my therapist left me to get undressed and comfortable. It's always interesting to see how treatments are adapted for pregnant women, and this massage area involved lots of cushions and a huge beanbag on the floor. Once I was comfortable, my therapist came back in to talk to me about my health. Mums-to-be have so much moaning to do about all their qualms that there isn't much point asking them to write it all down -- talking is much better therapy.
Which treatments did you have?
I had an Elemis Nurturing Massage for Mothers to be (60 minutes, £75) and my husband had an Elemis Deep Tissue Muscle Massage (55 minutes, £60).
What were the treatments like?
My Nurturing Massage was absolutely fantastic. I was getting to that point in pregnancy where the glowing stops and the moaning begins. This massage definitely eased my increasing number of aches and pains. It was also incredibly comfortable to lie on my side on the beanbag, so that my therapist was able to give plenty of attention to the whole of my back.
Starting with cleansing my feet and face, my therapist worked on my whole body, applying just the right amount of pressure. She checked after starting the massage that the pressure was right for me, and I felt totally comfortable with asking for more or less pressure as necessary. Even my fingertips were given individual attention.
The Elemis products the therapist used in my treatment were all suitable for use during pregnancy; I particularly liked the Japanese Camellia oil, which was incredibly hydrating and smelled good enough to drink.
After my treatment (which was ended by the ringing of a bell and the bringing of water), my therapist talked me through the products she had used and filled out an Elemis "skin, body and lifestyle" programme with personalised recommendations. These recommendations sometimes feel like an exercise in selling, but I didn't feel under any pressure at all and was happy to receive advice on my skin.
My husband found his Deep Tissue Muscle Massage a similarly relaxing experience. His therapist was very attentive to his personal needs and focused her attention on the parts of his body where he needed it most. Plus, she kept her time on his (incredibly ticklish) feet to a minimum.
How did you feel afterwards?
Very relaxed, and ready for the long drive back home.
What happens afterwards?
After dressing in the treatment room, I met my husband back in the relaxation area where he was eating some of our fruit and drinking a camomile tea. There is a selection of fruit teas in the relaxation area, as well as water. We sat on chaise-longue style seats and read magazines as we "came to" after our massages.
As we relaxed, three more spa-goers arrived for treatments. They were whisked straight into treatment rooms. The Dart Marina spa is small but is run incredibly smoothly and efficiently. The spa never felt busy, even though, with the five of us there, the spa area was actually full to capacity.
When we left, we looked in on the swimming pool which was still relatively empty (one or two swimmers, one person sitting on the loungers by the pool.) Despite being quite small, therefore, the spa and health club isn't too small. Or, it wasn't when we visited on a beautifully sunny day. I am not sure how the pool would look with a few families in there on a rainy summer holiday.
Was it worth it?
Definitely. Holidays in the South West of England tend to be quite active ones, with lots of walking and swimming (or, sailing, if you are lucky enough). It's definitely worth taking a morning out of your schedule for some pampering time at Dart Marina.
What else could you have?
Dart Marina's signature treatment is a Sensory Stone Heaven & Exotic Visible Facial (£75, 60 minutes). You could also try some reflexology (£45, 45 minutes).
If the weather's not as beautiful as it was when we visited, there's no reason to return home pale and interesting: you could also have a Fake Bake tan.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
The Dart Marina "spa" is really more of a treatment rooms. There's no lolling about in a robe; I didn't see any robes at all, in fact.
Any special features?
The views immediately outside the spa are really spectacular. Being able to moor your yacht whilst you pop in for some pampering is pretty special, too.
Who do you think would like it?
Sailors. Or their wives /girlfriends/partners. There are plenty of sailor-WAGs in Dartmouth for the Royal Regatta each year who would love to spent some quality time in Dart Marina's spa.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Dart Marina Spa 5 bubbles. The facilities are excellent, and we couldn't fault a thing on the day of our visit.
BUT the spa has unisex changing rooms and it is more of a treatment rooms than a spa. As long as you know that before you go, though, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy 5-bubble spa delight.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Yes.
We visited Dart Marina in July 2008
See also:
* Contact Details for Dart Marina
* Pregnancy well-being treatments
* Deep tissue massage
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