I won a competition for work recently, the prize for which was a spa day at one of three places. I had to choose between the Village hotel, Bannatynes, and Mercure in Cardiff. I could have chosen a hallmark hotel but there isn't one close to me.
I decided to go to the Mercure because, after checking they seemed to have good treatment deals, and it was the most convenient for me travel wise.
The voucher entitled my mother and me to have a 25-minute treatment each and use of the pool facilities, but by paying an extra £10 each we got an extra treatment. So I booked an appointment for early in the morning the following week. I had to phone them beforehand to confirm the treatments as my mother had yet to choose hers.
For about a week we tried to call them and every time we did it would ring and then cut off after no answer. Eventually, I went in on the way home from work and told them in person.
The day came and we arrived at the hotel with our printed vouchers and our swimming costumes in hand. We were welcomed downstairs, asked if we would like a robe but declined and just took a towel. We were then shown where to go upstairs into the spa area. When we entered there was a desk but no one to be seen. Eventually, we were shown to the small dining section and told wait here for a bit. Then we were collected and shown to the treatment rooms.
Both of us had opted for express pedicures first. These were 25-minute treatments described in the brochure as nail and cuticle care with a massage. We first chose a polish colour then got to work on our feet. Working on the cuticles and shaping on the nails. Nail polish was then applied and we headed to the relaxation room for it to dry.
The relaxation room consisted of dim lighting some beds and some, what was meant to be, calming music. The lounger beds could either be tilted up or down, but were very hard to manoeuvre. The music often had singing to it so it was hard for me to zone out and actually read or relax.
We then had an explore around as we weren't given directions, we ended up finding the stairs to the pool. The lockers and the changing room where very snazzy. The lockers were digital locks so made easy. The benches are beautiful dark wood and there are hair dryers and mirrors. The toilets though are a bit worse for wear.
We then made ourself to the pool area, there was a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and swimming pool. We first rinsed off in the showers on the poolside. Be warned, the buttons are very hard to press and you have to hold them for the water to run. Firstly I got into the hot tub, it was a bit tatty also very slippery when getting in and out. The pool is not chlorinated but is very cold, so you have to swim fast to keep warm. The loungers on the side are a bit temperamental and hard to manoeuvre.
The time then came to get our manicures done, so we headed back upstairs. Once again there was no one to be seen and waited a while. We then were collected and shown to the same room. Nails were then shaped, a base coat applied and then two layers of my chosen colour. The colour I'd chosen was beautiful. At the time my cuticles were not touched. As I'd never had my nails done here before I didn't know what was included and what was not. When I read the leaflet later at home I was somewhat disappointed I had not gotten what I paid for as we didn't receive the hand massages or the cuticle treatments that were supposed to be a part of the express manicure. What's even more upsetting is nearly a week later most of my nail varnish had chipped and vanished off my hands when I was told it would last for nearly 4 weeks.
Overall my experience has not made me want to return here for a spa day again. The staff I saw in total were 3, yet the amount of people getting treatments done was a lot higher. Maybe they need to hire more staff so that more attention is given to clients and it's not so rushed.