Macdonalds Holland House Hotel

Checked in late last night. Upgraded to corner room. These are very nice. 11th floor. Great views. Very nice breakfast. Quiet hotel. Good nights sleep. A corner bath that's very nice big and deep. Will stay here again.

This is one of my favourite places in Cardiff. If you can’t get away for a fortnights holiday to recharge your batteries, treat yourself to a day of R&R here and you will feel totally refreshed, like a power holiday in a few hours!

The spa facilities are reasonably priced at £27 (you stay as long as you like) and include spa whirlpool, sauna, steam rooms, infra red sauna and relaxation area. In the garden is an American hot tub, redwood barrel sauna and cold plunge pool (try it, you might like it!). Fluffy towels are provided and bath robes can be hired at a small charge.

Upstairs is the imaginatively designed lounge overlooking the garden and providing a valuable space to recline and snooze. Hot drinks are served and you’re welcome to take in your own picnic, although alcohol is not permitted.

For an extra special indulgence, you can book yourself in for a massage or try some shiatsu or acupuncture. The relaxation centre also provides space for therapists practising in the Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique and theta DNA healing. Regular classes in yoga, Pilates and meditation are also held here as well as workshops training in various therapies. The only drawback about this place is having to leave at the end of the day!

I’ve just been on a hen weekend Spa package thingy and it was really great value. The spa was nice (I had a pedicure) and girls on our group had various treatments from massages to eye treatments, and we all enjoyed the 'relax’ room - not sure those who had the pleasure of our company did as much. Nice pool, but the jacuzzi was broken which was a shame. Had to wait over an hour for our lunch in the Spa which was rubbish considering it was only paninis and the waiter got one order wrong and stomped off in a huff when he realised. One of our friends was in a wheelchair, and the spa staff were lovely - however the disabled lift to get in and out of the hotel wasn’t working properly so we had to carry her out down the stairs on our way out for the evening. Not ideal if the building was burning down! Rooms were spacious and breakfast was plentiful, if a bit conveyor-belt. Helped with our hangovers. We also had dinner in the hotel which was good for £25. Overall, I’d recommend it for a hen night as it was great value for the whole thing, including spa, dinner, breakfast and room for £80.