Two-thirds of spa hotel customers pay the full price for their breaks, even though discounts of up to 75 per cent are available, according to new Which? research. By comparing deals and checking what a booking includes, guests could save hundreds of pounds.
Which? surveyed more than 1,700 people who had visited a UK spa hotel chain and found that 66 per cent paid the full rate when booking directly. Fewer than a third had secured a discount.
Why direct bookings can cost more
Booking through a deal website is not always the best option. Travellers should check cancellation terms carefully, as some can be restrictive, and it is important to verify whether access to spa facilities is included. More than a third of guests surveyed said they faced additional charges.
Some Hilton properties charge extra for spa and swimming pool access, and the fees are not always clearly advertised. At Hilton Cardiff, a charge of £5 per person for 90 minutes is stated only on the hotel's spa webpage. Which? also found that Liverpool's DoubleTree charges £25 per hour for spa access.
Examples of savings identified by Which?
- Best Western Dartmouth Hotel and Spa: Guests could save more than £300 on a two-night stay by choosing a bed and breakfast rate rather than a £544.97 package that included meals and spa treatments. The bed and breakfast option cost £236.80, a reduction of 56 per cent. Standard room bookings already included complimentary spa access.
- Raffles London at The OWO: A two-night stay for two booked directly cost £2,480, without afternoon tea or welcome drinks. For the same dates, Luxury Escapes offered a £1,629 package including breakfast, afternoon tea and champagne on arrival. That was a saving of £851, or 34 per cent, with extra benefits included.
- Brend Saunton Sands spa hotel: A two-night stay with breakfast and evening meals cost £642 when booked directly. On Travelzoo, a break for the same dates with breakfast, dinner and a complimentary bottle of wine cost £495. The saving was £147, or 23 per cent. Despite discounts being available, 84 per cent of Brend guests surveyed paid the full rate.
- Bespoke Hotels: Offers discounts of up to 25 per cent through its own website, showing it is worth checking direct offers as well as deal platforms.
- Champneys: Vitality Insurance customers could get 75 per cent off one-to-three-day breaks. In one example, an overnight Original Spa Break in Tring on December 19, including meals and spa access, normally cost £357.50. The Vitality discount brought the price down to £89.38, a saving of £268.12. Customers must have an active Vitality plan and have completed their health review. The discount can then be used immediately, although the break must be booked at least four weeks in advance.
Loyalty schemes can cut costs further
Free loyalty accounts can also help reduce the cost of stays at major hotels. Hilton offers spa discounts at certain membership tiers, while Marriott Bonvoy allows members to use points towards spa bookings through 'instant redemption'.
An ALL Accor account offers 10 per cent off, which reduced the direct booking price for the Raffles stay to £2,232.
