Advantages: Great location for exploring Warwick or RLS
Disadvantages: Eratic customer service and staff abilities

...I’m torn between writing a glowing report of a hotel that is in a perfect position for travellers and business people alike or one that tears into the staff for their failings. LOCATION Firstly this hotel is in an odd position, just outside Royal Leamington Spa itself on a Retail Park / Business Estate, which isn’t as bad as it sounds but don’t expect stunning views of the surrounding countryside if you’re on the wrong side of the hotel! Incidentally, ignore the hotel blurb that says it ‘overlooks’ Warwick Castle – IF you are on the right side of the hotel you can just about see the castle on a good day. It was built as a Marriott Hotel which has been taken over by the Holiday Inn chain who is owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group, they are best known in the UK for the Holiday Inn brand and Crowne Plaza hotels. Personally I... Read review

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Advantages: Parking, Shopping, Pubs, Bars, Restaraunts
Disadvantages: The old town - but it's getting better

...Royal Leamington Spa is a fashionable and elegant town in the heart of Shakespeare coutry in the Southern part of Warwickshire. With it's blend of Georgian and Victorian architectures, parks, tree-lined avenues and squares and glorious gardens, it offers a great and unique experience to its visitors. Leamington town has a deservedly good reputation for shopping, ranging from small independently run shops (in Regent Street) offering unusual and exciting goods to larger stores offering a wide range of products (In the priors shopping center), and from boutiques selling designer labels to high street fashion favourites. Visitors are offered an exciting and excellent choice of places to eat and drink, from wine bars, pubs and cafés to bistros and restaurants, catering for all tastes and budgets whatever time of night or day... Read review

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Advantages: None that I can think of.
Disadvantages: Hard sell, low quality product, very expensive and much better deals elsewhere.

...My experiences relate to Venture in Leamington Spa and Solihull. We were bought a voucher to have a session and a 10"x8" picture and made the appointment at the Solihull branch. We went in on my son's first birthday and met our photographer. That's where the fun started. I should point out before the rest of this review that I am a keen amateur photographer and I'm also an IT consultant and geek. Anyway, the photographer appeared to me to be a student just out of college (or possibly still in college). I spoke to her about the equipment and it was clear to me that the concept of 'f-stops' or 'the inverse square law' were completely unknown. "Hmmm", I thought. But, it was my son's first birthday and we went ahead. When the session ended, we made an appointment to view the pictures. They asked us to find a baby sitter to look after my... Read review

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Advantages: Price, Service, Building design.
Disadvantages: Street parking only.

...The Regent Hotel has been in Leamington Spa since the 1800's, and at its time of building was one of the biggest in Europe. The last i remembered of it was in the late 1990's when it was shut down and derelict, thinking it was a shame. The hotel is situated in the centre of town on the main street (the parade), just down the road from the Jephson Gardens and pumphouse in one direction, and shopping street the other. It is 5mins walk from the train station. At some point between 1999 and now, the building has been bought and renovated by Travelodge. I had images of the inside of the hotel being gutted, features removed, lots of plasterboard and the standard travelodge style rooms being built. I couldnt have been further from the truth - if you changed the reception desk, and the standard travelodge blue sofas you wouldnt know you... Read review

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Advantages: New facilites, reasonably prices spa experiences
Disadvantages: Hard to find

...On the 26th February I spent all day being pampered and relaxing at the Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa based in Newbury. Accessible from the A34 or M4 in the "outback" of Newbury, near Donnington Castle, the newly redeveloped 4 stars hotel and spa is a perfect place to forget your worries and relax. Even though you can book with the hotel directly for their spa packages/treatments my day was booked via Spa Breaks.com in January as they were offering a 20% off any spa day if booked before March. I choose the Holistic Spa day which consisted of complementary drinks, 2 treatments, lunch, and full use of the facilities, robe, slippers, towels and a free gift. There are a variety of packages, at a range of prices which not only was dependant on the length of stay and the treatments involved but also whether you went off-peak (Monday... Read review

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