Old Macdonald had a 5-star Hotel - eee ai eee ai oh

Advantages: It's spectacular and surprisingly quiet and the best location in the city
Disadvantages: Parking, high prices.

...the bottle of champagne we'd brought with us on the windowsill to keep cool whilst we headed out to explore. We didn't eat in the Randolph on this occasion. Since I'd spent too much on the room (even at a bargain rate) we popped out to eat in local bars and cafes instead, but I can certainly recommend lunch in the restaurant as a real treat. Sunday lunch is a set price and whilst it's not cheap, it's worth a little extra for the grandeur of the setting. There are two bars, one with a lovely open fireplace. There's a spa and a small gym (really small) but generally you don't go to the Randolph to exercise! For those with special needs, I'd suggest that the Randolph isn't the most accessible of hotels. They do have some wheelchair accessible rooms but the age and design of this grand old hotel wouldn't be compatible with it being really...

koshkha 11.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Lovely but disappointing considering the price

Advantages: Good service, lovely location
Disadvantages: Small rooms and lack of room preparation

...I recently stayed at this hotel for 3 nights mid week and had been looking forward to the experience for a couple of months (i even searched for a review on ciao and left a comment!) LOCATION This hotel is situated about 10 minutes walk outside the city centre. We were very lucky with the weather so it was a lovely stroll to and from the hotel, although in more severe weather it would probably be a bit unwelcome trek! However, in nice weather the walk is beautiful peppered with beautiful parks and gardens and lovely townhouses. The hotel is also situated on extensive grounds which are well kept, as you would expect, and beautiful to wander around. THE HOTEL This is a Macdonalds hotel, rated 5 stars. Therefore much is expected. I have stayed at macdonalds hotels before, so had rather high expectations i admit. The hotel is...

leafy81 25.02.2008 (26.02.2008) · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Bath Spa, Bath

Bolton last drop village

Advantages: Not far from Bolton retail park, infinity pool, facitlies are excellent
Disadvantages: staff weren't as helpful as other hotels

...We received an email from Macdonald to say they had special offers on certain hotels so we looked into them further. We chose this one as it had a wide range of facilities and was only an hour away from where we live so was a nice weekend break. When we arrived, the place was quaint. It is an old fashioned little village, complete with tea rooms, pub, bakery, and various other little shops. We were told we could check in from 1 so we arrived for 1 and were told that the room wasn't ready so we went into the tea rooms for afternoon tea. We went back to reception at 2 and were told that our room still wasn't ready so to wait in the lounge or have a wander round. There was no apology for the delay. We finally got into our room at 2.45. We had decided to get a four poster bed room as it was for a special occasion. The room was...

pa2539 28.08.2007 (16.08.2007) · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa, Bolton

A Spa on a budget?

Advantages: bubbly, interestingly pampering scent, good body wash!
Disadvantages: may be slightly too aromatic for some, possibly too girly to appeal to men?

...I never actually bought this, I sort of acquired it! Some time ago, in Sainsbury's, my mum had decided she was fed up with the soap getting soggy in the shower soap holder and, since the Imperial Leather handwash was on offer, we somehow managed to end up with a buy-one-get-one-free on both types of product! (The other shower gel in question was the far more eye-catching bright icy blue Icelandic Spa one, but that was used up before I had chance to sample it.) So, for variety, we also went for the cream-ivory coloured Japanese Spa shower gel . . . and then my dad decided he couldn't get used to body wash instead of soap - he's not the kind of dad you'd buy toiletries for at the best of times! - and my mum isn't really a high-maintenance person in the bathroom either. Therefore, they finished the blue shower gel and the offer was open to...

KateHurst 30.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Shower Creme

A wonderful and relaxing spa with plenty of choice.

Advantages: Not as expensive as other spa's and they're nicely decorated.
Disadvantages: Why can't I afford to come here every day?!

... What is Aqua Sana? Aqua Sana is a chain of spa's, there are 4 Aqua Sana spa's in England and each of them are situated at a different Center Parcs. You can visit the spa whilst on holiday at Center Parcs, or you can just visit the Aqua Sana spa for the day, or an overnight stay. Full details on the soa's and prices are available at www.aquasana.co.uk Each Aqua Sana spa has 14 spa experiences boasting the widest selection in the UK, and of course there are the usual selection of treatments to choose from haircuts and pedicures to massage's and facials. I personally prefer to go for a spa day without any of the treatments as the spa itself is a very relaxing place and not too badly priced considering the prices of some the spa's in the UK! Inside the Spa I have been to the Aqua Sana spa at Whinfell Forest...

GemmaC25 21.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Aqua Sana Spa

"Amy Macdonald This is your life"

Advantages: Good voice
Disadvantages: Too much Irish Folk

...**Introduction** The Then 20 year old Amy Macdonald became a suprise hit around this time last year when her debut album This is Life was one of the biggest sellers. The Scottish born Macdonald has had some people thinking she was Irish for due to her singing voice having a distinct Irish tone. Here is a little bit about her rise to stardom. She started writing and performing songs at the age of 15 around Glasgow and sent a demo cd away after an NME advert. She was then signed to the production company 'Melodramatic'. She is now with Mercury Records. **This is the life** Released on 30 July 2007 This is the Life is one of those rare albums that took nearly six months to rise to the top of the album charts. The single that caused the huge rise in album sales was undoubtedly This is the life which was the single when the album...

jcneil 12.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of This Is The Life - Amy MacDonald

Good but not quite there!

Advantages: Clean spacious & new
Disadvantages: A bit sterile and spa not up to scratch

...complain about and the bar area clean but a bit on the sterile side. We used the Spa facilities which offered a good range of treatments (we did book in advance) and opted for the group treatments. We paid £100.00 each. This consisted of two treatments lunch & a glass of wine and ofcourse use of the leisure facilities. I found that the staff were not very helpful and the treatments were quite short. Lunch was small and we had to ask for our wine! All in all for the spa side I was disapointed. This hotel is ideal for business users or golfers. Ideal for shopping breaks to Chester. I wouldn't recommend it for a romantic weekend away or a country spa retreat. Hotel - Good Value for money. Spa - Disapointing I believe the Golfing facilities are excellent unfortunatly I havn't a clue when it comes to that!!...

LJC25 05.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf And Spa, Tarporley

Portal, Chester - good but not great

Advantages: Modern, comfortable with leisure and golf facilities
Disadvantages: Intrusive golf parties in restaurant and bar. Not a special experience

...Decided to have some "staycation" breaks this year with my wife, and selected the Macdonald Portal for 3 nights. Got a good deal at around £400 for DB&B. Hotel is in a very quiet location near Tarporley village. Plenty of car parking but entrance is not impressive, or even easily found. Reception process friendly and efficient. Our booking request for a "country view" was quickly noted and our room switched to a very comfortable (and larger) one at no additional cost. Room was very well equipped and quiet. Leisure facilities excellent with very large pool of constant depth throughout. Steam/sauna etc were also available. Breakfast was excellent, with buffet cold selection and made-to-order hot selection. Restaurant menu for dinner was surprisingly "plain" and more like that for a golf bar. The reason was soon obvious when a table...

mashpuma 06.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf And Spa, Tarporley

Kyle MacDonald's One Red Paperclip

Advantages: Fantastic book
Disadvantages: None to speak of

...One Red Paperclip, by Kyle MacDonald was a genuine worldwide sensation, even before Kyle MacDonald had written one word of the book. Because, it seemed that just about everyone in the world had heard all about Kyle MacDonald and his one red paperclip. I had heard about it at the time, so was pleased to see his book available in paperback in our local branch of W H Smiths. At £10.99 (though I got a few pounds off as part of a buy three books deal.) The story about Kyle MacDonald is basically this. Kyle MacDonald was looking for a job. Well, he should have been looking for a job, but somehow all he was doing was looking at a pile of resumes he should have sent out, feeling guilty that he was, basically, living off his girlfriend who he lived with. He wanted a house. But how could he get one, with no permanent job? What could he...

Martinscholes 14.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of One Red Paperclip - Kyle Macdonald

Champneys Spa Day

Advantages: wonderful massage and facial
Disadvantages: intituional feel, poor general facilities.

...My husband and I went for the spa day which included a thalassotherapy session, a massage and a facial at Champneys Springs in Leics. I was not impressed by the building and the internal environment - long corridors with lots of people wondering around in write robes gave it an institional feel and the buildings were ugly and sprawling. The massage and facial we both agreed were wonderful and personalised and thalassotherapy pool was pleasant enough though I wouldn't pay for it separately. The shower rooms toilets had a mildewy smell. The gym was small and steamy. The coffee was awful and all other drinks (not tap water) had to be paid for. Lunch was buffet of salad though a freshly cooked wrap was offered - basic (Compare this to the wonderful 3 course lunches at Eden Hall). I thought it had little to offer if you didn't have any...

maddimoo 18.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Champneys Health Spa