Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa Blog
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We will periodically add to this page with inspiring local travel ideas, things to do, interesting information about the hotel and the local area, upcoming special offers & events and maybe even some of our favourite recipes.
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Blog Group: General Articles (6 posts)
Belgrave Sands | 10th December 2024 |
General Articles
The Perfect Christmas Gift
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have absolutely exhausted all Christmas present options over the past few years and the last thing I want to burden any of my lovely friends or family with is another thing for them to store or feel obligated to display/wear, or even worse, something they will put in the re-gifting pile, eventually doomed to make its sorry journey to landfill!
So this year, I am making a change! I am aiming for 0% waste and 100% enjoyment, all while supporting UK businesses! Here are my favourite four ideas:
Homemade Goodies (cakes, jam, etc)
Books, candles and other ‘usables’
Food & Drink Hampers
Vouchers to to spend in local & independent restaurants, activities, spas, shops etc. that I know they will absolutely love (like the Belgrave Sands!)
Just a little note about our gift vouchers since we happen to be on the subject ;)
When you purchase a gift voucher for the Belgrave Sands, you can specify for it to be for for any meal, spa day, spa treatment, stay or any value of your choice to spend in the hotel however they like. Vouchers purchased for a Christmas gift will be valid from Christmas Day for 6 months regardless of the day you buy it. Come in or call us to purchase....
Kim @ the Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa | 10th July 2024 |
General Articles
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside...nothing quite compares to the feeling of heading to the beach on a sunny day, bucket & spade in hand, or maybe you prefer a good book or even a paddleboard under arm. When you reach the beach, you feel the sand between your toes, you hear the wind whispering past your ears and at the shore the waves lapping gently or crashing vibrantly.
We are so lucky to have so many beautiful beaches on our doorstep in Torquay! Whether you prefer sandy or stony, lazy or activity packed, sunny or shady, tranquil or vibrant, we have the perfect beach for everyone!
Have you ever wondered why you feel drawn to the coast?
Well, there’s actually a phrase for it...’Blue Health’.
What is ‘Blue Health’?
Blue Health is the commonly held belief that spending time near, on or in water is good for us both physically and mentally, just like the positive impact of immersing yourself in nature and wild spaces have to your wellbeing. It is thought that it is where these two environments meet at the coast, riverbanks, lakes, etc. that the greatest benefits actually occur.
5 BENEFITS OF SEASIDE HOLIDAYS
Boosts vitamin D
Sunshine on your skin boosts your vitamin D intake helping with strong bones, healthy immune system and improved mood.
Reduces stress
Sandy toes and the sound of the waves has a calming effect, promoting relaxation and reducing stress & anxiety.
Physical activity
Walking, swimming, water sports and exploring a new place are all great exercise. This physical activity, will help you stay active and feel energised.
Improve sleep quality
The combination of fresh air and physical activity leads to a deep night’s sleep, leaving you refreshed & energised.
Ignites Social Connections
Make new friends and/or simply have more time together and less distractions to fully connect with the person you are on holiday with.
...
Kim @ the Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa | 10th July 2024 |
General Articles
If you’re considering a trip to sunny Torquay and the Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa, you might be wondering where to go to find the best prices for a stay. The answer is always... book direct! Here are some of the benefits of booking directly both for the hotel and you, our lovely guests. Price Comparison
Online travel agents most definitely have their benefits when deciding which hotel to stay in; they make it really easy to compare all the hotels in an area side by side and filter in and out the facilities, amenities, star ratings and locations that are most important to you. However, once you have decided on the perfect hotel for you, it’s always better to book directly with the hotel. Previously the best price was often found on price comparison sites, but we realise the value of direct bookings and guarantee to offer you the very best rate available when you book directly online, and if our online rate isn’t the best price, our friendly reservations team over the phone will always make sure we beat any rate you find elsewhere by calling 01803 226366.
Why is Direct Booking Better for the Hotel?
A little-known fact about online travel agents, including Booking.com, Hotels.com and Expedia is that they take a huge commission from every booking they process. This can vary between 12% and a huge 25% of the total you pay depending on the hotel, taking a huge portion of their well-earned money from the hotel and putting it into the pockets of these huge corporations.
By booking directly with the Belgrave Sands Hotel, you can ensure that all of the money you pay stays with us. It’s used to pay our overheads including paying the wages of our dedicated team and also ensure the hotel facilities, services and general quality are kept to its usual high standard. It’s always better to support local when possible and booking directly is a small way to massively help.
Less commission means higher profits, which in turn means we can extend better discou...
Chloe @ the Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa | 06th July 2024 |
General Articles
Trying to find a place to stay on holiday can be tricky these days with online pictures not matching up to the real thing and so much false advertising. So here at The Belgrave Sands, we strive to be as transparent and true to our values as possible and this really reflects on us when we see all of our customers' feedback and reviews. Of course, we would prefer for guests to let us know directly if there is anything we can improve upon, but any feedback is good feedback so that we can either praise our fabulous team or make improvements to future guests services. Take a look for yourself and see what our customers say about our brilliant Hotel & Spa:
Beautiful hotel
Stayed with my sister. Couldn't fault anything from start to finish. The staff were very pleasant and friendly. The room was spotless clean nice little touches fresh milk and water in the fridge. We went in the swimming pool and sauna. Would definitely recommend this hotel. The food was amazing plenty of choice and plenty of it. Well done to everyone.
From Sue S in St Ives
Another fabulous time at this excellent hotel.
At dinner a 6-course meal that has plenty of choice, and a good wine menu.
There’s a pianist every night and some nights there is a singer to entertain you. Breakfast is “serve yourself “Continental, very well stocked with fruit, cheese and meats, cereals, pastries fruit juices, and of course the toaster. Then the hot food cooked to order with all the usual choices, plus some extras like eggs Benedict, smoked haddock etc. I have not mentioned any member of staff by name, because it’s difficult to pick one as they are all excellent at what they do. Efficient, friendly, always with a pleasant smile and warm hello.
From Harvey in Radstock
Relaxing Luxury
Fantastic rooms with excellent service. And the food in the hotel was sooo good. We enjoyed a 6-course dinner with such lovely entertainment. My children and mum and dad had a fabulous ti...
Kim @ The Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa | 26th June 2024 |
General Articles
The weather may be a bit hit and miss this year, but it’s still worth a holiday to beautiful Torquay!
Whether it's glorious sunshine, cloudy or pouring rain, there's still plenty of fabulous things to do on the doorstep and within a 30-minute car, train or bus journey from the hotel, so don’t let English weather dampen your holiday if it’s not always perfect sunshine!
What to do in Torbay:
Have a trip on the Steam Train from Paignton to Kingswear or make it a Round Robin trip by adding the river cruise and bus back. A great way to explore the idyllic River Dart on this award-winning tour!
Visit prehistoric Kents Cavern or even try a yoga class in the Caves. One of Europe’s top stone age sites just a 10-minute drive from the hotel!
Have a relaxing day in our lovely Reflections Holistic Spa and let our highly trained therapists take you to a world of pure serenity! (Call us on 01803 226366 to book)
Take a step back in time and explore the artisan shops and quintessential tea rooms of Cockington Village. With its origins dating back to the Saxon era, alongside the thatched roofs and horse and carriage rides, it’s easy to forget which century you’re in!
Watch a show at Princess Theatre South Devon’s largest regional theatre, located on Torquay’s stunning seafront.
Visit over 2000 animals across 80 acres at Paignton Zoo.
Play in the attractions on Paignton Pier or next to Torquay Harbour, then go bowling and see a film at the cinema.
Countless beautiful walks and trails on the South West Coastal Path, stretching for 22 miles across Torbay’s naturally formed cliffs and landmarks.
Go Crabbing in one of many locations. Stoke Gabriel is a popular spot for locals to make a catch!
Visit our local selection of museums, including Torquay Museum, Newton Abbot Museum, Bygones, Brixham Heritage Museum, Torre Abbey, etc.
Sail across the bay, either to Brixham on the Western Lady passenger ferry, or even try the Coastal explorer or the...
Kim @ The Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa | 25th June 2024 |
General Articles
Have you noticed that a lot of hotels are starting to cut back on the services they provide lately? Maybe bedrooms are not being serviced by the housekeeping team daily anymore, maybe tea and coffee is an extra after dinner now when it was always included in the past.
We completely understand why they are doing this, because we considered it ourselves. When all our costs were rapidly increasing, we were grasping at straws looking for ways to keep our costs and therefore our prices down, thinking of cuts to save £1 here and 50p there. We quickly realised that although this may be the answer for some hotels, this just is not the answer for us, every idea we thought of was lowering the quality of the services we offer and we could not bear the thought of that.
We decided there and then that we will not compromise on quality! We will not be tempted to cut back on the little things that set us apart, because we love to offer our guests the finer things while staying with us and we will not change that. This may mean that our prices are sometimes a little higher than other places, but we always strive to offer a lot more.
So…what actually sets us apart?
Our AA rating has not just been maintained but increased year on year, with our latest inspection this March, not only maintaining our 4 stars and 2 Rosettes for culinary excellence, but improving our percentage score and being awarded 4 silver stars which are an indication of highly recommended hotels offering superior quality within the star rating.
We use the best, highest thread count bedding available to us from our local linen supplier.
During the evening in Seasons restaurant, a live pianist plays every single evening for a 2-hour set. Then, on 4 evenings per week, we also have fabulous live entertainment acts.
In your room, you will find lovely extra touches like fresh milk in your fridge, luxury tea selection, welcome chocolate tarts and fresh fruit.
We have recently upgraded o...
