When planning a trip to , staying on-site feels like the ultimate way to level up the magic. We recently stayed at the Splash Landings Hotel during the second week of the Easter holidays, a strategic move that paid off as many schools had returned, making the resort much quieter during our stay
We booked in February as part of Merlin's "Stay for a Night, Play for a Year" offer, which included a free Merlin Annual Pass for every person on the booking.
While the deal was great, our hotel experience was a bit of a rollercoaster itself. Here is the honest truth about our stay, the highs and the lows.
Starting with a Splash: The Waterpark
Before checking in, we spent our morning at the Alton Towers Waterpark . It was a great start to the trip! We paid £96 for a family of four (we should have waited and got it cheaper with our annual pass) but we all really enjoyed the pools and slides. You can read our full detailed waterpark review here.
Check-In and The Beachcomber Room
Check-in at Splash Landings was a breeze. From 3pm, you can use the self-service machines. We simply scanned the QR code from our confirmation email, and the machine printed and dispensed our room keys immediately. No long queues at the desk!
We booked a Standard Beachcomber Room, which featured bright Caribbean themed decor, a double bed and bunk beds for the boys. Our first impressions were that the room was bright, fun and looked clean. However, as the night went on, we noticed some issues. While the boys loved the bunk beds, the double mattress felt very dated, I could feel every spring and the rigid edging of the mattress. They definitely need updating or at least a good mattress topper! Also, the room got quite warm. There is a wall fan, which helped a little, but I wouldn’t want to be in there during the height of summer.
Extraordinary Golf
After the waterpark, we headed to Extraordinary Golf. This 18-hole mini golf course is fantastic, with every hole themed around a different Alton Towers ride. Despite getting caught in a downpour halfway through, we had a brilliant time
The Hotel Arcade
Our high spirits were unfortunately cut short in the hotel arcade. The boys are always drawn to the bright lights for some competitive fun, but our experience here was quite upsetting.
There was one member of staff who was incredibly rude and shouted at both my children and myself in a very rude and aggressive manner accusing them of "cheating the game" because Charlie passed his little brother Louie a beanbag to throw though a target after the game had ended. We were so shocked by this that we left abruptly without even cashing in Louie's tickets for prizes, leaving both the boys and myself upset, embarrassed and annoyed. I did report this to the manager at reception, who noted the details, but it certainly cast a shadow over our afternoon.
Dining at Flambo’s Jambo
For our evening meal we considered leaving hotel and heading out to a local restaurant but after a quick peek inside Flambo’s Jambo, we decided to stay. It’s an all-inclusive buffet with a variety of cuisines, including, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Roast Dinner and much more.
The price included variety of deserts and an ice cream station which the kids loved. There was also a selection of juices included but other drinks could be purchased separately from the bar. We felt that the price was fair given the selection of food and the quality of the food, we were one of the first to eat in the restaurant, everything tasted fresh and hot and it was nice to have a great variety to choose from.
Buffet Prices
| Guest | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | £30.50 |
| Juniors (12-17) | £20.25 |
| Children (4-11) | £14.00 |
| Tiny Tots | £5.50 |
Hotel Breakfast
Breakfast was included in our stay, but the booking process was a bit of a headache. I noticed the night before our stay when completing the online check-in , that it needed to be pre-booked via a link that was never received. Luckily, I managed to snag an 8:15am slot last minute, but in peak season, this could be a disaster. Note to Merlin: This process needs to be integrated into the main booking app or at check-in rather than an additional step.
We had high hopes for breakfast as we had really enjoyed our evening meal in the same restaurant however it didn't meet our expectations. The selection was quite basic and quite boring, with cereal, some small chocolate muffins that were very dry and cooked breakfast which consisted of bacon, sausage, scrambled or friend eggs, beans and mushrooms. Whilst i'm usually happy with a cooked breakfast the bacon was only just cooked and very fatty and most of the food was cold despite the dishes having only just come out from the kitchen. The biggest frustration though was the toaster. There is only one, and you have to run the bread through three times to get toast which caused a huge queue, there really should be more of them for the number of people in the restaurant.
Lost Property Success
One area where the hotel has really impressed us, was their lost property system. We accidentally left Louie’s teddy bear in the top bunk. After filling out an online form, we had a photo confirmation within two hours. We paid for postage, and he has been posted back to us. A big thumbs up for that efficiency!
Final Verdict: Is it worth it?
Our stay cost £376 for one night, plus nearly £100 for the waterpark and £100 for dinner. While we loved the free annual passes and the free parking, we don't feel Splash Landings Hotel currently lives up to a 4-star rating.
While we love the waterpark and theme park, the hotel feels overpriced for the quality of the stay. I'd only book if there is an amazing not to be missed deal, as good as the "Stay for a Night, Play for a Year" offer.
If you’re visiting Alton Towers or Alton Towers Waterpark and are looking for a place to stay nearby, we highly recommend looking at local off-site accommodation. Our personal favourite is Quarry Walk Park, where we stay in glamping pods every year, it’s a much more comfortable and relaxing experience for the whole family. Last year our mini-break at Quarry Walk Park cost less for 3 nights, than this one night stay at the Splash Landings Hotel.
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