Splash Landings Hotel - Alton Towers, Staffordshire*
Alton Towers Resort, Alton, Staffordshire
The female crew of the Elliott and the Barker family, stayed in a funky Beachcomber room in the Splash Landings Hotel for a couple of days (thank you Dads looking after the little two!). The girls (Eve 8, Lottie 6, Emily 9 and Hannah 6) as to be expected were very excited and this turned into shrieks of delight when we checked in at reception. There are huge glass windows which allow you to take in full view of the Waterpark based at the hotel. With noses pressed up at the window it was hard convincing them a visit to the Waterpark would be best saved for the following day.
With bags safely checked in and having booked ourselves in for an evening meal in the in the Secret Garden Restaurant, we hoped on board the adjacent monorail for the start of our adventure.
For further details of our fun day out at Alton Towers Theme Park and Waterpark please check out our blog feature. But needless to say it was a good job we were staying for the full two days, as there was so much to entertain the kids and sometimes one ride on an attraction was never enough. Hannah's "Mum... can we go on again" after the Enterprise ride set the tone of the day. Staying at the Splash Landings Hotel you are allowed into the park an hour before the park officially opens (early ride time not available during Scarefest, adrenalin week and February half-term).
The Accommodation
The fun themed Beachcomber rooms sleep a family of four or six and have a double bed and bunk beds (and an additional sofa bed in the rooms that sleep six). All rooms have a 26" flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities and an en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower. We were pleasantly surprised at how spacious the room was and the welcoming treats and juices were delicious.
The Splash Landings Hotel has a couple of Pirate themed rooms inspired by Mutiny Bay. These two rooms will guarantee a fantastic swashbuckling family adventure where you can put your pirate skills to the test, sleeps a family of 6. The rooms have lots of surprising features, some of which are hidden and will require a little bit of exploring. Because of the limited availability, these themed rooms get booked up early. So to avoid disappointment please call 0871 222 9950.
Family Facilities Room
These were found on every floor of the hotel and were ideal for those days when you returned to the hotel thoroughly drenched from the Battle Galleons ride or a duff day's weather. Just pop your wet clothes into the dryer and no need to worry about damp clothes in the morning.
Children's Entertainment
There is fabulous evening entertainment for the children. With music, stories and dancing, it's the perfect way for the whole family to spend an evening together! All of the family can join Ringo and enjoy the fun and extraordinary story of the Splash Landings Hotel. Mums and Dads might appreciate a tropical cocktail from Ma Garrita's bar while the kids are being entertained.
Food and Drink
There are two options for your evening meal. You can either book your family into Flambo's for a buffet style eat as much as you like at a fixed price or for a more formal 3 course meal we checked into the Secret Garden Restaurant based in Alton Towers Hotel next door. The food was definitely tasty and I have never seen so many polished off plates. Please note this restaurant is not a fast food place and if you expect quick service you're best off with Flambo's. In between courses the girls kept popping out to view the resident entertainment that was of a high standard - especially the singing group, which inspired their ambitions of pop stardom.
For breakfast in Flambo's there was a wide variety to tempt those early morning taste buds. Choose from a selection of breakfast favourites of cereals, pastries, fruits and of course the traditional cooked breakfast, all washed down with a choice of tea, coffee and fruit juices.
Lasting Impressions
I think you can safely say our stay was an enjoyable two days break, jam packed full of fantastic fun and family times. Both Joanne and I felt exhausted after our adrenaline packed weekend - a good sign and in hindsight should have checked ourselves into the spa before setting back for home. The girls of course are already asking to go back for more. Next time it's the Dads turn!