Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa

Poor internet connection Restaurant was very dissatisfying, waited over an hour for dessert! Electrics need updating

Me and my husband have stayed here twice before and was great hence why we returned for a third time. The room was great, it was comfy and clean. Majority of the staff were friendly and helpful. But….if you are looking for a relaxing spa break do not stay here. The pool area was absolutely full of kids, it turns out that this hotel is available to book as part of the paultons park package. There must have been about 20 kids in the pool and some of them were even using the sauna and steam room where all of the adults were trying to hide away from them. Was not relaxing at all…so although we have enjoyed our stays previous I don’t think I will be returning.

Confusing air conditioning/ heating unit . Breakfast was definitely not worth the money . Potato cake awful , hash browns would have been better . Bacon fatty . Found out too late scrambled egg could have been requested. Paid extra for upgraded room , it had bad water marks on ceiling in bathroom from old water leak from above and permanent stained toilet bowl .

Staff were all very polite and kind.

The hotel seemed quite shabby for the price we paid. Our room was dark and quite uninviting. The breakfast was limited and not what I’d expect from this chain hotels.

Amazing venue and grounds. Staff very helpful and friendly especially Robert and cleaning staff helped with replacement pillows and extn lead for our friends cpap machine Thank you for a comfortable stay before our Cruise

The exterior and reception looked goid but the room was a bit tired. Frayed and stained carpets, paint peeling off the ceiling in the shower, bath panel loose. Basin in bathroom had chips to the enamel. Broken bin in bathroom. Marks on walls Expected more for the price we paid. Our room was also given to another guest who we found trying to get into our room. Lot of noise from guests in room above, bad insulation?

The staff were all lovely especially the gentleman behind reception on arrival. He is a credit to you. Spa facilities were great and a swim was such a treat. My daughter is going to book 2 nights in October and we will stay again.

Lovely grounds and communal areas. The room was a little dated. It didn’t have sockets next to the bed. The sink had limescale and mould was visible in the overflow. The shower didn’t drain properly so the bath filled whilst showering.

A very nice hotel, lot of facilities, good size rooms, large comfortable beds.

Lots of areas on the ground floor of the hotel, well signed within. Great hotel if you are going on a cruise from Southampton.

Just a bit shabby and staff were very indifferent no one seemed happy no eye contact or smiles. Left waiting at the bar. People came and gave up. The funitire and lighting in the bar very worn and no ambiance

So this was the second time of staying at this hotel , the first time was ok apart from the fire alarm going off jurying the early hours of the morning . Then we stayed again this time the fire alarm went off again but it went off on two different days still early hours of the morning ! , we did tell the man at the reception and he said that they are very sensitive, but we also had people smoking near our window which wasn't very nice either ! they weren't using the smoking area unfortunately so this wasn't ideal for us , maybe there needs to be some more no smoking signs around the building .We maybe should have said more at the time of our stay to reception but unfortunately our Grandson wasn't well in hospital and we weren't up to complaining at the time .

Understaffed - only one person on front desk so huge queues. Rooms not ready 2 hours after check in time. Rooms itself tired looking and need updating. Shower goes from freezing to scolding you.

Comfortable bed Big room

The hotel was fine without being great. The room was clean but we were only given 2 pillows and there was a huge wine stain on the carpet and side of the bed.

Ample free parking was a plus. Room facilities did not include safe or fridge. Staffing levels seemed too low at the bar and reception.

Very comfortable stay. Could have done with one soft pillow and one hard pillow each. Room was not serviced after day 1.

pool area is great

The hotel was tired and just ‘ok’. I’ve stayed in Macdonald hotels and they’re been great hence booking a new one to try. To be honest I’ve stayed in better budget hotels. The bathroom has grout missing and quite mouldy and not well maintained tiles etc. The restaurant only served DIY instant decaf sachet coffee which is so poor. Not much choice for vegans and the staff were not helpful when I asked. I wouldn’t return here, overall very disappointed as this was meant to be a celebration for both my sons graduating. Leisure facilities were ok but when I went back to get changed not a lot of room as multiple spa parties in the changing area. Had to wait.

We changed our hotel as we need a room with aircon. Aircon here actually I fact means a table fan. Corridors smell damp and musty. Asked for room service at 3am and was told bar shut so had to drive to shop to get drink. So understaffed. Some staff were so lovely. Gentleman who checked us in and some restaurant staff. Others had no idea and couldn’t speak much English. Guests trying to explain what a shandy was. Or even to try and get a jug of water. Really wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

Good property for the price. Reception staff very good, restaurant staff friendly but a bit hot and miss. Air con could be better. No safe.

Cost of the breakfast is ridiculous

Mostly our stay was very good. The aircon did mot work and not having conditioner nor moisturiser in the room was a little disappointing. Otherwise it was very nice

We just loved this stay. Amazing spa, pool and a room . Staff is extremely friendly we really appreciate it. And breakfast was great Definitely will be back and highly recommend this place

Just generally an average hotel. Didnt realise it was a holiday parking site

Hotel is very dated + tired, we stayed in a suite, the kids were given camp beds with broken springs so they basically slept on the floor. Coffee machine in room didn't work, bathroom was not the cleanest, we kept finding long dark hairs everywhere. We ate in the hotel restaurant, again not the cleanest. Cobwebs in most corners + dust along the windowsills. Windows in restaurant were filthy. Sofas in the bar area have had their day - basically like sitting on the floor. Food at dinner was good and the service was prompt. Breakfast was basic but as expected. It was OK for the night, we would likely not return.

Hotel good value for money . Housekeeping was a bit lapse bin not emptied tea & milk not refilled , overall a good stay

We sat in the bar for a snack. The carpet was filthy, sofas are worn and look terrible, not enough staff. However food was decent.

We are grateful of the help that Olivia provided on Reception when are daughter had a fall outside on the path. She gave us help and was very understanding. The breakfast was good, but food ran out regularly and it was difficult to get any team members to get help. The rooms and parts of the hotel looked tired and dated. Carpets in the room were stained as well as the windows. The bathroom mirrors had damage from stains. Furniture was also damaged. Could do with some extra care to get the hotel to a better standard.

Stayed here on numerous occasions. Comfy room but I do wish they wouldn’t drag the trolleys around at 7am in the morning as that woke me up and there was no drinking water in the room. Tried to notify reception but no one answered after numerous attempts. Not as good as previous stays but still a nice hotel

Ok hotel but rooms and communal areas looking tired

The hotel was really nice & had good facilities with a pool, sauna & steam room all included & a restaurant available onsite. Unfortunately the room we were in didn’t have working air conditioning & it was the hottest weekend of the year, we did have a fan but it didn’t help too much.

Breakfast (to name that) was awful. Croissant a plate of fruits that look horrible, and coffee to be served from a thermo. That’s the continental one, to an extra £5, you get to have sausages and eggs! £25!! Asked for an early check in, on a Sunday. The place was empty. Receptionist explained it was £10 per the hour in advance. It was 1:25 and he wanted to charge me £20. Reduced after to £15. While I was walking the cleaning people were doing some bedrooms and talking how empty the place was. When I got to my bedroom after a massive walk, the door was opened bc the room was not ready yet. Picture attached. Mattress is HORRENDOUS! Last night I couldn’t sleep bc of the noise from other guests. They should have been said about the time. Only thing that saved is the gym/spa, but careful, some animals also use (gym member not hotel guests) it so they don’t know how to behave. Avoid it!

Booked through Hotels.com but clearly because of this we were given the worst room in the hotel. Given a disabled room (which we hadn’t requested) right next to a fire door which banged all evening/night. Air conditioning which was essential because of the heat was like trying to sleep inside a jet engine. Room overlooked the air conditioning plant. Absolutely no atmosphere at all, no flowers or plants. Service in bar very poor - offered a G & T in a highball glass and had to ask for a slice of lemon. We walked out of the dining room (which was laid out like a school dining room just to cram more tables in) as no one bothered to come and serve us and they were clearly having issues with other customers. Paying £208 for this was an absolute disgrace.

Nice stay

This was a one night stay for work. I have stayed here before and the room (316) was as good as the others I have been in. Bed comfortable, separate armchair with small table, good ensuite, even a trouser press! WiFi was okay, could not get a programme guide on TV. Receptionist looked tired and stressed. Ate here as well. Food lovely but service poor, I ordered my food and drink at the same time and I had to ask the person who brought me my food to get my drink, which was a bottle of water! Last food orders was 8:45pm. The card machine in the restaurant did not work and after 5 minutes of trying the machine from the bar was used.

Nice hotel

I will stay at the hotel was mediocre. We expected more from the McDonald group of hotels to be honest. The lady who greeted us on reception didn’t smile and wasn’t friendly or welcoming. The room was hot and stuffy, but was fine once we opened the window unfortunately it did also smell of steel cigarettes, as did the communal corridors. The signposting around the hotel was poor and it was easy to get lost when trying to find our way back to reception. The area where all of the breakfast buffet was served was too small for the number of guests and everyone was getting under everyone else’s feet. We had breakfast at 8:45 and were disappointed to find that some of the items had already run out. Whilst I’ll stay was reasonably good value for money, I feel that everything just needs reevaluating and updating at this hotel.

We went for dinner in the evening. Chad was great at setting up the table and was very attentive. Holly went into the wine cellar for us and managed to find the last bottle of red in the cellar that we ordered!

Nice place , only spent one night as going on a cruise. So didn’t have the opportunity to use the spa facilities. Good breakfast, would stay again.

Carpet in bedroom going threadbare and in halls worn to the point of contouring and threadbare in places. Shower controls and fittings were coming off and the screen wasn't that effective at keeping water in the shower. TV remote filthy. Tables in dining room and outside not wiped down properly and dirty. Food of catering pack/boil in the bag quality and mean portions not reflective of the price. Staff in restaurant forgot orders and said they could not change meal bookings- later reception staff told us this wasn't true. No instructions in men's changing room of swimming pool on what to do with used towels despite charge for not returning them, which wasn't explained when they were handed out. The same (probably staff?) car parked in the only disabled bay without a blue badge for the whole time we were there. We were asked to pay for a meal at the bar which we hadn't had and wasn't signed for. Thankfully staff did not insist on payment as it wasn't signed for. Hotel was hard to reach on the phone to cancel a meal booking and they didn't seem to notice when we didn't turn up. Would have been happier if the price reflected the quality.

We enjoyed our stay and would recommend a stay there.

Good staff but dirty sofas in room, we found an used vape and a pen apart from crumbs and months of dirt in between the sofa cushions. Breakfast was very very basic. Good staff at the pool/spa. Good pool/spa facilities. Shame about the cleanliness and food.

A really nice hotel set in pleasant surroundings. The room was spacious and the bed comfortable. we had everything wen needed to make our stay enjoyable at this hotel - Thankyou

Do not go if you wanted air conditioning, it did not work. Not a very fancy hotel for Macdonald hotels. Clean and large rooms though.

Nothing not to like Great hotel

General facilities were ok. Dinner was significantly under-whelming with poor quality food clearly cooked/prepared in bulk, rather than the expectation of 'cooked-to-order'. Bar under staffed & service was extremly slow. Room was nice, bed was comfy & breakfast was good (despite help yourself buffet style).

We booked a deluxe suite so we had a bit of extra room for our 3 year old. The room was huge and well worth paying a little bit extra for but the room itself was dated and slightly dirty. There were cobwebs, the bathroom was grubby although it had been cleaned there was so much scum around the bath and shower screen it looked filthy. The walls were filthy. That being said every staff member we came across was lovely and they left some balloons and a birthday card in the room for our son. The pool was also lovely and he really enjoyed a little swim on his birthday eve.

Staff clueless and not friendly, room was old and dated, tv didn’t work.

After checking in we were heading out for a wedding and had to get a shower. The shower was terrible , freezing cold to boiling hot no control over temp Whatsoever , didn't complain at the time at the property as we were on a short turnaround for the wedding. I was going to mention this at checkout. The next morning for checkout we dropped out bags to the car pre breakfast but no one was on the reception desk so we thought we would head into breakfast and try after Breakfast , for a hotel offering in the price region we paid for this, was abysmal , no coffee in the pump style coffee flasks, boiling water just above luke warm for tea , and the offering for cooked breakfast was poor at best , bacon and sausage barely cooked , fried eggs only , and potato scones , that was it for the cooked option. So bitterly disappointing for a hotel pitching itself at this price point. So again i thought id mention it at reception on checkout, however no staff there again and a few people waiting to check out saying they had been there up to ten mins with no staff I travel loads with work but i have to say as lovely as first impressions were of the hotel it was very disappointing in parts and the inability to air my views. / thoughts at check out was disappointing , if i hadn't paid fully upfront for the hotel i would have refused to pay the full amount . I would welcome comment from the hotel management

Definitely not value for money considering the condition of the room. Lovely lady on reception and nice gym.

The Hotel and staff were lovely - only Issue was room was way too hot - air con didn’t drop lower than 18 degrees as locked. Window opened about 3 inches which I understand as we were not ground floor - overall though was a pleasant stay !

Unaware that the rooms had fridges removed. The air conditioning wasnt working effectively. The room wasnt serviced after day one. No lift. People are always great and supportive but felt let down on this visit.

Good solid hotel which had its best time in the 1980s so it’s a bit tired but the staff are great and the spa area was lovely. I would definitely come again!

Room not very clean. Unaware of garden fair so room noisy. No price on restaurant menu. Glasses dirty. Food not cooked properly and expensive. Waited half hour for dessert and had to chase. Staff standing around talking to each other. Not greeted in restaurant. Dress code not very hygienic nose piercing, long hair untied and extremely short tight skirt on female server

Very noisy so little sleep.

The lady at the reception was lovely and of great help.

OK

All good

Our trip to Macdonald was mostly positive. Comfortable bed and spacious room. But the decor and building is ageing, and it’s missing amenities we’d expect for a hotel of this stated quality - including bottled water, fridge and telephone in the room.

Good value

Pool and spa area was out of order which was extremely disappointing. Should have informed people about this beforehand.

The hotel is in a mobile phone black spot so no service. Had to use hotel wifi and whatsap.

Very nice hotel and very convenient for Southampton. Let down by breakfast unfortunately.

This hotel is very tired. We booked it for a 2 night work stay so hubby could use the pool etc while I worked. On arrival we were told the pool was closed for maintenance for 10 days. Despite receiving 2 messages beforehand inviting us to “use the facilities” this was the first we’d heard of the pool closure. The bed was comfy and the room was a good size (I’d booked a larger room). The Nespresso coffee machine was good and room service supplied a jug of milk. The bathroom had a separate shower cubicle but it all needed updating. The carpet had marks on it and the TV needed replacing as the picture was distorted. The breakfast was truly the worst I have ever had. Yogurt with rock hard fruit pieces, stale croissant followed by bacon and fried eggs that both needed cooking for a good while longer. Coffee from a flask that barely tasted of coffee. We’d paid for 2 mornings but I couldn’t face a return visit - it really was that bad. Some of the staff were friendly and pleasant, less so the original receptionist who made no apology for the pool closure and informed us we should have been told when booking… The communal areas were dark and dingy, we didn’t eat in the restaurant given the breakfast experience. What once was a nice hotel with a golf course is now a run down, tired building surrounded by new houses, mainly hosting out of town tradesmen. Yes it was only £100 per night, but so is the Holiday Inn down the road.

The restaurant service was not great in the evening. Had to wave the waiter down, and he didnt look happy. The menu was a bit short in selection.

Perfect

Now stayed here 3 times. Room is comfortable but a long way from the reception. On this occasion waited a while to be checked in, with only one member of staff greeting guests. Car parking is free and it is about a 20/25 minute drive into central Southampton. Location is relevant to price as the hotels in central Southampton are more expensive and you have to pay for parking at all of them.

We have stayed here many times. Great location for shopping, walking etc. just missed the pool this time as it was closed for maintenance. Botley is a very pretty little village. Will definitely stay again.

Hotel good clean and staff great Place let down by food in restaurant This hotel has one of the worst restaurants I have eaten in Even the breakfast is poor Penny pinching management

Great stay. Good breakfast and the service was excellent. Friendly staff, with some decent on site amenities. Pool was small, but adequate. Steam room and sauna were a nice bonus. No personal changing rooms outside pool area, which could make some uncomfortable. The room was ok, but skirting boards were scratched and looked tatty, and a black mark on the inside of the door. Carpets were tired looking but comfortable underfoot. Bed was very nice, and decent size TV. Generally a decent experience for the price. Amazing staff.

Pretty average. Comfortable bed, but overall feels like it needs a bit of tlc for the building & staff

Word to the wise, book breakfast when booking hotel. The hotel charge £24 per adult for break. Totally over the top.

**Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)** **Peaceful stay with great amenities and service** I had a lovely stay at MacDonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa. It’s located in a quiet, green area, which makes it perfect for a relaxing break. The hotel offers great leisure facilities—there’s a pool, squash courts, massage services, a sauna, and even a dance room, which really add to the experience. The lounge area is spacious and cozy, everything was clean, and the staff were truly excellent—friendly, helpful, and professional throughout our stay. Parking was easy, and the prices felt fair for what you get. There are a few things to be aware of: the heating system is a bit old and can be noisy, and both the furniture and electronics could use some updating. Also, not all rooms have a fridge, which would be useful. Overall, though, this is a great place to unwind. With a few updates, it could easily be a 5-star experience. I'd happily return!

Friendly and efficient staff. Clean in all areas Good and free car parking. Breakfast was too expensive.

One bed was not clean from pre gest

Stayed here many times before and always good value for money - particular mention (management please take note) for Paul working in the breakfast room this morning who went above and beyond his job -first class service Paul well done ! and as always of course to Robert in reception - consumate professional. Well done all :)

Niceolder property lots of amenities

Very nice and clean but food wasn’t good even the breakfast

I have stayed here a few times for various reasons and each time its an enjoyable experience. We had an issue with our bathroom this stay, which would have been obvious when the bedroom was cleaned after the previous guests left. Havent used the spa or sporting facilites, but they look good if you need a gotel with these features. The price to stay is always very reasonable.

If you are looking for a hotel close to the New Forest, with friendly service and reasonable prices, look no further.

Great staff & comfortable rooms.

We had a lovely stay, room was comfortable and roomy and staff all very friendly. The only things that let it down and would make a big difference is the pool was very cold which was a shame as lovely facilities. Breakfast was ok, but need better options for kids (lots of families there too) choc spread or similar to have with pastries, or pancakes. Bananas and apples almost always available but not here. Otherwise a nice stay and would return or recommend.

Would stay again

What a pleasure it was to stay at this hotel.. so many nice treatments and fitness things to do including a lovely pool with steam room and sauna. Rooms roomy and bed was huge. Breakfast was nice and a good assortment. Will be staying there again soon and for more than one night...

Dated but clean and comfortable. Nice big rooms . Friendly helpful staff .

Rooms very dated. Wi-Fi was really bad. Ended up having to use my phone data.

The staff were very friendly, and helpful. The room was clean and well maintained. Although an extension lead was quickly provided unfortunately this meant there was a cable across the floor to power my CPAP machine. I think socket next to the bed should be provided. Also I would expect USB power facilities in the room.

Special thanks to Robert Sandals (on reception) whose always so friendly and is extremely helpful Nothing negative at all all good

Overnight stay with work. Friendly staff throughout, clean and tidy everywhere. Used the gym, pool and sauna, all excellent. Great nights sleep in a comfy bed. Nice buffet breakfast. Only small criticism is the evening meal and service could be better.

One of the staff has a really lowed car and leaves late every night and wakes you up no usb sockets for charging quite dated rooms beds are joined so find yourself in the gap if you roll over. Breakfast good could do with being at 630am gym good pool small not bad for the money I paid for 3 nights.

Unfortunately there was a leak from the toilet in our room which we reported but it wasn’t fixed and we’re were not offered another room ! Breakfast day 1 was very good but on the subsequent 3 mornings it was disappointing! However, the ambience on the hotel was relaxed and staff were all very polite and nice. My complaint was dealt with in a professional and respectful way and I was happy with the outcome. No snacks eg crisps nuts etc to be had at the bar which seemed strange ! We ate an evening meal there once and my meal of Soup bread followed by Cumberland sausages mash and veg was very tasty however my partners main course a burger was not very good ! Menu could be improved not enough choice to eat there a second night !

The property is a 4 star hotel, i wouldnt rate the hotel as 4 star. Our room had damaged curtains there was no blind or net curtain. Staff on reception were pleasant. The restaurant and bar are over priced for the quality. The restaurant manager on saturday night didnt even acknowledge us when we were waiting even though he was assisting an employee he could have acknowledged we were there. Breakfast was good although could have had more fruit available and a better service for coffee especially if its 4 star.

Good, excellent staff

We booked for two nights our first night was not up to standard as expected the furniture as tired and not up to standard we were moved for the second night as there was a water leak in the room above. The second room was better!

The staff were all very helpful. The spa treatment was amazing, the breakfasts were good, and little touches like a gideon bible in the drawer of our spacious bedroom were just lovely. We will definitely be lioking out for Macdonald's hotels again

We came here for our Birthdays. From start to finish we enjoyed our time and everyone who worked their was very nice and helpful. We received a complimentary room upgrade which made celebrating our birthday's even more special. The spa treatments were fantastic and well valued. We would absolutely stay here again.

A very pleasant stay with only two issues that detracted from an excellent stay Breakfast was ok but didn’t match a good premier inn breakfast and didn’t match up with regard to variety of choice or presentation that the price per head indicated. The spa staff were all very lovely but didn’t know how to date different treatments available to help with choosing also the spa lounge frequently ran out of boiling water and the full range of herbal teabags and left over cups and rubbish was left on surfaces for long periods of time