Ocean Bliss at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, Cornwall

I’d been meaning to visit Cornwall for years, so when I was invited to stay at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to pack a bag and see this much-adored corner of England for the first time. 

As well as being my first time in Cornwall, it was also the first media trip I would get to take my Mum on it, which made the trip even more exciting. We swapped the 6 hour drive from Leeds to Newquay for a handy one hour flight. Before we knew it, we we’d landed on the ‘English Riviera’, picked up our hire car and were whizzing down country roads towards our final destination of Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa (20 minutes from Newquay Airport).

Introducing Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa

Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is an adult-only contemporary hotel located right on Cornwall’s famous Fistral Beach. Its prime beach-front location can provide total escapism and laid-back holiday vibes without having to step foot on a plane. The hotel has 71 cool comfortable rooms and suites, a soothing spa, laid back lounge bar and a vibrant beachside restaurant. Although it’s a stylish 4 star hotel, there is no pretentiousness. The hotel takes inspiration from its Newquay’s laid-back surfing culture and you’d feel totally at home wandering around in a pair of shorts and flip flops.

First Impressions

As we entered into the Fistral Beach Hotel reception area, we were greeted by a friendly front-of-house team who took our names and invited us to go and sit in the beach bar to complete the check in and enjoy a welcome drink on the house. This gesture really impressed me from the off. A waiter brought out two glasses of chilled ‘Fistral Fizz’ which we were told was the non-alcoholic cocktail of the month (homemade blackberry syrup blended with soda). As we sipped on our fizz the receptionist came and sat down with us to explain everything we needed to know about the hotel. The approach was so personal and relaxed.

Hidden Surprises in our ‘Room with a View’

We slid the keycard in and opened the door to our ‘Best’ room. The spacious room was filled with light coming in from the sliding double doors of the balcony. The first thing that struck me was the spectacular view; the whole vista of Fistral Beach in all its glory. The seats on the balcony was the perfect place to sit, watch the surfers and enjoy the fresh sea air.

Inside there were two plush twin beds, connecting to an open plan bathroom with huge freestanding bathtub with ocean views. Luxurious touches such as ESPA toiletries and a surprise bag of chocolate truffles made it feel even more special. We were even surprised by slippers fluffy white robes with our names embroidered on to them (an extra available to all guests for an additional charge). The thoughtfulness and attention to detail was incredible! My first impressions of Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa were fantastic.

Exploring Fistral Beach

After seeing the spectacular coastal view, we were itching to get down to the beach and stretch our legs. Fistral Beach is a surfer’s paradise, and this is immediately apparent even on the approach towards the beach. Surf-dude camper vans line the connecting beach roads and surfers of all ages (some as young as 4) can be seen carrying surfboards and running towards the waves. It’s one of the top surfing beaches in the UK thanks to its constant break of waves. Along with its striking blue (and often turquoise) waters, I’d say it’s the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen in England.

Ocean-Front Dining at Dune Restaurant

After a bracing beach walk and refreshments in one of the beach bars, we headed back to Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa for dinner at the signature Dune Restaurant. As I walked into Dune I firstly noticed the beautiful interiors; they were surf-inspired in the most elegant way. A fabulous waitress showed us to a perfect beach-front table, and took our drinks orders. She brought out some complimentary rosemary focaccia bread with olive oil for us to nibble on whilst we perused the menu.

I went for the Cornish crab tarte to start followed by prawn and scallop linguine. The dishes looked like a work of art and tasted fresh and flavoursome. I am a a bit of a fresh pasta snob but my wonderful dish exceeded all expectations. I also loved the look of my Mum’s blackened salmon. She said it tasted beautiful!

Breakfast Stories

After being wow’ed at dinner the night before, I had high hopes for the breakfast. Also held in Dune Restaurant, guests can help themselves to a continental buffet and order cooked dishes that are made to order. I loved the selection on the breakfast buffet, especially the smoothie and juice station. I had the super smoothie (guava, carrot and melon) every morning which I could tell had been freshly made. On the a la carte menu I sampled the Eggs Benedict, Poached eggs on avocado toast and on the last day, banana waffles. The breakfast dishes were superb, as was the energetic service from all of breakfast waiters and waitresses. They remembered our names and room numbers every morning before we could even open our mouths to tell them.

My First Pre Natal Massage at Fistral Spa

If you’ve read my blog for a little while you’ll already know I am spa-obsessed and always try to find time to squeeze in a treatment. This has been difficult whilst I’ve been going through my first trimester of pregnancy as you can’t have massages or treatments when you’re under 12 weeks. I was 15 weeks by the time I visited the Fistral Spa, so I booked in for my first pre-natal massage.

We visited the spa 1 hour before our treatments to make use of the spa facilities. I did some lengths in the pool and Mum checked out the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. We then went up to the blissful relaxation room where we waited for our treatments. Taking the time to unwind a bit before our treatments made a world of difference. My talented therapist Daniella was wonderful and explained the massage process clearly and made sure I was completely comfortable. The massage felt personal and totally tailored to my needs, and for 1 hour I was in complete bliss.

All hotel guests receive 10% off spa treatments and pre-booking is recommended.

A ‘Storm in a Teacup’ Afternoon Tea

Our final treat at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa was sampling their afternoon tea. This can be served in either the Bay Bar or Dune Restaurant, but we enjoyed it in Dune Restaurant. I opted for an Egyptian mint tea then out came the beautifully presented afternoon tea stack. As with any afternoon tea, the scones were my highlight and I enjoyed them with lashings of strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream (of course!).

A Word on Service

One other thing I have to mention about Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is the outstanding service and attention to detail displayed by so many of the members of staff. I would describe it as a 4 star hotel but with 5 star service, which isn’t something that you see often. You’re made to feel totally welcome and like nothing is too much trouble. This kind of service really helped to give us a memorable stay.

The Verdict

The Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa proved to be the perfect base for my first time in Cornwall. The surrounding coastal areas of the hotel are incredibly beautiful (don’t miss Little Fistral, Newquay Harbour and Pentire Head), all of which are in walking distance. Everything from the food and the service to the spa treatments exceed my expectations and combined to give the most positive first experience of Newquay and Cornwall. I only wish we had more time to explore the surrounding areas, so Cornwall, I will be back!

What do you think of the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa? Is it the type of hotel you love to stay in, or are you currently looking for hotel in Newquay? If you enjoyed this post please leave a comment below x

Book Direct for the guaranteed best rates at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa. Simply use code FBHDIRECT in the booking engine to redeem 5% off your booking to spend in the bar or restaurant, plus you’ll receive exclusive room types and the best availability.

Our hire car was provided by Car Hire Bible, a UK price comparison car hire website that can search all the major suppliers from around the world, to find customers the best prices. We had a very positive and fuss-free experience with Car Hire Bible and I would happily book with them again.

Want more inspiration for UK travels? Check out more of my UK adventure posts

Watch the my Cornwall vlog for a closer look at the hotel and the surrounding area

Win a 2 Night Spa Break at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa

Now I’ve given this hotel my seal of approval, I’m giving you the chance to go and experience it too in my Instagram Giveaway! The prize includes

• A two-night stay at the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa
• Breakfast each morning
• A 25-minute express treatment each
• Full use of the facilities including pool, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and fitness suite

To enter, simply

• Like the giveaway Instagram video
• Leave a comment by tagging 3 friends you think deserve a spa break 
• Follow @FistralBeachHotel and @TheTravelista
  

Instagram Giveaway!

You must only tag one friend per comment, but you can tag multiple friends for multiple entries.

T&C’s

• This giveaway will run exclusively on my Instagram page from 23.08.18 until 01.10.18.
• The winner will be announced on @thetravelista Instagram on 02.10.18
• The prize is for a Standard room. Prize must be taken before 1^st July 2019 and cannot be used on public/bank holidays, 8^th – 18^th Feb 2019, between 22^nd December 2018 – 3^rd January 2019, or in conjunction with any other offer. Both guests must be ages 18+. Treatments must be pre-booked.

My stay at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa was provided on a complimentary basis as part of a sponsored campaign. All views and images are my own.