Don't get rinsed on your spa break! Two-thirds of spa hotel guests pay over the odds as discounts of up to 75% go unclaimed

Spa hotel guests could be missing out on hundreds of pounds in savings by booking their breaks directly, with some of the best deals hiding in places they might not think to look.

New Which? research has found that two thirds (66 per cent) of customers paid full price when booking a spa hotel, despite discounts of up to 75 per cent being available. A survey of more than 1,700 people who had stayed at a UK spa hotel chain found that fewer than a third had managed to secure a discounted booking.

But shopping around could make a dramatic difference to the cost of a luxury escape. Which? found that guests could save hundreds of pounds by comparing packages, checking what is already included in room rates and using reputable deal sites.

At the Best Western Dartmouth Hotel and Spa, for example, Which? found a way to cut more than £300 off a two-night stay simply by ditching the expensive extras in a package deal.

The original package cost £544.97 and included dinners and treatments. But standard room rates already included free access to the spa facilities, meaning guests could instead book a bed and breakfast rate for just £236.80 and still enjoy the spa during their stay. That's a saving of £308.17, or 56 per cent.

And it's not just more affordable spa hotels where savvy booking can pay off. At the other end of the scale, a two-night getaway for two at Raffles London at The OWO would cost £2,480 when booked directly, without afternoon tea or welcome drinks.

At the Best Western Dartmouth Hotel and Spa, better deals can be had

Similarly, at Raffles London at The OWO, you could save cash on spa trips

However, on deal site Luxury Escapes, a getaway on the same nights was not only discounted to £1,629, it also included breakfast, an afternoon-tea experience and champagne on arrival. This is a saving of £851 (34 per cent).

At the Brend Saunton Sands spa hotel, a two-night stay including breakfast and dinners would cost £642. 

But one could book the same two-night stay on Travelzoo, with breakfast, dinner and a bottle of wine thrown in for £495, a saving of £147 (23 per cent). 

Despite the discount and extra perks available, an overwhelming majority of Brend guests paid full price (84 per cent), according to the survey.

Another Which? Recommended Provider was Bespoke Hotels. Guests described their stays as 'luxury at the right price' and 'better value for money than other spa hotels I have visited'. Bespoke also offers discounts of up to 25 per cent on their own website.

Free hotel loyalty accounts can also lower rates at big chains. Hilton offers spa discounts on certain tiers, and Marriott Bonvoy allows 'instant redemption' on points towards spa bookings. An All Accor account offers 10 per cent off, and brought the Raffles direct price down to £2,232.

Saunton Sands Hotel is a fabulous art deco hotel and spa - which is cheaper on Travelzoo

Another big saving was with luxury health spa, Champneys. 

Customers could get 75 per cent off one to three-day breaks if they are also a Vitality Insurance customer: an overnight Original Spa Break in Tring on 19 December would cost £357.50, including meals and spa access. 

However, savvy savers using the Vitality customer discount would dramatically bring down the cost to £89.38, a difference of £268.12. 

As long as the Vitality plan is live and customers have completed their health review, the Champneys discount can be used straight away but must be booked four weeks in advance.

Despite the promise of large discounts, Which? warns that when it comes to deal sites, not all of them can be trusted. Before booking a package through one, check the cancellation policy as they can be overly restrictive.

The consumer champion advises skipping deal sites including Wowcher and Groupon. 

Elsewhere, Champneys spa trips are available for less

The consumer champion has previously investigated their seeming lack of transparency around unpredictable surcharges for extras that could leave customers worse off.

It is also worth checking if access to the spa facilities is actually included in the overall price. In the survey, 36 per cent of spa hotel visitors told the survey that they were charged extra - a significant dampener on a spa weekend.

For example, some Hilton hotels charge extra for the spa and pool, and it isn't always obvious. Only on Cardiff Hilton's spa page does it mention that guests are charged £5 a head for 90 minutes. In one example, the consumer champion found that Liverpool DoubleTree charges £25 an hour for spa usage.

At Celtic Collection hotels, spa and leisure access isn't complimentary at all of its hotels despite its average room rate of £278 a night. At The Parkgate in Cardiff, spa facilities are between £30 and £43 per person, per visit.

Spa hotels with the biggest savings

Hotel	Booking direct price	Price with deal	Price difference	Saving
Champneys Tring	£357.50	£89.38 (Vitality)	£268.12	75%
Best Western Dartmouth	£544.97	£236.80 (room and breakfast)	£308.17	56%
Raffles London at The OWO	£2,480	£1,629 (Luxury Escapes)	£851	34%
Brend Saunton Sands	£642	£495 (Travelzoo)	£147	23%

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel. said: 'A luxury spa break may seem like an expensive treat, but a little pampering doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. 

'From fluffy white dressing gowns to indulgent facials, a relaxing festive escape could be more affordable than you think.

'We found that you could save hundreds of pounds by checking deal sites instead of booking directly but check the T&Cs to make sure the facilities you want to use are included in the price. 

'For the best value, book off-season and look for Sunday or midweek stays when rates are often lower.'