The Mercure Windsor Castle Hotel (courtesy of Travelzoo.com) – Review

Travelzoo.com has over 25,000,000 people on its mailing list worldwide and distributes the best deals in entertainment, travel and much more. The site therefore makes the luxurious, fun and otherwise unattainable, attainable. With this in mind, Lussorian.com teamed up with Travelzoo.com to try out one of Royal Windsor`s luxury offerings. The deal we tried, based in Windsor, was for an evening`s stay in the 4* Mercure Windsor Castle Hotel. The deal cost £129 and came with an evening`s accommodation, a three course meal (up to the value of £32 per person and not including drink), parking and a bottle of wine on arrival. The saving on this deal was a massive £290, that equates to 56%.

So, how was it?

Windsor has to be one of the hottest and most visited locations in the UK at the moment. Following a year of Olympic success and the Queen`s Jubilee, there hasn`t been a better time to celebrate all things British. Therefore, just being in Windsor was a joy and we found the atmosphere to still have the buzz of national pride.

The 4-star property started life in the 16th century as a coaching inn and is one of the oldest hotels in the area, so it seemed to fit in really well with the traditional feel of the area. It can be found almost opposite the castle itself and along the main street through this royal town…

The hotel is split into two halves and it is a tale of two styles. The first half, made up of the lobby, restaurant and bar areas, is set within the 16th century original building and therefore has a distinct charm to its décor and atmosphere. However, we did find that the second half of the hotel, the half not in the main building, was a little lacking in aesthetic appeal from the outside. Also, the walls in this part of the hotel seemed a little thin and the room a little on the basic side for a 4* establishment. However, it was more than comfortable for this pair of Windsor explorers.

Before heading out, we went onto dinner at the hotel restaurant to enjoy a 3 course meal. The 3-course á la carte dinner for two in the 2-AA-Rosette 18 restaurant (to the value of £32 per person), was good on the whole. Mains included dishes such as Chicken Roulade, locally sourced game and delicious looking steaks for the more carnivorous. We particularly enjoyed the Dark Chocolate Fondant and the accompanying banana ice cream. This was a very sumptuous and yet very elegant dessert – the perfect way to end the meal. The quality and taste of the food on offer was high, so we felt pretty satisfied by the end of the experience. Unfortunately, the service was pretty abysmal and we were left waiting for drinks for long periods of time and the staff seemed to move around a little oblivious to guests. Also, other tables sent their food back because it was cold and this just isn`t what you expect from an establishment like this.

Was it good value?

I feel that the overall experience was very good value for £129. To be able to experience 4 star accommodation and 2-AA-Rosette dining for under £200 is quite impressive, especially as we visited on a Friday night in August. I think that the only blemishes on the stay, such as the poor service and long waits, were due to individual members of the staff on the day, therefore, they may not represent the hotel`s norm. I would also like to add that this particular experience is only one of thousands offered by Travelzoo, so is only a very small representation of what can be found.

Other LIVE deals

£129 – Gourmet Snowdonia National Park stay – save £150

Travelzoo is offering a gourmet stay for two at a rural retreat in North Wales for just £129, saving £150. The deal includes an overnight break for two at the Hotel Maes-y-Neuadd and includes accommodation in a Super King Double or Twin Room, three course á la carte dinner, full Welsh breakfast for two plus free Wi-Fi. This offer is valid for stays on Sunday to Thursday stays from 1 September until 31 March, 2013. Please note that Friday and Saturday nights are an extra £20 per room to be paid to the hotel.

The retreat is nestled in 80 acres of grounds in the Snowdonia National Park offering stunning views of the mountains and Cardigan Bay. The property is within easy reach of local attractions and activities including sandy beaches, walking trails, mountain climbing, watersports, horse riding, steam railways and the Royal St David’s Golf Club.

£59 – Dinner for two at five-star London hotel – save £55

Travelzoo is offering an evening meal for two at the designer Mayfair hotel, The Hempel for just £59, saving £55. The deal includes a pre-dinner cocktail in the intimate No.31 Lounge bar with the choice of any ZEO cocktail made from the premium spirits before moving into No.35 for a decadent three course meal. The offer is available from Monday to Saturday until 30 November.

£29 – Champagne afternoon tea for two – save £25

Travelzoo is offering an afternoon tea for two at Michelin Guide listed restaurant, City Café in the heart of Manchester for just £29, saving £25. The deal includes a glass of champagne upon arrival before tucking into afternoon tea, which will comprise of finger sandwiches and freshly-baked scones and cakes. A selection of teas will also be available, including Earl Grey, English breakfast and herbal tea. City Café is ideally situated opposite Manchester Piccadilly train station near to the city`s central attractions. This deal is valid 3pm-5pm, seven days a week, until the end of November.

For more information or to book any of these deals, please visit www.travelzoo.co.uk