Last week I finally got to stay at Scarlet in Newquay and oh my word, it was as incredible as I thought it would be and more. The Scarlet is built into the cliffside, providing absolutely breathtaking views out to sea from all over the hotel and making it a destination sure to top many a travel bucket list.
The hotel itself is gorgeous and the location unrivalled. We did have a little hiccup at the start of our stay due to a mishap with communication down to a new member of staff, but the amazing guest relations team headed up by Daniel, and the truly wonderful Cat brought it around right away and made our stay, which was an early birthday celebration for me, truly unforgettable.
The room we were upgraded to was simply amazing, with the most beautiful views out to sea. Waking up to blue skies and a stunning coastal vista, with the sound of waves crashing when I stepped out onto the balcony, was just perfect. Upon booking our last minute stay, we had been warned there might be some disturbance due to sounds from the neighbouring building works, but honestly I heard one bang the whole time we were there, so it really didn’t impact our stay.
Saying this, you can see the scaffolding from the hotel, especially the cliffside hot tubs, which was a little frustrating for somebody who loves to take photos (it was challenging trying to get photos of the view without the building works in it). The works are going on weekdays until 6pm, so it is possible this could impact stays when they are making noise (we may have just been lucky), largely due to how quiet the hotel and its grounds are usually.
Scarlet is an adults only hotel, which as parents ourselves we loved. There is nothing worse than getting some child free time away and listening to other people’s kids the whole time. It really does tend to make a break more relaxing and feels like a proper escape from reality. We are big kids at heart though, so sometimes I did worry we were too playful for the zen like atmosphere of the hotel, something to bear in mind if you are equally giggly once the Margaritas have been poured.
We went in the spa both days and loved how unique it was, the views again are just something else. Both the sauna and hot tubs are cliffside and the backdrops are insane. Bear in mind that the sauna is included in your access to the spa, but the hot tubs, which must be booked out in advance, are chargeable, unless included in your package (which ours was). The slots are 30 minutes, which does fly by, especially when you are taking photos/video of the view and if you choose to order a drink to enjoy whilst in there. It is also worth noting that flip flops are not provided at the spa, and we didn’t take any suitable footwear so we ended up walking over gravel to get to and from the hot tubs, not ideal, it was fairly painful!
There is a natural reed pool outside, as well as an indoor pool and steam room. I did attempt to swim in it but it was a bit too chilly for me – very invigorating though and eco-friendly as well. The relaxation lounge was lovely to chill out in, and I liked how many loungers and beanbags there were, meaning plenty of people could relax at the same time in peace. There is a deeper meditation room to use if you wish, too, and there is a wellness schedule which guests are welcome to join, including yoga, which looked really good.
We didn’t have dinner at the hotel as we had opted to eat at Stable Pizza at nearby Fistral Beach on the way down as it is a personal favourite, but the food looked incredible, seriously good and we would definitely consider eating in the restaurant on a return visit. We did head down to the cocktail bar in the evening to have a drink, but found it a little quiet, with only one other couple there, so headed back up to our room instead.
We did have breakfast, which was included in our Essence of Scarlet package, and this was absolutely amazing. The waffles were the best I’ve ever eaten and again, gorgeous views out to sea whilst eating. We had a cheeky mimosa as well, which just topped a beautiful breakfast.
Before leaving for home, we checked out and left the car whilst we went exploring the local area. There is a lovely walk on the hill opposite the hotel, which has the best views, and isn’t too strenuous if you are a walking novice like me. We also stopped to get ice creams on the way back across the beach to the hotel, which was lovely. The hotel has its own gated entrance from the beach, which makes it really simple and quick to get down to the beach (although the actual walk all the way down to the sea will take awhile as the tide goes so far out).
Thanks again to Daniel, Cat and the rest of the team for such a perfect stay at Scarlet. We will definitely be back as soon as we can!
