This post is a paid collaboration with Wyndham Rewards
Mother's Day can be a minefield. How do you adequately thank the person who gave you your very existence, yet who will always say there's "no need to make a fuss" if you ask them? Taking into account the packed lunches, late night lifts from school parties, helping with pains from periods to heartbreak... A box of chocolates and some flowers doesn't really cut it.
Luckily for me Ramada by Wyndham swooped in with the perfect treat, just in time for Mother's Day. We headed up to the Black Country to spend a night at Ramada Park Hall in Wolverhampton, a grand Georgian listed mansion boasting sprawling grounds, a well stocked gym and health spa, and Anju's Indian restaurant. All the trimmings for a well deserved day of pampering for Mum (and, y'know, me too!).
Afternoon Tea
Starting things off strong, our first stop was The Orangery to try their Classic Afternoon Tea. Afternoon tea is a phenomenon that has until now somewhat passed me by - not being a tea drinker myself, I've never really thought to give it a go. Boy, was I missing out!
We tucked in to a tray piled high with sandwiches and sweet treats, featuring plenty of English teatime signatures like salmon and cucumber sandwiches, scones and Victoria sponge, as well as mini cheesecakes and profiteroles. Truly decadent, but oh so good.
The Spa
After all the exertion of stuffing our faces with cake, it was time for some well-earned relaxation. We popped to the spa, me for a deep tissue massage while my Mum trialled the thousand flower detox wrap.
My massage was 30 minutes focussed on my torso, particularly my shoulders which is where my body tends to hold tension. The masseuse was firm but not rough, working out the knots in my shoulders and neck. After long hours hunched over a laptop, it was much needed!
The thousand flower detox wrap involved a quick body brush and then a rub down with Frangipani oil. On top of this the therapist slathered some Green Tea balm and then wrapped my Mother in towels. While the oils went to work, she received a head massage. After a shower, a rich serum was was applied, leaving her skin soft and dewy.
Whilst we enjoyed a taster of the spa experience, the list of treatments is extremely extensive, with options for every possible skin and body condition and concern (as well as some choices specially for men, because why can't men get pampered too?). You could easily spend a week trying all the treatments on offer!
The Suite
With a bar, restaurant, fully-equipped gym and plenty more on site, Park Hall is an experience within itself. We decided to have a little wander to check out all the facilities, and found ourselves exploring the luxurious Avondale Suite, fit for a Princess (or a bride-to-be, they do weddings!).
Decked out in blue and cream with gold accents and boasting a separate living room space furnished with a stylish chaise longue, it's a decadent space for a romantic getaway, or a really special treat for Mum. The marble bathroom is equipped with a rain shower and a jacuzzi, which I had to resist all temptation to jump straight into!
Dinner at Anju's
It would be hard to top our indulgent afternoon of tea and pampering, yet dinner at onsite Indian restaurant Anju's managed it. It was a good sign when we walked in to find the restaurant already buzzing, despite it being an unremarkable Wednesday evening. Clearly, this was the place to be!
My Mum grew up in South India, so she's a pretty harsh critic whenever we go out to eat (we'd never get Indian takeout growing up, it would never pass her judgement!). Indian food in this country is often so anglicised, lacking the spice and flavour that makes the cuisine so unique. However at Anju's we were pleasantly surprised to find authentic rich flavours, and plenty of heat.
We tucked into the Vegetable Biryani, Adraki lamb chops, King Scallops, Bharwa Karela (bitter gourd), with sides of Daal Makhani and Cheese and Chilli Naan. For me the highlight was the lamb chops, perfectly tender marinated in tandoor spices for a firey kick. However everything was delicious, passing my Mum's authenticity test with flying colours.
The Ramada by Wyndham Experience
It was such a treat to spoil my Mum with the loveliest Mother’s Day experience courtesy of Ramada by Wyndham. It was my first experience staying at one of their hotels, but with over 850 hotels in 60 countries, I doubt it’ll be my last. Plus, with the Wyndham Rewards programme it’s super easy to earn points towards perks including free nights, which can be redeemed at one of the 9200+ hotels in over 80 countries involved!
Thank you to Ramada Park Hall and Wyndham Rewards for hosting us for a wonderful Mother’s Day - it’ll certainly be hard to top next year!
Nice article. Will check Ramada out for the future.
Anoushka, it was our pleaseure to host you here at the Ramada Resort Park Hall Wolverhampton, thank you for you wonderful review.
We look forward to seeing you back here again soon
Simon Doorbar
General Manager