Alton Towers Splash Landings Hotel

We had one of our best weekends away not long ago. (This is a big call - because as you know, we have had a lot of weekends away this year!!!) It was nearly perfect, and so much fun but relaxing at the same time. I think I have mentioned before about the Merlin Annual Pass Card we bought early in the year, it was such a great buy and we have really been making sure to get our moneys worth and more! It was quite expensive and at the time we really didn't know if it was the right thing to do, but we are so glad we did now because I have worked out that we have saved heaps. The last 3 or so things we have done have been free (and we still have a few places to go), which is great because as you would expect as our time runs out so do our funds!

Alton Towers is a theme park in the midlands, so it's over 3 hours away. Our Merlin card gets us a 20% discount at some hotels, but even with that it still made the Alton Towers Resort quite expensive so we planned on staying somewhere close by and just visiting the theme park the next day (which was free with our card). BUT I found a room on laterooms.com a few nights before we left with 50% off at The Alton Towers Splash Landings Hotel! We were quite excited about it because it meant we could go and spend the afternoon in the waterpark and be nice and close to get up and get in the next day.

We arrived on Thursday 17th September just in time to check-in and have a few hours in the indoor water park before heading down to the restaurant for a buffet dinner and some entertainment. (Yes... Mick does actually work over here - bet you're all thinking he seems to have a lot of time off - well, it's amazing all the time he has when he's not studying! He got to take a couple of days off this week though because he was owed a few days from working public holidays and stuff!) Anyway, the waterpark was great, we don't have any photos because why would you when you are swimming around and going down water slides! But check out the links for a little look!

One story I must tell you, is when we first went in - it was pretty loud in there with water crashing down everywhere, we climbed this rope bridge and were on our way to the top lookout when this bell started ringing really loudly. Thankfully we were both carrying the kids because all of a sudden this huge tank of water empties on top of us! We were all in a bit of shock, and I think it would have totally knocked the kids over if they had been walking. It worried them a little, but they got over it. Later we realised that there were probably heaps of people looking at us get dunked and that the bell is there to warn you to look out!! (There are even signs!) It was a massive tank though - crazy really and such a shock! So I just looked it up - 1000 litres of water fell on us!!

The restaurant was pretty good and the kids loved eating whatever they wanted and as much as they wanted. The whole hotel was designed to give you that tropical Caribbean feel... and it did!

{This is Emily's really big smile - she often does it if I give her a really big smile, she will just look at me and do this - I doubt she can even see!}

So glad we got a room here, because it was pretty special (even better than the Disneyland hotel in lots of ways - not as comfy, but a lot more fun). It was so kid focussed, and although it had pretty old decor it was great for the kids. They were SO excited about the bunk beds and have been talking about them ever since... (hoping to get some when we get back to Tassie I think). When we arrived we got a little note for the kids which gave them clues to find a treasure hidden in the room (just a little colouring book - but they loved it). They also found little soap fishes in the bathroom (looked like Nemo - the gel ones) and even though they are just simple things - they mean so much to a kid. Maybe I'll be able to run a fun family hotel like this one day!! (ahhh... the dream!) There are actually lots of themed rooms here, they are mostly in the Alton Towers Hotel next door, this was just a standard room, but kids can have sleep-overs and stuff and pick all sorts of fun themed rooms - how great would that be! Check some of them out here!

It certainly had the Caribbean flair!

I mean who wouldn't want to sleep under a bed cover like this!!!? (The bed was actually pretty uncomfortable, and I couldn't sleep because I was worried about Lani on the top bunk (lol) but it was worth it!!!!!)

Their favourite thing, apart from the bunks was the floor, they just loved it, and thought it was so cool finding footprints and crabs and fishes on the carpet! What a cool place to stay!