Scotland is an absolutely beautiful Country and one of my favourite places to travel is St. Andrews in Fife. St. Andrews is a picturesque town that has something for everyone from amazing beaches, the finest foods, a cultured University and the best Luxury Golf and Spa Resort Hotel, Fairmont St Andrews.
Fairmont have hotels all around the world from Azerbaijan to Nairobi from Beijing to the white beaches of Barbados. Fairmont is the leader in the global hospitality industry and are known for their excellence worldwide. Fairmont St Andrews is a 520 acre five star resort that is the epitome of luxury and has spectacular cliff top sea views, views of the town centre and famous cathedral. The resort boasts many different facilities including two championship golf courses, the Kittocks and the Torrence, exemplary dining experiences for every palette, an outstanding Spa with copious treatment choices to complete the whole experience. It really is the crème de la crème and makes a Scottish getaway like no other.
You can surely now understand how excited I was to receive an invite, along with Sam, to stay and get the full Fairmont experience. Upon arrival in the complimentary shuttle bus that runs hourly to and from the Fairmont St Andrews, we were greeted by the pleasant and effortless reception team and after a speedy check in we made our way up to our room, a Luxury King room on the third floor.
We could not find a single flaw with our room, it was spacious, clean and modern but it strangely felt like home. The king size bed taking pride of place in the centre of the room was the epitome of comfort, surrounded by all the amenities from a desk with all the information you would need about the hotel, a television with satellite channels, free wi-fi, a fully stocked mini bar, coffee machine and wardrobes perfectly sized for all of your golfing attire. Stepping into the marble clad bathroom, you can dip your toes into a beautiful bath or drench yourself with the waterfall overhead shower.
This was the view from our room, a panoramic sea view overlooking the courses and the Clubhouse which hosts golfers during the day then diners at night as St Andrews Bar & Grill, serving the freshest Scottish steak and seafood. It was breathtaking and the sunrise in the morning was incredible. If I could wake up to this view every day then I would be a very happy person.
The Atrium is the centre piece of the hotel for me, home to the spectacular bespoke light chandelier by the award winning artist, George Singer, it really makes everyone stop in the tracks and just appreciate the grandeur of it. Within the hotel it has been designed to bring the ocean in and that can be seen in this installation, in different lighting it changes to evoke the presence of a shoal of fish. It's truly remarkable from every angle in the Atrium.
The Upper Atrium looks down on the Squire Restaurant named after the golf legend, Gene 'The Squire' Sarazen and this is where you can get a fantastic buffet breakfast ever morning of anything you could imagine. Eggs every way, fluffy pancakes, Scottish sausages and black pudding and the on hand chef will happily deal with any requests you may have. It's a very relaxed setting and it's perfect for the whole family to enjoy - there's something for everyone.
The afternoon of our stay I was invited down to the Spa to experience one of the locally themed treatments provided, a Signature Facial. The Spa has 10 luxurious treatment rooms, nail salon, fully equipped gym, steam room, sauna, swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
The signature facial is a 50 minute treatment using Caudalie products which aims to plump the face and help provide a more youthful glow. My therapist used different lotions, creams and sprays to refresh the skin along with the use of hot cloths which was exceptionally relaxing. Some of the products that were used were the gentle buffing cream for some light exfoliation, some grape water to tone my skin and a radiance serum complexion correcting cream to treat my skin. At the end of the treatment I was provided a card which noted all of the products that were used which I could purchase at the Spa reception along with a few skin care tips.
After my relaxing treatment Sam and I went for a dip in the pool then a sauna which just ended off my Spa treatment perfectly. During the week the Spa and its facilities are open till 9pm so it's perfect if you fancy a swim before you call it a night.
If you like to treat yourself in other ways then indulge in the exemplary Savoy Afternoon Tea situated in the lower atrium which includes a delicious array of sandwiches, sumptuous scones with cream, jam and lemon curd and the best of all, the amazing selection of pastries and cakes. If that isn't enough then you have to cast your eyes on the very extensive tea menu with everyday teas to fruit teas to teas that are especially imported from China for the afternoon tea. As you're enjoying your afternoon tea you can help yourself to one of the many books and enjoy the quiet.
To round off our day at the Fairmont we decided to try out one of the four Restaurants in the hotel, La Cucina, an Authentic Italian and Mediterranean restaurant offering simple dishes full of flavour. Stepping into La Cucina was like stepping into a restaurant right off of an Italian street. Decorated perfectly, it was relaxed and informal. With pasta, gourmet pizza, anti-pasti, meat and fish there really is something for everyone. With attention to detail of the authentic ingredients, it is cooked and served with passion that makes the whole dining experience great.
Sam and I both went for a pasta option, Sam the Carbonara with a side of sweet potato fries and for myself the best Spaghetti Bolognese that I have ever had with a side of roasted potatoes - it ended our day at the Fairmont St Andrews perfectly.
Our experience was memorable from the minute we drove up, till the moment we drove away. An unforgettable getaway with the Fairmont St Andrews experience - first class every step of the way.
Disclaimer: We were gifted a nights stay, breakfast and a spa treatment for one in exchange for a review but all opinions are my own. The Fairmont is a stunning hotel and I think the photographs speak for themselves. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay perfect and to the Fairmont team for inviting us to stay.
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