On my recent trip to the UK, I was lucky enough to have spent 2 nights in Hotel Indigo Bath. In this post, I have reviewed my stay at this boutique hotel in Bath to help you choose the perfect accommodation for you while enjoy the best things to do in Bath.
Why visit Bath?
Bath, the city of Somerset, is a must-visit for anyone traveling in the UK. Most recently Bath has shot into the spotlight as the Georgian era backdrop of the famous Netflix drama series Bridgerton. Besides its most recent screen role, the city of Bath is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage site status. It is, in fact, the only city in the UK that holds this accolade, thanks to its Roman remains and 18th-century architecture. You can read all about the best things to see and do in Bath here.
Bath is all about wellness, so on any visit to this spa town, you are going to want to stay in a hotel that reflects that. One that is going to leave you feeling rejuvenating and well-rested.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything! Travel insurance has always been high my list of things to get before I travel but now more than ever its at the top of my list.
I’m pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. So when looking for travel insurance it’s important to check it covers travel disruption due to COVID-19, Hey Mondo, Passport Nomads, Safety Wing, and Travel Insurance Master all provide cover for this.
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single trip cover, annual multi trip cover, and long term travel cover. You even have the option to start the cover when you are already on your trip, although you won’t be covered for the first 72 hours. For me my favourite feature is their app which offers you a 24/7 Dr chat and the ability to file a claim direct in the app.
Passport Nomads provides the most comprehensive cover for Digital Nomads. The game changer with them is that you have a red card and if you find yourself in need of medical care you just contact them and they will pre load your card with the funds to cover your treatment, meaning you won’t need to pay out of pocket and then put in a claim later.
Safety Wing is great value with monthly cover starting at $39. It’s super easy to use and it just renews each month. They have an excess of $250 and it’s simple to make a claim through their website. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy and I like that it renews on a monthly basis, so I don’t have to pay out a big lump sum up front.
I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips.
If you are doing shorter trips or an extended backpacking trip then Hey Mondo or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. If you are a digital nomad or planning travel of at least 6 months then go for Passport Nomads or SafetyWing.
Hotel Indigo Bath Overview
Hotel Indigo Bath is a perfect place to relax and immerse in the essence of the historically rich city. The beautiful honey-colored Georgian Terrace property opened its doors in September 2020 after a multi-million-pound major restoration project. Despite such a huge renovation it really has retained all of the charms of the 18th century, but with a modern style twist, and of course, all of the amenities you expect from a boutique hotel.
The first thing I noticed when entering the hotel was the location. It’s hard not to as it’s so central and a stone’s throw from Bath Spa train station. Situated on the peaceful street of South Parade, most attractions are within walking distance and there are plenty of choices for dining close by.
On entering the hotel it felt so homey I almost didn’t want to leave the lobby to go to my room. just past the reception desk, you will find a ‘living room’ area with plenty of comfy chairs and couches to relax on while playing one of the many games available. I actually got pretty excited at seeing solitaire there, although I still can’t figure out how to get that pesky marble into the middle! This boutique hotel really does inspire you to indulge in creativity as soon as you enter.
The elegantly designed hotel décor draped in beautiful colors and textures will appeal to your senses. It comforts that the hotel reception staff are incredibly patient and welcoming. The lounge attached to the lobby is a great space to socialize and spend some leisure time resetting the gray cells.
Hotel Indigo Bath has 166 guest rooms designed around five beautiful themes reflecting the history and locality of Bath. Couples particularly like the hotel as they’ve rated it 9.8 for a two-person trip on booking.com. I’d also say it’s great for solo travelers who want to be in a safe central location. So why not treat yourself to a night or 2 in one of the luxury rooms with a roller top bath.
Hotel Indigo Rooms
Rooms at Hotel Indigo Bath are designed in different themes to reflect the influence of the architects, novelists, and creatives of Bath, who made the city famous for its storytelling and active social scene.
There are ‘Romance & Mischief’ rooms, ‘Literary Hideaway’ rooms, ‘Architectural Beauty’ rooms, ‘Garden’ rooms, and the newly opened rooms ‘The Vaults’. Each has its own classification of standard, superior, superior premier, and suites.
No matter which room you choose to stay in there are a few standard things you can expect to find in your room. Uber comfy Hypnos beds with luxury Egyptian cotton linen that will make you want to stay in bed all day, Nespresso coffee machines, high-speed Wi-Fi, a 40” flat-screen TV, hairdryer, mini-fridge, kettle, and an iron and ironing board.
The other thing I’ve found that comes as standard in a hotel indigo hotel is the cleanliness. On my recent stay in Stratford upon Avon and Chester, it was the same. These hotels were clean clean clean.
The best part of the room for me was the spa-inspired bathroom. I actually found myself wanting to have an early dinner just so I could come back early and take a bath in the roll-top bath. The bathrooms even have a speaker built into the ceiling so you can listen to music whilst relaxing in the bath. The impressive-sized bathroom is like ‘the Bath of Baths,’ with its elegant English design. The towels and bathrobes are made of high-quality materials, and they even provide you with slippers. It really is the little details like this that made my stay here even more special.
Central Location
I love visiting Bath because of its central location in the UK. It’s so easy to access from most cities in the UK and makes a great place for a weekend away. The hotel is five minutes on foot from the train station and only 19 miles from Bristol International airport, making it easy to travel from anywhere in the UK. If you want to drive down, it is just 10 miles from M4 Junction 18.
Although the hotel doesn’t have onsite parking (other than valet parking at £40 a day) there is a public car park right opposite which costs £15 per 24 hours. I initially felt a little nervous about leaving my rental car in a public car park overnight, but after realizing that Bath police station was directly opposite, so I was able to put those worries right out of my head.
One of the key features of all Hotel Indigos is the central location, and Hotel Indigo Bath does not disappoint! The property is right in the heart of Bath city center. So whether you want to visit the Roman Baths, one of the city’s many museums, do some shopping in the city center or spend a quiet summer evening relaxing along the banks of the river Avon you won’t have far to walk.
The Elder Restaurant
Within the Hotel Indigo building sits “The Elder,” a new and exciting restaurant from multi-award-winning West Country restaurateur Mike Robinson. The Elder restaurant Bath serves sumptuous recipes of British cuisine and is named after the famous English architect John Wood, who has designed most of the Georgian buildings in Bath.
Part of the hotel, The Elder restaurant and bar are independently run and owned by restaurateur Mike Robinson with Gavin Edney as Executive Chef. This is where breakfast is served, and hotel guests can book a table for lunch or dinner or have a drink and snack at the bar during the day and evening.
The ever-changing menu at The Elder restaurant Bath is all about sustainability, seasonality, and locally-sourced produce. Sadly I didn’t get to eat in the Elder this trip, but I was able to eat in 2 of Mike Robinson’s restaurants, The Woodsman and The Forge, and I was blown away on both occasions. I have no doubt that The Elder would be to the same impeccable standards.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Hotel Indigo in Bath is a fantastic property to stay at if you want a luxury hotel experience in the heart of Bath. The amenities available in hotel Indigo are excellent and the staff were very hospitable. I genuinely felt like I was in a home from home.
I had a great time in Bath and staying at Hotel Indigo really did contribute to that.
Room rates from £149 for bed and breakfast and you can book here using this link.
