The Celtic Manor Resort

Superb service at the award winning Celtic Manor

Having spent the best part of the afternoon on a painfully slow moving M4, I was very comforted by the warm welcome I received when I finally arrived at The Celtic Manor resort in South Wales. Having our bags immediately whisked away to our room was just a lovely taster of the fantastic service which lay in store.

The resort is huge, with a five-star, 330-room hotel and a smaller 70-bedroom 19th Century manor house. There are four restaurants, a host of exhibition halls, conference centres and function rooms, as well as three championship golf courses, two health clubs, two spas, tennis courts, shooting, mountain biking and walking trails. Phew! Oh yes, and it's going to be the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Our twin room within the main hotel was luxuriously decorated, very comfortable and spotlessly clean; the double beds with crisp white linen and a scattering of plump cushions a welcome sight on what was a wet and blustery autumn evening.

The beautiful marble bathroom, laden with soft white towels and a selection of Elemis products, all added to the feeling of luxury. A well-stocked mini bar and tea and coffee station in our room meant we weren't short on refreshments, if that wasn't enough, we were brought mineral water and Welsh cakes shortly after settling into our room. (If you haven't tried Welsh cakes you must, they are delicious!)

There was also the offer of having our beds turned down, but I wasn't quite ready for bed yet, as I was off for a quick swim in the stunning 20m pool and a relaxing soak in the hotel's spa pool before dinner at Owens, Celtic Manor's fine dining restaurant, after which I can only say I had the most blissful night sleep I've had in a long, long time.

Details: Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley, South Wales. NP18 1HQ. 01633 41000 www.celtic-manor.com