Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa

The Careys Manor has a sweeping gravel driveway and towering red-brick facade, and it could be mistaken for a rambling estate straight out of Jane Eyre. The building dates back to 1888, with extensions added over the years to make it the mansion that it is today. Inside, the lobby is decked out with oriental rugs, red-and-gold damask wallpaper, and a wood-burning fireplace that adds to the old-fashioned ambience. A spacious lounge with a chandelier at its center has more rugs and an antique grandfather clock. The hotel is geared primarily toward couples who are looking to explore the New Forest or relax at SenSpa, the Thai spa located inside of the hotel and one of its major draws. It also draws some families and is popular for company retreats, thanks to its numerous amenities and nine meeting rooms. 

This hotel is located on the edge of the small village of Brockenhurst, inside the New Forest National Park. The location is easy to reach by car and is a nine-minute walk from the Brockenhurst train station. There are several restaurants, pubs, and shops that take less than 10 minutes to reach by foot. The roads to the village are somewhat busy, but all have sidewalks for pedestrians. All the major sights within the park are within easy driving distance: It's an 11-minute drive to Beaulieu, where the 13th-century Palace House is located; a 14-minute drive to the New Forest Wildlife Park; 17-minute drive to Buckler's Hard, an 18th-century village with maritime history; and a 20-minute drive to the famous Exbury Gardens.

The rooms at Careys Manor are housed in two distinct sections of the property, the manor proper or the newer garden extension. The Four-Poster Manor Rooms have more historical character, with 19th-century decor, with four-poster canopy beds, velvet armchairs, and wooden wardrobes. The Knightwood Garden Rooms are probably the most generic, though they do have some cheerful country accents such as pale yellow patterned wallpaper and plaid chairs. Most rooms in the garden wing have balconies, or French doors that open out onto a small patio facing a lawn. Some other room types in both the manor and garden annex have a more contemporary finish, with dramatic gold and white wallpaper behind the beds. Most rooms are dimly lit, but have bright bathrooms with shower/tub combos. Rooms include free bottled water, electric kettles, safes, irons, hairdryers, and bathrobes.

For many guests, the main reason to stay at the hotel is to take advantage of the SenSpa, a 19-room Thai spa offering massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, and manis/pedis. The spa also has an indoor ozone pool and a gym with personal trainers available (for a fee); other facilities include a sauna, hydrotherapy pool, hammam, steam room, and mud room. Access to all facilities requires a fee, even for guests. The hotel has three restaurants. The Zen Garden serves Thai food; Le Blaireau (French for "the badger"), is a kitschy, but fun, brasserie; and the hotel's newest restaurant, Cambium, offers fine-dining a la carte and tasting menus. The hotel also has nine spacious conference rooms available for meetings and events, free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, and free parking. Room service is also available.