Torquay's HOTTEST Westbank Apartment: Book Your Dream Stay NOW!
Torquay's HOTTEST Westbank Apartment: Book Your Dream Stay NOW! - A Review That Actually Feels Real
Alright, alright, settle in, because this isn't your average, perfectly polished hotel review. This is life as a review, warts and all, and we're talking about that Westbank Apartment in Torquay. Book it now, they say? Well, I just did, and here's the lowdown, straight from the weary traveler's mouth.
SEO & Metadata (Because I know the drill, but honestly, it's a pain, right?):
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- Description: Unfiltered review of Torquay's Westbank Apartment, covering accessibility, dining, amenities, and everything in between. From the sublime spa to the slightly-less-than-perfect WiFi. Get the real story before you book!
- Meta Tags: Keywords (above), Description (above), Title: Unfiltered Review: Westbank Apartment Torquay
Accessibility – The Real Test:
Okay, so I'm not in a wheelchair, but I *do* appreciate a place that cares about access. And Westbank? They get a solid B+ here. The elevator is a lifesaver (especially after lugging suitcases, am I right?), and it's got that "Facilities for disabled guests" tick, which is promising. I didn’t delve into the specifics (my bad, should have), but the fact they *mention* it is a win. However, I wish they had a little more info on the site about this.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges - Meh.
I didn't scout the facilities for this one especially. I needed a vacation, not a job.
Wheelchair Accessible – Needs a Deeper Dive
See Accessibility above. More detail would be fantastic.
Internet Access – The Tech Tango
Alright, let’s be honest. I'm a digital nomad at heart. I practically breathe Wi-Fi. And the promise of "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" is like a siren song.
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! – YES! But…
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services – Okay, so it does work. Sometimes. The Lan option is interesting . I think I like this option.
Wi-Fi in public areas – The lobby was okay. The pool deck was… a bit of a struggle. It's almost like the signal was trying to fight its way through the sheer beauty of the view. It was a tough battle.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax – Hello, Bliss! (Mostly)
This is where Westbank shines. Seriously, prepare to be pampered.
- Body scrub & Body wrap – Didn’t do it. Sounds lovely though.
- Fitness center – "Gym/fitness" They had it. I used it. Treadmill survived. I survived. Good times.
- Foot bath – Again, didn't have time.
- Gym/fitness – See above.
- Massage – YES. JUST YES. Honestly? The best massage I've had in eons. My knots? Evaporated like a summer breeze. Worth the price of admission alone. Seriously, book one.
- Pool with view – Okay, this is why you book. The pictures don’t do it justice. The infinity pool overlooking the bay? Jaw-dropping. I spent an entire afternoon there, alternating between swimming and staring at the horizon. Honestly, I considered moving in.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom – All present and accounted for. I did the sauna and steam room. They are good. I liked them.
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor] – See “Pool with View”. (Also, they have an indoor one, which is a bonus if the weather’s temperamental, because let's be real, it's England. )
Cleanliness and Safety – (Trying to be careful, but also, c'mon, it's 2024)
They took the whole COVID thing seriously (and still keeping up the pace!).
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization between stays, Staff trained – Boxes all ticked. Felt safe. Felt clean.
- Rooms sanitized between stays YES
- Safe dining setup – Seemed good, with a decent amount of space.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items – All Good.
- Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol – Not applicable, sorry.
- Sterilizing equipment – Dunno, but I hope so.
- Room sanitization opt-out available - Good again.
- Cashless payment service - Yep.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Feast of Options (and a Few Hiccups)
Okay, so the dining situation at Westbank is both a blessing and a curse.
A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant – Phew! That’s a lot!
Breakfast [buffet] – A Solid B. Plenty of options, from your full English to continental fare. The pastries, though… my weakness. The coffee? Actually, pretty good.
Poolside bar – Ah, the nectar of the gods. Slips and drinks all day. The view is just chef's kiss.
Restaurants – The main restaurant had a good atmosphere. The food's… good, not groundbreaking. The portions? Decent.
Room service [24-hour] – A life saver. Especially after a long day of… relaxing.
Snack bar – Perfect for a quick bite.
The Hiccup: Okay, the service in the main restaurant could be a little… slow at times. A few times I was a bit impatient. But hey, I was on holiday, and the view from the terrace made up for it. Kind of.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things Make a Difference
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center – Lots of stuff!
- Air conditioning in public area, Daily housekeeping, Ironing service, Luggage storage – All worked flawlessly.
- Contactless check-in/out – Smooth as butter.
- Doorman – Always a pleasant touch
- The downside: I didn’t touch all of the facilities.
For the Kids – Family-Friendly Factor?
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal – I didn't have kids with me. Seemed geared towards families, which is great. The pool is definitely a selling point.
Access – Safety & Security
CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms – All the things. Felt really safe.
Check-in/out [express], Front desk [24-hour] – Quick, easy, and the staff were genuinely friendly.
Getting Around – Location, Location, Location
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking – Pretty well located. Easy to get around. No issues.
Available in all rooms – The Nitty Gritty
- **Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is…well, this is me trying to survive a week at Westbank Apartment, Torquay, and documenting the glorious, chaotic mess. Prepare for feels, okay? And maybe a slight existential crisis or two.
Westbank Apartment: Torquay – A Week of Questionable Choices and Unexpected Joy
Day 1: The Arrival & The Great Duvet Debacle
- Time: Let's be honest, it was sometime between the crack of dawn and the time my brain decided coffee was a good idea. (Approx. 10:00 AM)
- Event: Arrive at Westbank Apartment. Key collection – smooth as butter! First impressions: charming, slightly musty, and REALLY pink floral wallpaper. (Oh god, I thought.)
- Transportation: Train from London. Brutal. Delayed. Overcrowded. Regretted the full English breakfast the entire journey.
- Immediate emotional reaction: Relief. Followed by a creeping sense of "what have I done?" and a profound fear of the aforementioned floral wallpaper.
- Anecdote: Unpacked. Sat on the slightly lumpy sofa. Discovered the duvet situation. This, friends, was a situation. It was a duvet of questionable age and even more questionable cleanliness. (Shudder). Seriously, I spent a good hour meticulously examining it, considering if it was a health hazard. Ended up just sleeping on top of the covers. Priorities!
- Quirky Observation: The seagull population of Torquay is… persistent. Like, professional-grade beggars, those birds. One actually seemed to be judging my choice of tea.
- Meal: Pre-packaged sandwiches from the station. Regret level – medium.
- Wind down: A bath. Actually, a long bath. Needed to cleanse the train journey and the duvet trauma. Added a healthy dose of bath salts for good measure.
- Evening: Tried (and failed) to navigate Netflix on a TV older than my grandma. Ended up staring at the ceiling and contemplating the meaning of life.
Day 2: Coastal Adventures and the Ice Cream Incident
- Time: Actually got up before 10, who am I?! (Approx. 9:00 AM)
- Event: Walk along the Torquay seafront.
- Transportation: My own two feet (and boy, did they ache by the end of it).
- Emotional Reaction: Initial awe. Then, the constant fear of slipping on the wet pavement. Followed by a deep longing for a good map.
- The "Single Experience" Reinforcement: Holy moly, the view! The sea was sparkling. The air was fresh (mostly). The colorful boats bobbing in the harbor… it was something out of a postcard. The sheer beauty of it all made me want to cry.
- Messier Structure: Okay, so I got slightly lost. Okay, I got very lost. Ended up basically retracing all my steps, but I did find some absolutely fab little shops.
- Anecdote: Ice cream. Oh, the ice cream. I was so determined to get some seaside ice cream. And then, splat. Dropped the whole thing on the pavement. Cue meltdown. The seagull who'd been judging my tea earlier seemed to cackle. I swear. Honestly.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer number of couples holding hands. Made me acutely aware of my single status, but on the plus side, the people-watching was excellent.
- Meal: Fish and chips. Classic. (A little greasy, admittedly, but utterly delicious.)
- Wind down: Staring out the window, watching the sunset and letting my mind wander.
- Evening: A pub quiz. Let's just say, my general knowledge is not quite as general as I thought. (Also, I swear the quizmaster had a vendetta against me.)
Day 3: Paignton Panic and the Quest for the Perfect Cream Tea
- Time: Pretended to be a morning person (Approx. 9:30 AM).
- Event: Train trip to Paignton.
- Transportation: Train. A much less delayed train this time!
- Emotional Reaction: Mild excitement. Followed by the vague, but persistent, feeling of needing a nap.
- Anecdote: Paignton. Okay, it's lovely. It's got a pier. It's got a beach. I, on the other hand, managed to get slightly swindled by a souvenir shop selling plastic tat. (Lesson learned: always check the price before you impulse buy.)
- Quirky Observation: The sheer dedication of the sandcastle builders. The detail! The artistry! I was genuinely impressed.
- Messier Structure: Okay, the cream tea thing. This was important. Needed a perfect cream tea. Couldn't find one. Tried three different cafes. Two had rock-hard scones. One had dodgy clotted cream. I'm starting to think the perfect cream tea is just a myth.
- Opinionated Language: People need to be more discerning about their cream teas, I'm just saying.
- Meal: Disappointment (cream tea). Found a little sandwich shop. Much better, but still not perfect.
- Wind down: Realised I'd forgotten my book. Major setback.
- Evening: A long chat with the duvet. Still not quite bonding. But hey, at least I'm no longer studying it for signs of life forms.
Day 4: Brixham Brilliance and the Art of Doing Nothing
- Time: Still stubbornly avoiding the early bird life (Approx. 10:30 AM)
- Event: Ferry to Brixham.
- Transportation: Ferry. Smooth sailing! (Unlike my attempts at navigation.)
- Emotional Reaction: Bliss! Absolute, unadulterated bliss. Brixham is freaking beautiful.
- Anecdote: Walked around the harbor. Watched the fishing boats. Honestly, I could have stayed there all day.
- Doubling Down: Okay, yeah, I'm doubling down on the Brixham. Seriously, the vibe is just…magic. Quaint little streets, the smell of fresh fish in the air, the sounds of seagulls. This could have been my perfect day.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer variety of nautical-themed souvenirs. I am not buying a tiny boat-shaped soap dish. Nope.
- Messier Structure: Okay, so I meant to go to an art gallery. Got distracted by a particularly delicious-looking ice cream. (Lesson learned: the siren call of ice cream is strong.) Went to a different cafe instead.
- Meal: Fish and chips, again. (I'm sensing a theme.) Much better than yesterday's. (The chips were actually crispy!)
- Wind down: Slept. Basically, did nothing. And it was glorious.
- Evening: Ordered Pizza. Watched a terrible movie online (that the internet kept buffering). Actually loved the Pizza.
Day 5: The Agatha Christie Hunt and the "Nearly Good Enough" Pancake
- Time: (Approx. 9:00 AM)
- Event: Attempt to follow an Agatha Christie trail.
- Transportation: More walking. My legs are starting to stage a revolt.
- Emotional Reaction: Frustration (at my terrible sense of direction). Followed by genuine fascination (at the thought Agatha Christie had also once lived here).
- Anecdote: Got lost again, of course. Found a cute little vintage shop instead. Bought a ridiculously overpriced scarf that I didn't really need. Regret level – medium-high.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer number of elderly people walking dogs. (Seriously, Torquay is a dog-lover's paradise.)
- Messier Structure: Okay, so I tried to make pancakes. Failed. Utterly and completely failed. Ended up with something resembling rubber disks. Ate them anyway.
- Opinionated Language: Those pancakes were an insult to breakfast! Why do I even try?
- Meal: Those pancakes. Followed by a shop-bought pastry. (Better than nothing.)
- Wind down: Staring at the ceiling. Wondering if I should buy another book.
- Evening: Decided I needed chocolate. Ate all the chocolate.
Day 6: Coastal Route, Last-Minute Souvenirs and the Duvet's Secret
- Time: Kinda awake (Approx. 11:00 AM).
- Event: Scenic coastal drive.
- Transportation: Bus. (I'm giving my legs a rest.)
- Emotional Reaction: Sadness that this trip is nearly over. Reluctantly packing my bags.
- Anecdote: Coastline was beautiful. The drive was scary! Never been on such narrow, twisty roads. Was so focused on the road, I forgot to take pictures.
- Quirky Observation: Every single driver was so polite and kind.
- **Mess
Torquay's Westbank Apartment: Should You Book? (Probably Yes...But Read This First!)
Okay, spill the tea. What's the *actual* deal with this Westbank Apartment? Is it really as amazing as the photos suggest?
Location, location, location! How's the Westbank's location *really*? Is it all uphill climbs and dodgy alleyways?
The apartment itself. Is it actually comfortable? Or is it all style over substance?
What about the small stuff? Are there any hidden fees or annoying rules?
The *View*! Is it really THAT good? Like, "Instagrammable" good?
I heard something about "quirks." What are the quirks of this place that people don't talk about?
Okay, sold. But… is it worth the price?
