If you’re considering a trip to Alton Towers and would like to extend it into a short break, the Alton Towers Stargazing Pods are a cost effective alternative to staying at the prestigious (and pricey) on site Hotel offerings at the Alton Towers Resort. The Pods are similarly set within the theme park grounds and therefore provide many of the same logistical benefits as an expensive hotel room stay, with the added fun of a camp style experience but have a more comfortable feel. Since the prices are anything upwards from £133 per night it may not be as cheap as some alternative off site accommodation, so is it actually any good?
Here we share our first experience of the Pods which may provide you with some food for thought, an insight into what to expect and some top tips to see you through.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A STARGAZING POD?
I don’t know about you, but to me the title conjures a relatively glamorous image especially in comparison to a tent, which I guess is exactly what it’s meant to do. In reality they are very simplistic but the Pods are fabulous option to rest and recover after an eventful day of thrill-seeking fun. If you’re a seasoned or occasional camper, the provision of a solid structure saves you the time and hassle of any construction requirements, without the added risk of it being blown down in the night as well as avoiding pesky condensation problems or surprise leaks that inevitably lead to damp belongings. If you’re not a camper, in addition the above, it will save you a fortune in buying all the necessary equipment and provide a secure and cosy space to get some much needed rest! Hooray!
THE STRUCTURE
From the outside, each wooden panelled Pod is quaintly decorated with navy blue accents, synonymous with the park branding and aptly anchoring the feel of the night sky. Other external details include a star-adorned welcome mat, a double hook to hang outdoor coats and a light perched above the individual Pod number which is perfect for navigating the site in the evenings. Through the slimline French-style (lockable) double glazed doors the Pod interior is split into two sections; the first composing of twin beds, a small towel warmer, a bin and several more coat hooks; the other is exclusively occupied by the double bed with a small ‘stargazing’ window from which you can observe the night sky if you choose. Since the Pods are rather snug inside, all of the beds have storage underneath so that you’re able to keep your bags and belongings neatly out of the way and are able to move freely in and out.
THE DETAILS
In keeping with the stargazing theme the twin room has a large wall poster featuring a constellation map which was a lovely touch, as well as the matching curtains (covering the French doors and the back window) which model the signature blue background with a twinkly star constellation print. Other modern conveniences provided within the Pod include easily accessible 3 pins plug sockets with several integrated USB ports, meaning awkward plug heads can be left at home. They have thoughtfully placed a handy little shelf next to it to ensure your devices sit safely whilst charging and are ready to go the next day. Clean white bedding is provided for you so no need for any additional luggage in terms of sleeping bags etc so you’re able to keep your packing to a minimum.
TOP TIP - Unfortunately the interior lighting in each section of the Pod are not independently controllable, meaning you can’t make one section dark without doing the same to the other, therefore a torch might be handy to assist with providing you some light if you have younger children or other guests that may be sleeping.
ROOM SERVICE
Another favourable feature is the option of room service! Yes, that’s correct you can order room service directly to your Pod without having to lift anything more than a finger if you so choose. The easiest way is to use the QR code from the menu provided at check-in and make all of your choices from the comfort of your own bed. Sounds great doesn’t it? As it transpired we didn’t need make use of this service as we had packed enough to keep us going but it was fabulous to know that the option was there if needed.
SHOWER & TOILET FACILITIES
As glamorous as it sounds at first glance, to manage your expectations and be real about what you’re getting, in its crudest description it is essentially a posh shed with a bed (although much cosier and that is putting it very bluntly!). Therefore, in true camping style the toilets and wash facilities are located in a central block which could be positioned on the opposite side of the camp to your Pod, so it’s best to be prepared for this. You’re free to come and go as much a you need to access the toilets but under current COVID restrictions we were required to book a time slot for our showers. At first this seemed a little frustrating but they made it as easy as possible by providing a QR code directly to the booking page, sending a confirmation email once submitted. This took a few minutes to complete but in all honesty it probably made the event much more efficient as not having to wait in a large queue for a turn (or gambling on a quiet time to go) made it so much smoother and more relaxed than it could have otherwise been. Therefore, I wonder if this is something they may consider keeping once all restrictions are finally lifted.
The facilities themselves were clean and relatively modern, the shower was lovely and much better than I had anticipated in terms of pressure and range of temperature. Although these are described as ‘communal’ each shower is set within a spacious individual and lockable cubical, with a changing bench on the opposite side to the shower head with enough space in between so that your items remain dry and in sight. There were plenty of mirrors and hair dryers available and is therefore something else that you won’t need to make space in your luggage for.
TOP TIP - If you have little ones that are potty trained and regularly use adult toilets it may still be helpful to bring a potty/camping toilet along just in case you are quite far from the block and will save you a trip in the night.
OTHER CAMPSITE FACILITIES
Central to the site is a picnic area with a children’s wooden climbing frame and several telescopes to enhance the stargazing experience. There is also a large Tepee with a seating area, bar and performance area. Although the bar was present, it was unmanned at the time of our stay but drinks could still be ordered in the same way as room service, being brought directly to your table. Moreover, there was a live singer providing musical entertainment until just after 9pm in the evening which we weren’t expecting but was another welcomed bonus as we enjoyed the opportunity to sing and dance along before retiring for the night.
TOP TIP - The sound from within the Tepee carries across the site and depending on where you are situated this may be quite loud, so if you know you may prefer to settle down in peace and quiet before 10pm or so, taking some ear plugs (or headphones to choose your own entertainment) may be a good option! Equally if you have very little ones that you want to settle early for bed it may be worth contacting them ahead of your stay to see if you can be allocated a Pod further away from this.
ACCOMMODATION ACCESS & PARKING
The Stargazing pods are set just outside of the main theme park beyond the Splashlandings and Alton Towers Hotels. Before our arrival we weren’t clear whether there would be a separate road entrance to access the accommodation away from that of the theme park but thankfully to keep it simple it is all accessible from the main resort entrance which funnels traffic along in two lanes, eventually branching to the left towards a separate accommodation car park. Once you’ve made it to this site it’s impossible to miss the vast array of quirky little wooden pods.
TOP TIP - If you happen to miss the exit (like we did!) there’s no need to worry as you’re able to park in the main car park free of charge whilst you attend the attractions (it is chargeable for non-accommodation guests) and can simply drive back to accommodation car park at the end of the day when you’re ready to retire, just show your booking details to the attendants manning the barriers on the way out. If you do park in the main car park you’ll be slightly closer to the entrance by foot but you may get stuck in traffic later on with everyone who is trying the leave the site simultaneously. So it seems to make the most sense to aim for the accommodation car park to begin with if you can.
For those that do have multi-day passes but are considering finding somewhere nearby but outside of the park to stay, the added advantage to booking the Pods is that you can avoid the long traffic queues to exit the site at the end of the day and once again when re-entering the park the next morning, which can be quite frustrating when you’re knackered and also quite significant in length at peak times.
CHECK-IN
You are able to officially check-in to your Pod from 3pm (although sooner if it happens to be ready). There are separate reception desks for the Stargazing Pods and for the Enchanted Village (with the family lodges) even though they are adjacent to one another on the site. We didn’t realise this and accidentally went to the wrong one (which didn’t go down so well when we were very tired, soaking wet and had done a lot of walking) and struggled to find it as it is quite well hidden! We eventually got there and a lovely young man greeted us and was very helpful in explaining all of the information we needed. We had to pay a £10 deposit for the key, which didn’t actually get taken but would remain as pending, eventually disappearing completely as long as the key was returned the next day by 10am.
BREAKFAST & CHECK-OUT
Food & drink vouchers are issued upon check-in and entitle you to a take-away breakfast roll as well as a choice of a hot or cold drink to go with it. The hatch to collect these from are right next to the check-out desk and so made sense for us to do it all at the same time. We were so happy that they provided several choices for the food, including a vegan option which was a delicious sausage alternative in a super soft bap. They arrived hot and and fresh, nicely wrapped in a greaseproof paper and helpfully came in a paper bag with handles to make transporting it as easy as possible. These were larger than we were expecting and were perfectly sufficient for us, but if you have a bigger appetite then it is worth remembering that it is only a single roll and you may wish to have some back up snacks!
EARLY PARK ACCESS
By booking any of the Alton Towers accommodation packages including the Stargazing Pods, it provides you with early access to the theme park from 9.30am. Although the rides don’t open until 10am (when the main doors open) it enables you to bag your spot at the front of your chosen queue ahead of the masses, so this little perk is something you may wish to take advantage of in order to like the most of your day. Just follow all of the signs that direct you to the Rollercoaster Restaurant rather than the main entrance.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
We really enjoyed the experience of our stay in the Stargazing Pods; the beds were really clean and comfortable, the curtains provided complete darkness which gave us a great nights sleep and overall they perfectly served the purpose of providing a place to rest, enabling us to feel at our best to tackle the park again the next day. Sadly the weather didn’t allow us the opportunity to actually spot any stars but this didn’t detract from the fun and enjoyment of our all-round experience, it would only have been an added bonus. Would we do it again? Yes absolutely, and maybe then the skies will be a little clearer!
OUR HIGHLIGHTS
Much cheaper than the on site Hotels
Lots of helpful provisions so that we could pack a little lighter!
Warm, comfortable and cosy
Children‘a play area
Breakfast included
Early park access
Evening entertainment
Quirkier than a standard hotel room
TOP TIP - Bookings can be made via the Alton Towers website link below but if you have a TopCashback account you can book via their site to earn yourself some extra money back! Woo hoo!
As always, we really hope this has been helpful and if you have any further questions, comments or requests for future reviews please don’t hesitate to pop us a message via our Facebook page or Instagram account (@butterflyandbeeteam). All of your feedback is hugely appreciated and we thank you for taking the time to read this with us today.
Wishing you and your family lots of fun and adventure, whatever you choose to get up to!
Hannah & Chris x
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