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Original poster

Left it too late..Need help with DP birthday ‘experience’ ideas!

23 replies

FredintheShed · 30/10/2023 07:55

DP will not let me buy gifts he always refuses them and says he would rather do something together. We usually go away for a night and have fun. This year we have a dog. I’ve also left it too late now as I was busy and am struggling to find something suitable. It’s this weekend!

I was up till 2am searching for 1-2 night dog friendly cottage stays but it was well over £300 or booked. I was thinking snuggling round as wood burner with a hot tub by the coast would be good but a lot of them are basically sheds and DP is over 6ft tall and they look cramped.

I need to think of something to do in winter, with a dog, that’s a fun birthday experience. I have a radius of 3 hours drive outside of London. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/10/2023 08:03

Put the dog in kennels. That will increase your options massively

CapitaineBelkacem · 30/10/2023 08:05

Trip to the seaside - beach walk followed by meal in a dog friendly restaurant? True that including doggy will limit you a bit.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/10/2023 08:09

these guys are 3 hrs from SW London and dog friendly

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DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/10/2023 08:16

Do something with the dog - sign up for 4 to 6 training sessions. See if there's a flyball group or dog swimming near you.

Rent an inflatable hot tub for the weekend.

TwigTheWonderKid · 30/10/2023 08:21

Which side of London are you,?

theduchessofspork · 30/10/2023 08:27

Dog friendly bnb or hotel might be easier to find

theduchessofspork · 30/10/2023 08:28

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/10/2023 08:16

Do something with the dog - sign up for 4 to 6 training sessions. See if there's a flyball group or dog swimming near you.

Rent an inflatable hot tub for the weekend.

I somehow don’r think the OP’s husband would feel dog training sessions were a birthday treat..

Papillon23 · 30/10/2023 08:37

Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich is fairly expensive but has dog friendly rooms and I understand the food is pretty good.

Otherwise there are quite a lot of pet friendly hotels and airbnbs in Suffolk, the whole area is pretty dog focused so might be worth a look - I can see several straight off. They are more expensive but that's kind of the consequences of leaving this to the last minute I imagine?

I.e. something like this might work?

https://air.tl/wqALSscL

Foreverdecorating · 30/10/2023 08:40

I think £300 for 2 nights is pretty standard these days for something like you are looking for unfortunately, I don't think you will find anything like that cheaper. I look every so often as could really do with a break away but every just seems so expensive these days!

MitchellMummy · 30/10/2023 08:44

Go to a hotel - many will let you take dogs. Then you could do one night rather than two if finances don't permit. Have fun!

Original poster
FredintheShed · 30/10/2023 08:47

I don’t mind £300 but not for sleeping in a wooden shed 😂 I would expect something warmer

I am the east side of London - Suffolk or Norfolk is easier

thanks for links

OP posts:
BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 30/10/2023 08:48

Does it need to be going away? Could you do a luxury meal, a theatre visit, a balloon flight (although not this weekend, maybe) or something like that?

Original poster
FredintheShed · 30/10/2023 08:50

BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 30/10/2023 08:48

Does it need to be going away? Could you do a luxury meal, a theatre visit, a balloon flight (although not this weekend, maybe) or something like that?

The dog is a puppy. I could ask parents to look after her. He doesn’t like the theatre and I hate heights 😂

OP posts:
Ibravedaflood · 30/10/2023 08:51

Housekeeper for the day and you have the day off.....

BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 30/10/2023 09:41

FredintheShed · 30/10/2023 08:50

The dog is a puppy. I could ask parents to look after her. He doesn’t like the theatre and I hate heights 😂

Show quote history

Yes, probably best to leave the puppy with someone if going to the theatre or a posh restaurant Grin. I should have mentioned that.

Dogsitterwoes · 30/10/2023 10:25

Falconry experience day for you both?

TheDogsMother · 30/10/2023 11:05

Have you heard of Cote at Home ? It's the restaurant Cote and you order their meals for home delivery. They also have a great butchery and cheese offering. It's all delivered really well packaged, easy to cook and feels like a real treat. We did this a few times through lockdown. You can have a nice treat meal and date night while staying home with the pup.

Ormally · 30/10/2023 11:42

The New Forest?
Or stay in Lymington, slightly more cheaply, and then go into the parts of the NF that are suitable for dogs.
Thorpeness ( a delightfully random place if you have not visited) - the Golf Club is dog friendly and is really well located.

Original poster
FredintheShed · 30/10/2023 13:06

I got a cottage in Suffolk for well under £300

thanks!

OP posts:
jumpingbean1810 · 01/11/2023 21:29

There's some lovely dog friendly luxury hotels in north Norfolk. The Victoria in Holkham, wiveton bell, the hoste in Burnham market, etc. We sometimes stay in Rose Cottage, Binham as a nice dog friendly rental cottage which isn't outrageously expensive.

Toastybeans4 · 02/11/2023 14:26

Go see the seals at horsey beach! They give birth to their pups in winter and thousands of them are on the beaches. There is a fenced off path where you can view them. As long as you can control your dog as not to upset them!

Beachwaves127 · 03/11/2023 10:27

Anything in whistable? If youre east it’s a super easy drive or a straight train from London. Whistable is lovely - so many lovely restaurants, beach, dogs.

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