2nd Anniversary... marriage not great.... need a romantic city break to save us!!

[Toothache]

As many of you will know DH and I have not been getting along very well lately.

But we have decided to dump the kids with his folks in Liverpool and go away for 2 nights for our 2nd anniversary in October.

2 nights, one of the last 2 weekends in October would suit best. We need ideas! Have looked at Dublin, Barcelona and Paris, but can't really see any fab deals.

We will be flying from Manchester. Anyone seen any great deals??? Or know any fab websties I should look at???? Looking to spend about £450 MAXIMUM for flights and hotel.

Thanks in advance.

Sometimes it's best to use times like this just to relax and be together. I know I'm always tempted to try and solve problems but if you relax and enjoy each other they are much more likely to solve themselves in the wake of that.

I hope you have a lovely time.

toothache, to get those really cheap deals with ryanair, you usually have to book well in advance, they actually get dearer the closer you get to the time! The people who get the "tax only" deals are usually the first to book the flight. Really its a form of advertising for Ryanair. Prague is a really romantic city, so beautiful! We met a couple there who had booked a "pension" over the internet. It sounded much nicer than the hotel we stayed in and the owner brought them breakfast on the terrace. Rome is beautiful too.

Personally I wouldn't look at Marrakech - too frantic and too many things to argue about! I'd probably go for somewhere a bit more out of the way. My favourite weekend places - Paris, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, Palma. How about Carcassonne? Not sure about the weather but you can get cheap flights. Had a very romantic w/e in Florence once on a scarily low budget - also Siena if you like art and Italy.

Do you want sunshine, galleries, quirky shopping, cool places to eat??

Swedishmum - DH and I like to eat out, we like to have a drink, I would like museums/galleries, but I don't think DH would be too bothered about that. I just want to go to a beautiful place and spend 2 nights with my husband who is a total stranger to me at the moment.

Sounds a bit like us - I occasionally drag dh round a museum or 2!
Food in Spain would be fab and not too expensive - Italy the same. Drinks too. Barcelona would be quite high on my list - strolling along Las Ramblas, getting lost down little side streets, Gaudi, dh even managed the Miro museum! Tapas, rioja... I agree Prague is beautiful (also some cool restaurants) and shouldn't have too many tourists traipsing round. I must admit I didn't really fall for it the first time but love it now. (I'm not permanently on holiday btw, but go away with dh on business.) Didn't like Vienna - far too up itself and some obnoxious tourists.

OMG! I just got flights on Ryan Air website for £25 each return from Liverpool Airport!!!! PERFECT! We are dropping the kids off at DH's folks in Bootle, then I thought we'd have to drive to Manchester airport to get a flight anywhere cheap!!!!!

Got a 3* hotel in the centre of Dublin for £150 for the room for 2 nights.

Grand Total: £200 for 2 nights B&B in Dublin!
Haven't booked it yet though as I need to find out in DH can get the time off (days have moved slightly).

Who thought my £450 budget wasn't that great? I could've had a 5* hotel for that!

Have you been to Dublin before, toothache?

Yeah, I won a weekend there in 1998! Staying in the very hotel I have provisionally booked. It was lurrrvley!

Toothache, there's a new bridge over the Liffey just down from the ha'penny bridge: its called the Millenium bridge. Just on the North side, there's a little street which is known as the Italian quarter. Dh and I had a gorgeous meal in Bar Italiana just on the corner, there are also some little pubs which serve snacks like an italian version of tapas. I don't really do clubbing any more, too elderly!! but I could ask my younger trendier friends where the good spots are if you like!

That sounds so lovely Chipmonkey!

I don't think DH and I will be going clubbing either, just pubbing!!

Have a great time. Hope it all works out brilliantly for you.

Toothache hope it all works out. Rekindle that fire!