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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Weekend away for big birthday at start of Dec - pls inspire me!

27 replies

juneau · 16/02/2013 09:12

I'm going to be 40 in December and DH has said he'll take me away for the weekend without the kids. We love city breaks, museums, eating out, culture in general, don't mind cold or warm (just as well, given the time of year!)

We've been to quite a few European cities and went to Paris for DH's 40th (not our first visit there). I'm thinking maybe Prague or Krakow, as I think they'd be rather magical in the cold, but has anyone else been somewhere wonderful and, preferably, romantic in early Dec?

We live near the Eurostar terminal and not far from all the major London airports. We have about three days, as I don't think my mother will cope with our boys for longer than that Grin

OP posts:
Fluffy1234 · 16/02/2013 13:20

My DB goes to to Bruges during the run up to Christmas and says it's really beautiful.

Portofino · 17/02/2013 14:28

Bruges (Xmas market will be on), Prague and Krakow are all lovely. Seville is quite a romantic place and probably won't be so cold. Or Marrakech? Some lovely looking Riad type hotels there.

Original poster
juneau · 17/02/2013 18:13

I agree that Bruges is lovely, but we went there in July 2010 and dragged poor DS1 round all the arty things we wanted to see! I've also been to Seville and Marrakech. This is part of the problem - DH and I were enthusiastic city-breakers in the years BC (before children).

I wish I wasn't born in Dec - its a rubbish month for travelling somewhere short-haul from the UK. Maybe I should just find a gorgeous hotel in Britain where we can hole up and eat gourmet food and potter, sleep, shag each other senseless, use the spa. Recommendations of utterly gorgeous places to stay in Britain also welcomed!

OP posts:
Portofino · 17/02/2013 19:39

Budapest? Spa? Salzburg? Innsbruck?

makemineapinot · 17/02/2013 21:42

Krakow is amazing, wonderful restaurants, shopping, the caves etc etc. We went for a weekend (main reason was to visit Auschwitz which was very emotional and I'm glad I went but maybe not what you'd be looking for) and it USA beautiful city, well equipped to deal with the snow and old. Would recommend it!

makemineapinot · 17/02/2013 21:44

Sorry, iPad predictive text.... Aargh! It is a beautiful city which copes with snow and cold....
Berlin is also an amazing city to visit.

Original poster
juneau · 17/02/2013 22:36

Krakow sounds lovely! I'd like to go to Auschwitz too, but not, I think for my birthday.

We went to Berlin several years ago and I didn't really like it - too modern.

A snowy Austrian city is an idea though. I went to Salzburg when I was a kid, but not since. Is Innsbruck pretty?

OP posts:
Portofino · 17/02/2013 22:39

Innsbruck is very pretty.

Fluffy1234 · 17/02/2013 22:39

How about St Petersburg or a castle in Scotland?

Original poster
juneau · 18/02/2013 09:00

I think St Petersburg in Dec might be a bit too cold! Also, you need visas for Russia and I don't know if I can be arsed to fiddle about with those.

Has anyone been to Valencia, Bilbao or Ljubljana?

OP posts:
serin · 18/02/2013 10:40

Oh Innsbruck is a lovely idea.

Portofino · 18/02/2013 12:05

How about Alsace? I have this place bookmarked for future reference. Plus there will be Xmas markets in Riqueihr/Colmar etc

Original poster
juneau · 18/02/2013 18:16

That place in Alsace looks gorgeous Portofino. My DH's grandad came from Alsace too!

OP posts:
Portofino · 18/02/2013 18:22

Yes - they have a few lovely looking apartments on that website. The nicest ones are for 2 to. I was looking for a corner to put dd in Wink

Original poster
juneau · 18/02/2013 19:44

The Fox & Grapes is stunning too. I like the idea of just for two. My boys would trash it anyway - little horrors Grin

OP posts:
NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 18/02/2013 19:49

go and stay here book the croquet pavilion for the 2 of you. stay 2 nights - gourmet food, fab wine list, long country walks
open fires in the pavilion set for you by the staff.

Bliss

makemineapinot · 18/02/2013 21:22

Venice - amazing place and would be a bit warmer than some!! Or Rome?

TheBeanAndTheBee · 18/02/2013 21:26

UK thoughts - Babington house, Cowley Manor, The Pig

sunnyday123 · 19/02/2013 21:00

Adult weekend in lapland, huskies, ice hotel, snowmobiles etc?

Original poster
juneau · 20/02/2013 18:25

Ooooh Lapland! Now that would be very different. Thing is, kids would want to come (esp. the older one), and I'm not sure I could say no without feeling like a big, fat meanie. I would love that though.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 20/02/2013 18:28

Innsbruck is very pretty.

Cologne is nice and has a really good Christmas market.

Rekijvik?

RoseHelen · 03/03/2013 22:20

How about Barcelona? Weather is still sunny and there are some really romantic hotels, great restaurants ,there's a Christmas market too!

givemeaclue · 04/03/2013 07:40

Copenhagen, great restaurants, culture, short flight, Christmas markets, Tivoli gardens etc

givemeaclue · 04/03/2013 07:42

Whatley manor in UK is lovely and child free.

BestIsWest · 07/03/2013 21:37

Lisbon - it's got everything, great culture, history, food.