where to go for weekend away from kids

[myermay]

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Cowley Manor nice but pricey
Whatley manor, same, nice but pricey, fab spa

We are trying Charlton House Hotel soon, 2 nights for the price of one, if you eat dinner there one night, easy! It's owned by the Mulberry couple. Outlet shopping nearby! new handbag here I come.

Check Mr and Mrs Smith website for ideas.

here's an old thread . What's your budget?

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If you are going to Bristol I would recommend Hotel Du Vin and you may well get a room for 2 nights fot that rate, because it's a business city they drop the rates and will accept one night bookings at the weekend. It's a lovely hotel, really great. I wouldn't recommend The Brigstow though, stayed there and wasn't impressed. I lived in Bristol until April last year so do ask anything you want to know. It's a lovely city.

I thought The City Inn looked good in Bristol but it might be noisy as it's right on the main road.

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No, no, don't go there, it's right out at Aztec West, MILES from any decent shops (well, other than a big Wal Mart and I'm guessing that's not what you had in mind!) and you wouldn't be able to wander around the water front or any of the nice parts of Bristol.

If you can't get into HDV then The Marriott at the bottom of Park St would be better that the Aztec, make sure you get that Marriott and not the other city one though. I have stayed there but in sad circumstances, it's where we have a 'farewell' Champagne party for my dad when he was dying so I don't remember anything about the room etc but the restaurant there is Michael Caines, it's supposed to be VERY good.

I have stayed at the Aztec one but it was about 1990! God, memories. I was VERY young and shagging someone VERY unsuitable who was staying there. I know someone who stayed there last year though as a mystery shopper and she wasn't impressed.

Oh mind you, are you thinking of shopping at Cribbs Causeway? OK the Aztec is near enough that, only 1 junction away. But if you were in Hotel Du Vin you'd be within walking distance of Broadmead, which although ugly does have all the major shops. And Park St is nice shopping too, as is Whiteladies Rd, which isn't that far from the Marriott/HDV.

Michael Caines is now closed at The Marriott, I gather.

But good places to eat, near the centre:

The Glass Boat if you wanted an expensive meal, lovely food, on the water, walking distance from HDV, very romantic

Loch Fyne for seafood

The Olive SHed, cheaper, bistro type

River Station, oh actually, that's where you should go, downstairs is tapas type stuff and very nice, upstairs is more expensive but lovely too

I'm very happy where we live now but I do love Bristol, I'm envious!

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Go for hotel du vin or The Marriot then if you can, Aztec is out in the sticks, nowhere near anywhere except the motorway, it's a business hotel.

And Bristol is a vibrant interesting city, if you stay in the centre you can walk to loads of great places. I don't know if HDV has treatments but tbh I'd still go for that and book treatments nearby rather than go for the Aztec. Or go for The Marriott, which has a pool etc.
What do you want to do? What's your idea of a great day/night? If you tell me more I might be able to recommend stuff.

There's St Nicholas Market very nearby hdv , which sells jewellery and stuff, there's the waterfront with the Watershed media centre , you could take a boat trip down the river or, oh loads of lovely things!

Go to Dorset and eat at River cottage HQ

ANYWHERE !!!!!!!!!!

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ha ha, yes I do! Oh definitely go to HDV then, and you can wander to St Nicholas Market and the waterfront and there are tons of good places to eat and drink. Get Venue magazine if you want to see what's on and PLEASE post afterwards and let me know what you thought. HDV has lovely huge showers and baths and squishy sofas and I thought it was fab. If you don't eat there (it's expensive) you could have a reasonably priced weekend.

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We had time off without kids in Bath and enjoyed the new Thermae Baths. Children (with v few exceptions) not allowed there.

It's a great city all round.

I love Bath, can really recommend the Thermae Spa, you can just go in the thermal baths or you can have treatments also, Bath has lots of intersting shops, not your normal run of the mal High Street shops, though they do have those too. Lots of history, museuns, canal trips, great restaurants too. Its nice to go to go to a shopping centre with lots of cultural, fantastic buildings etc.

Ooh Calif, envious of Bath Spa hotel, have never been there, enjoy! (I lived in Bath, long ago)

Another Bath fan here, lived in The Circus for 2 years as a student ....it was 1983-5, no heating etc....hate to think what the flat is now worth.

Stayed at the Royal Crescent hotel with DH on our first proper night away when we first started going out......would love to go back .

Ooh, just read my last post on here and my spelling is terrible, sorry!

Dont know how far you are from Manchester but we went to Didsbury this year in the summer and stayed in a nice boutique hotel (Didsbury House) they dont have a pool but its very relaxing, nice spa treatments available, excellent staff, one of their rooms voted the sexiest hotel room in the world!!!!

Doesnt sound glamorous I know but Didsbury is lovely, just lots of nice places to eat and drink, some lively pubs and some nice and cosy. Plus you have the shopping in Manchester about 5 miles away which is fab (Selfridges ...mmmm).

Stayed again at new year at the sister hotel Eleven Didsbury Park and was just as wonderful

Bump for some more specific ideas in Devon or nearby.

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