My 40th Birthday: Seeking inspiration for unforgettable winter weekend

[QueenofNW2]

It's my 40th in November, and already I'm dreaming about it. Grandparents will take the children, so hubby and I will have our first grown-up weekend in four years.
We're looking at a maximum two-night break, and want to be about 2 hours' flight from London, or 4 hours' drive.
We like old-fashioned hotels, gourmet food, historical urban sights or good country walks. An indoor pool/steam room/spa on site would be nice.
Have done Venice, considering Bruges, Krakow, Trieste, Inverness - ideas gratefully received! Budget around ?700.

Prague!

i came back from there a couple of weeks ago, it's really beautiful, good food, cheaper beer, 2 hrs from here flightwise, plenty of good deals about.

meant to add i went there with my oh for my 40th, tho we also got new years eve there as well

I love Bruges it's a very romantic city with excellent food and wonderful things to see and you can get there on the Eurostar. How about this one Romantic Hotel .

Please go to sorry can't spell the capital city of Iceland.
Not too far 2/3 hours out of Gatwick. Go floating with your your loved one in the Blue Lagoon-fab.

Sorry didn't see your budget-save Iceland for your 50th.

can't recommend my friends chalet enough.

its in chamonix have a look www.antjamski.co.uk and you don't have to ski if you don't want to.

great walks, great little village town, stunning food and amazing views and did i mention the hot tub............

fly with easy jet quite cheap get a transfer plus your stay. you will have money left over and i'm sure you could have an indian head massage and still have change of £700!

I am biased though but I love it there.

Salzburg?? Plenty of cheap flights (thomsonfly, ryanair, ba) and lots of romantic good quality hotels - one of which is the wolf dietrich (www.salzburg-hotel.at) - going there in a few weeks so if you are interested let me know and i'll let you know what its like - good luck

We spent my 40th birthday in Florence. It was in January, so there were hardly any tourists. I have also been there in November and it's very quiet there then, too. Our hotel was room and breakfast only, but it was extremely comfortable, with four poster beds, a good view of the Duomo and on one of the most beautiful squares in Florence. here

It was a wonderful holiday - a great to stand in an empty room in the Iffizi looking at the Botticellis. You can't do that in July!

Or even the Uffizi...

Rome

I am tempted by Italy. Florence is lovely - can't imagine it empty! Must think about distance to travel versus time to enjoy being there. Bruges sounds tempting.

Thanks for your suggestions!

went to Tallinn for dh's 40th and stayed in a fabby apartment with a sauna. was snowy and small and romantic and different
also like Verona if you're looking for romance

I know it'll probably surprise you but can I recommend Bosnia... BA are starting budget flights to Sarajevo this year and it is a very interesting, pretty, historic city. Mostar, which is a couple of hours away from there is absolutely stunning (find some photos on the internet and you'll see) and always prompts repeat visits. I'm a brit living in central Bosnia (place called Bugojno) and can also highly recommend this area for some stunning mountains and really pretty villages and towns. DH is actually planning a tours service to take people through the central bosnian moutains starting this summer. Easyjet already do budget flights to Split in Croatia, which is a couple of hours away. Safety is not a concern. The war was over 12 or 13 year ago and although you'll see evidence of it on buildings, it is a very safe country to visit.