Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

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

Original poster

Romantic long weekend, fabulous (but not too stuffy or dressy) hotel - where should we go?

26 replies

MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 20:36

Start of Sept, 3 nights, child-free, reasonable driving distance from Herts.

Nothing involving health spas or golf. Dh has vetoed London.

First choice was Hotel du vin, Bristol, but they're fully booked. Having 2nd thoughts about dh's 2nd choice, Lugger in Cornwall.

I want a stylish, boutiquey kind of hotel, not too noisy, and with fab bathrooms. Nothing chintzy, stuffy or with a dress code.

OP posts:
Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:38

how about hotel du vin Birmingham - Harvey Nicks shopping too!!

binklehasflipped · 12/08/2007 20:39

malmaison hotels sound right up your street - is there one near that area?

Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 20:43

Liked H du V, Birmingham, but we stayed there not long before ds was born. Fancy somewhere new.

Will see if there is a Malmaison somewhere suitable.

OP posts:
Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:46

I am sure that there is a malmaison in B'ham too.

Also - not sure how Cheltenham is after the floods, but what about the hotel Kandinsky?

Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:47

Or if you want a nice restuarant with rooms - can definately reccommend Reads in Faversham, kent

Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 20:48

Hmm, not sure Malmaison locations are what I'm after. I know Manchester, Leeds, and Oxford very well (lived in all 3), and love them all, but want to see somewhere new. Don't like Liverpool (sorry!). Newcastle, Scotland too far.

Would prefer a small city, town, or even a middle of nowhere place.

I'm very fussy....

OP posts:
Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:48

sorry about my spelling

Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:50

H du V Brighton?

Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 20:51

Dh's face when I suggested Faversham was a picture. Think that's a no.

OP posts:
Bellie · 12/08/2007 20:53

did something happen in Faversham??

Canterbury is only about 5 miles away and is a fab city with lots to do!

Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 21:00

No idea about Faversham. He muttered 'North Kent' to himself, and carried on reading the paper.

Never been to Canterbury, so I'll check it out.

OP posts:
yogimum · 12/08/2007 21:04

there are some great hotels in the Mr and Mrs Smith hotel collection.

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:11

I've had lunch at The Lugger and the location is great, right on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the sea. The service wasn't great because I don't think they were keen that we had children with us (lunchime in the week, Oct last yr) but that might suit you. However it's a loooong way from Herts. HDV Bristol would have been great, agree.

OK, so alternatively I would suggest:

HDV in Henley on Thames or Brighton, they look great although I haven't stayed or

Malmaison in Oxford again, I haven't stayed but quite fancy it and tripadvisor reviews are good.

Oh, I know, what about Babington?

Or, if you wanted to drive a bit further, and be near a beach, I fancy the Victoria at Holkham

THe Grove is supposed to be fab but does, I believe have a golf club and anyway is near you but it would cut travelling time

Will look for recent hotel threads and link if I can find them.

DO NOT go to The Forbury in Reading, it was £660 worth of crap service when we went (and that was an offer on the room rate)

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:13

Cotswodl House wouldn't be that far but looks v expensive

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:14

I think HDV in Henley best fits your bill really. Near the sea if you don't normally get it, near enouh London that it's not the sticks, should tihnk good restaurants/plenty to do.

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:15

Or Babington. I've never heard a bad word about it.

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:15

THREE Whole nights too, wow, I'm envious!

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:15

Well, not sea, river, you know, water!

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:16

HDV do have fab bathrooms.
They are boutiquey
as are Malmaison
Not too far
Not chintzy
no dress code
no spa or golf
not London

Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 21:21

WWW, do you know The Driftwood (Cornwall) or The Bull, Bridport? Like the look of both of those (although some ropey reviews of The Bull when googling)?

OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 21:32

All Hotel du Vin hotels (except Brighton) are booked up for the weekend in question.

OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinMclay · 12/08/2007 21:42

Cotswold House also fully booked.

Not sure about Babington. It is expensive. Don't mind that if it is truly fab.

Grove looks nice, but I have a mental problem with holidaying in Watford.

Like the look of the Victoria at Holkham. Will phone tomorrow to check availability.

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:45

I've never heard of the Bull, although seem to remember a great review recently. was it The Observer?

I like the look of Driftwood, it's saved in my favourites, tripadvisor says good but I haven't been

iywym about The Grove, it says 'acres of rolling countryside' but it IS bloody Watford, I practically drove past it this afternoon.

My sister goes to Babington and says it's fab so I would say prob worth the money. Not much else to do in Frome though! But that would be fine if hotel fab.

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:46

Do a search on the grove on here tohugh, iirc Northender (who does hotels for a living) said it's fab and never discounts because it's so good.

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2007 21:47

Babington full of meeja types who would not put up if it was crap. As it's Soho House, I seriously doubt it's anytihng other than fab.