Suggestions for locations for weekend away without kids

[Ems]

Recently returned from fantastic time at Babington, no children! Followed your advice Robbie and booked my treatment early, it was wonderful. Expensive place but it did us so much good; very relaxing, peaceful, yummy food, gorgeous rooms, thoroughly recommend it. (although we didnt take the children, it would be a great place for them too).

please help! suggestions needed for a weekend away without kids for two stressed out mums (i am one!). we would love to go to babington house - but unfortunately need something much cheaper we are working on a budget of approx £40/night.

any ideas gratefully received!

thanks very much in advance

bossykate, what about Bath? We stayed at a hotel there a while ago which is right in the centre and was cheap but I can't remember what it's called. It's at the road that runs along the top of Milsom St and used to be a grand old hotel so looks great from the outside but is now a Travel Lodge or something. Anyway, it was I think about £50 a night and basic (i.e no bar/restuarant but you'll be wanting to go out I assume if no kids!) and clean. Bath is pretty, 2 hours from London (assuming that's where you are) and has good restaurants and bars etc. Parking is a nightmare though so take the train if pos.

Cl - We stayed at the Statford Manor (4*, pool, good quality modern hotel). The group that owns it, Marston Hotels have many similar properties and discount really heavily for late availbility on their website. See www.marstonhotels.co.uk under special offers then late availability. The location was great - lovely grounds 2 miles out of Stratford. We took our little boy (4 months) and used baby listening and baby sitting. Both excellent. Hope this helps.

Bossykate,

How about the Cotswolds. Painswick is a pretty village near to Cheltenham and The Painswick Hotel is a little country house hotel and is absolutely gorgeous, very romantic and great food.

bossykate, how about a trip to one of the coastal spas in Northern France? I think they come in at MUCH cheaper than the British equivalent. Le Touquet has one that specialises in mamans. Just think - being hosed down with icy seaweed-infused sea-water and then as much moules-frites as you can eat. A stress-buster, or what?
Or go to Lille for the weekend on Eurostar and splurge on chocolate, beer and cute French babygros (guilt shopping to be done only after as much beer and chocolate as required bought first).
Lille also has a highly-regarded orchestra, ballet and opera seasons and a superb art gallery, in case you think I am just a greedy philistine.

bossykate if you use Eurostar book on the net on a discount. Have never paid the same price twice but definitely have never paid the price they ask if you telephone! Last time dh used it for a day business trip to Paris they wanted £285 for a standard day return (not business class). On their website I booked him a £60 ticket for the same thing! That's not even a discount, it's ridiculous.

ems - know and like all you recommendations in the uk - can you come up with some recommendations for a family holiday in europe for a 20 month old and her parents?

emmaij, sorry no, I know nowhere! I know lots in UK, because we havent braved abroad yet!! (apart from Disneyland Paris of course!)

Trying Mark Warner in Greece next month, very brave!

Try the babygoes2 website, that has loads of ideas, the holiday survey on this site or CenterParcs have various sites in Europe.

ems - shame! - thought you might be a wealth of information - let us know how the Greece trip goes. Am sure you're going to have a wonderful time.

emmaij - are you talking holiday or weekend away? If holiday can't recommend Simply Travel more - went to Zakynthos with them last month and had brilliant time. Let me know if you want more info.

thanks Willow2 - talking about a holiday - any other recommendations for me? have you been to corsica with simply travel?

rozzy - d'you use a travel agent to book that (if so which one?) or book direct?

emmaiz - no - just Zakynthos, but while we were there we met people who had been to Corsica. We stayed at Periyali villas. Beautifully sited right on the south western tip. The cottages are lovely - the best beach on the island is five minutes walk, loads of little tavernas within easy driving distance, fantastic purpose built creche with English fully trained nannies who could not have been lovelier, lovely pool, laundry facility, excellent rep who could not have done more to help etc etc etc. Liked it so much have already reserved our place next year.

Forgot to say that the people who had been to Corsica thought Zakynthos set up was nicer. Apparently Corsica is lovely, but the basic houses are very basic, the beach shelves quite steeply so not good for toddlers (beach in Zakynthos was fab as it was shallow for ages) but there are watersports on site - so depends what you are after really.

Sounds great, Willow2. I'll get Simply Travel to send me the details. Thank you. Sorry, everyone, I've hi-jacked this message board with my requests for holiday ideas.

emmaij, when are you going on holiday? August may be tight at this late notice, but we go to Sperlonga (seaside near Rome) every year with my son (now 18 mo.) and all my stepkids and it is brilliant. We book flights into rome and then take the train from there (1 1/4 hours). If you look online you can find several hotels in sperlonga. We always stay at the Florenza Residence which has beautiful clean self-catering apts. (easier with babies), but the Aurora Hotel is also beautiful if you prefer a hotel. We eat out most of the time as it isn't too expensive and the food is awesome. The beach is superb and the people are friendly, helpful and speak enough english to get what you need.

Thanks very much everyone for your ideas.

Marina - definitely looking for something in the uk, although n. france does sound v. appealing!

WWW, Tillysmummy - have been to Bath/Cotswolds twice in last two years so know how lovely that area is!

SueW - i think the fitness first idea is marvellous, there is one in york and i think we will look for some accom in the n. yorks moors area...

Thanks very much everyone!

Ah well, I was working on the basis that £40 goes a lot further hotel-wise across the channel!
I thought SueW's ideas sounded really good, too. Let us know how you get on if you go with that option.

CAM forgot to thank you for your tip - that is so useful to know. i have done projects in Paris and Brussels over the last five years and think Eurostar is wonderful - got to go business class as it was work! definitely need money saving tips when it's coming out of my own pocket!