Maybe planning a May long weekend today would make January seem to slip away!

[teafortwo]

But where should we go???

Basic infomation:

• 3 yr old
• Me
• DH
• The World...

Where have you been that made you go "Wow!" and made you feel more human, wiser, happier and more in love with life than before? Because that is the kind of place I need to go....

The problem is it is hard to choose - our World is too beautiful!!!

What about Budapest - Bocca - more info please!!!

Just been googling Antwerp - looks interesting too!

Also, Bruges is very beautiful!

bellabelly - hey I know!!! I am having some zen time with a dear old girl friend in Bruges in April!!! Two old friends a beautiful city and three days and nights to gossip our way through - it will be b.l.i.s.s!!!!

we haven't booked anything any advice on Bruges is Very very welcome!!!!!!

Cheap and cheerful good bet is the Hotel Central right on the market place - not many rooms available so would advise booking NOW if you fancy it. Couldn't ask for a more central location and one room has view over marketplace and was done up last year so quite plush looking for the price (about 80Euro per night).

Other end of spectrum in terms of price/luxury is the Orangerie withterrace right on the canal, lovely lovely, though have to say it, the room we stayed in was not worth the money tbh. That was some years ago though so might well have been refurbed since.

There's also De Tuilerien which is probably the most expensive option - well out of our budget but has luxuries like swimming pool etc.

Have also stayed at a couple of mid-budget places - the Hotel Egmond down near teh lake of love - very nice atmosphere though I noticed that all teh other rooms were much bigger and grander than ours .

Another v good mid-budget option is the Hans Memling - v close to marketplace and nice bar etc. our room had a balcony and was v nice.

Hang on, will try to find some links.

Hans Memling Hotel website

Hotel Central - v good value

Hotel Egmond

Orangerie

I will e-mail hotel central to my friend - I like it I like it I like it!!!

She rather sweetly is doing a cross stitch of a scene in Bruges to get herself in the mood!!! - I love her so much!

After last night's conversation we have definately decided not this coming year (we have a trip to India to plan as well) but sometime soon we will do a tour of Italy!!!

My DH is v keen on Istanbul for May- what do you think???? Would it be a good destination for a family mini break???

Anyone had any experience?

I stayed twice in Sint Niklaas B&B www.sintnik.be/ in Bruges. It's right in the city center in a very quiet street. The owners are very friendly (a couple from Australia and New Zeland) and the decor is beautiful.

ooooh - that is nice too

Thanks MrsVW

Lucca is lovely, very pretty but quiet. I would imagine in May pretty deserted !

I'd do Rome with a day trip to Lucca (hopefully they have sorted out the boards as we nearly ended up on Florence !)

OOOhhh - how about Sorento? I had a lovely few days there out of season - I imagine it would be really busy when packed, but it was particularly nice and laid-back in October... Easy to get to Pompei, Naples (if you must), Amalfi coast....

mmm - thanks - goes away to google Sorento and Rome!

Re; Bruges, Don't forget to hire bikes!!

Re; Mini breaks, Cork is lovely, with easy access to great (and empty) beaches. Very child friendly too.