Right. I have now spent three 'romantic' breaks fighting operatically with DH. Having decimated the 'romance' of Dublin, London and Venice, what can we spoil for ourselves next?

[snigger]

Suggestions?

We don't mean to - it's just I can't bear to leave the kids for more than 3-4 days, and it takes us that long to get even work out our disagreements.

We always make up on the plane home, but if we're going to have a full-blooded deal-breaker row, it might as well be somewhere scenic.

I fancy Bruges, DH is brewing up a world of resentment over my dismissal of Amsterdam as we speak, neutral picturesque ground is required

Barcelona it is.

God help 'em.

I agree with mrsflowerpot. I went a few years ago to Barcelona and we spent a few days in Girona. It's a lovely place. If you get really narked with him buy him a leather thong and pack him off to Sitges

Oh fantastic. You will love it. You have to come back and update us on whether or not Barcelona meant fewer rows than Dublin/London/Venice.

good choice on barcelona. it's the only city i've been to with a fella and not argued.

paris was easy peasy. argued under eiffel tower and all

oh no - I hope I'm not too late - you have got to go to Rome - NOT to argue operatically in Rome would simply be proof the passion had gone.

I have a similar relationship - we have decimated far more than your little list - Rome has to be the place to do it - and there is so much to take your mind off it afterwards - either when you are storming off on your own or when you are walking together silently fuming. And after a solo storm off the Italian men are only too happy to take your mind off things in a flattering manner while simultaneously reminding you of why your irritating other half isn't quite so bad.

Rome is the perfect backdrop to drama - it would be rude not to have a relationship meltdown in Rome - and it is cheap to get to and the cheap hotels are there to be had should you put the homework in.

Quattro, we spent last week in Barcelona. Our normally happy marriage very nearly ended in a massive row in the train station where DH tore the tickets up and stomped off.

Why don't you just keep it simple and stress free, ie go somewhere nice a couple of hours away from where you live?

notmei - your post hit the nail so firmly on the head you've made me wobble. (Which will stoke the Gruffalo's ire, I'm sure, indecisiveness thrills him) - very impressed at your sprawling planet-roaming spats - where else've you been?

Mumblechum - where's the fun in that

well the top city meltdowns go to in order of argument ding dong rating - Rome, Hong Kong, New York (was a classic full day storm off), Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Dublin, Bangkok, London, Dublin, Oxford, Brisbane, loads more and many more lesser towns and cities and not to mention many beautiful locations.

I just think we hate each other very very easily.

Amsterdam is probably the only place we never have argued but this was due to external influences which you may not partake of.

Its rubbish, but to be honest, other than the meltdowns we usually have really good holidays and breaks.