If you had £1000 for travel & accommodation, where would you go?

[dirty30]

It's my 30 birthday coming up and we (DH, DD (1) and I) want to go away for a few days. We've got a budget of around £1,000 to pay for the accommodation (not including spending money while there), but can't think of where to go!

We went to West Midlands safari park and stayed in the giraffe lodge last year and that was great but we wouldn't want to do it again.

Also would like to avoid Center parcs as we've already got a trip booked in this year.

Any ideas?! We'd be open to a city or rural break but don't want to travel as far south as Devon/cornwall.

New Forest: Pig, Limewood, Chewton Glen all nice.

Somerset: Newt, Homewood, Pig, another one I can’t remember but will think of…

Prices of hotels are crazy at the moment though, but I think these all probably still achievable (just).

2 nights at Chewton Glen?

The foals will be arriving soon in The New Forest, plus we have beautiful beaches, pretty villages, The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and Peppa Pig at Paultons Park for your DD.

The hotels mentioned above are all just perfect, but with a little one I’d also consider New Park Manor as they are very family orientated. If you love a good spa Carey’s Manor is also a nice option.

So many lovely places in the Dales and Lake District. If willing to travel a bit further, Scotland is cheaper and spoilt for choice. Personally I found Aviemore a favourite, log cabin by the river, adventure park, stunning scenery and abundance of great pubs and places to eat. Xx

Probably a cottage in the Peak District. We've stayed at Monsal Head a few times - it's gorgeous, peaceful and there's plenty to do nearby with a toddler in tow.

What's a few days? Ie number of nights? And are you thinking UK only?

Are you set on the UK? I would head for a city break in Europe. A 1 year old can still be incorporated into a more grown up mini break. Most hotels will provide a pop up travel cot.

Approx 2 hours flight to Seville / Madrid / Cadiz / Granada (although hills quite steep if you are pushing a buggy). You can go sightseeing, go out to dinner with baby in buggy.

Or Eurostar to Paris or Lille? Lovely cities to walk around. Paris is great with a baby or toddler, plenty of little squares and parks to enjoy, Lille has a lovely castle with green space around.

Sorry, just re- read your OP. Devon & Cornwall too far south so Cadiz definitely won't fit the bill 😂

Edinburgh?

Edinburgh has the Zoo, Botanic Gardens, castle and various other outdoorsy places to give DD some fresh air and gorgeous scenery for the grown ups. Very walkable (although some of the hills will be a bit of a workout with a buggy - but enjoyable) Days are getting longer too.

Thanks so much for the responses!

We're open to flying elsewhere, and would ideally like 3 nights.

@BlowDryRat I had the pleasure of growing up within a mile of monsal head! It's a beautiful part of the world.

@WildCherryBlossom we originally started looking at Edinburgh but it's so expensive for what you get hotel-wise. Will look into Seville!

My first thought was a long weekend in Rome, but it is slightly further than Devon/Cornwall 😄

UK wise I would definitely go to Northumberland. I love it up there. There’s so much to do. We have been even when it pissed it down every day for a week in August and still had a lovely time.

Your accommodation budget will go much further in Seville than Edinburgh, for sure. And Spain / Southern Europe is lovely with babies as it's generally much more acceptable for them to join you for dinner in a restaurant etc etc than in the UK.

I'd fly, OP.

Lisbon, Porto, Seville, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Copenhagen... so many beautiful and walkable cities you can take a 1 year old to with no bother.

Whereabouts in the country are you? Are you near enough to an airport to make a short foreign break feasible

Do yoy like the coast?

York city break or North Yorkshire coast, Whitby area.

Porto

I'd go to London, splash out on a posh hotel and do all the free museums and art galleries, That's honestly my idea of heaven.

We've just returned from a 3 night break to Malaga - budget flights plus renting a excellently located one bed apartment in the medieval centre came to under £400. Saw plenty of families with babies/toddlers on holiday. Weather was sunny 21/22 degrees!

Woolley Grange is nice for families. Very baby/toddler friendly