UK ‘resort’ staycation with kids 3 and 1 (i.e. a cheaper Chewton Glen)
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Hello, I’m looking for a UK ‘resort hotel’ suggestion for my family of four, over a long weekend Friday-Sunday.
I mention Chewton Glen because, before the pandemic, my partner, I, and our then 1-year-old stayed there for a weekend. It is to-date the best hotel experience we have ever had. It was expensive, but a special occasion and a special treat, and absolutely perfect for kids and grown-ups alike. (I think it has been rated the best hotel in the UK so that’s not a surprise).At the time, we booked a room, added a cot for the baby, and partook in all that the hotel had to offer – the pool, the gorgeous grounds, walk to the beach, kids club playspace, children’s tea, evening in-room babysitting of the sleeping baby that allowed partner and I to have a first meal “out” together. Our baby even got a welcome gift and a welcome cookie with a personal message! We still speak in wistful tones about this full-on luxury family experience.
Keen to re-live some of the magic, I recently looked online to book Chewton Glen for a weekend break for our family of four, now with a 3- and 1-year old. When I put in the people and ages, the prices START at £2,800 for two weekend nights which is sadly way above budget for a family weekend break, however special the occasion. The price appears to be so high because when I put in four people, the only room type it will offer me is a coach house suite (or a treehouse at £5000 a night). For three people, a room priced at £685 per night is an option, and if travelling as a couple, you can stay for less than £400 per night.
I’ll save the “pricing families out of the market” lament for another thread! (Although please let me know if you have any clever tips on this. I know that there are hotels that add kids beds for free to virtually any room that will fit them.) The true kicker is that at home 3 of us (adults and baby in cot) sleep in one room, while the toddler will more often than not join us in the big bed at some point in the night, so we are very used to sharing a room and not in any dire need of a lots of (expensive) space!
So, I am now on the lookout for something similar to Chewton Glen for a break away, bookable at a reasonable rate for a family of four – i.e. somewhere lovely, but where we could bring the kids without having to upgrade the room to the top tier.
Space to explore outside and pool are top of our list, kids club or kids facilities would be a nice addition (though ours are still quite young).We are based in London and happy to travel 2-3 hours by train or by car.
Many thanks for making it this far and many thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Oh the perennial problem of families – we have been in the same boat. Have you looked at Sopwell House, the Hythe Imperial, Limewood…… A cheaper option is also Hanbury Manor, but not in the Chewton/Four Seasons league.
Also, consider a quick trip to Le Touqet. Easy journey and the kids love the car on the train!Hotel booking systems are almost universally rubbish at handling cots. Contact the hotel directly and ask which rooms are suitable. Often you can leave the baby/toddler off the headcount in the reservation to let it go through and request the cot in the booking notes.
Depends on your budget but worth checking the Four Seasons Hampshire. It has the facilities you are after, and off peak they have a 3 nights for two offer, bookable via Emyr with usual extra benefits. I’m not sure if they’d let you all stay in a twin room (two double beds now) but an Exec Suite would do it. You might manage to get that for £2k ish on the three for two.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
We had an excellent pre-Xmas stay at Woolley Lodge right next to Bradford-on-Avon (walkable).
Totally aimed at families, indoor pool, games room, Disney films with popcorn, etc.You might want to look at the Luxury Family Hotel Group who have properties such as New park Manor and Wooley Grange. These hotels are set up for families. When our kids were smaller we stayed several times at Ickworth. It was very good.
Hanbury Manor
Thanks for Hanbury Manor tip, looks right up our street.
I think St. Pierre Chepstow is on similar lines, although perhaps half a step down?!The St Pierre looks similar yeah, but never been.
It’s a fair compromise until the kids can start paying their own way…. Hilton Syon Park is another we’ve been to a few times with the kids too. Large suites and an indoor pool etc. Also a good softplay / trampoline etc centre next door called snakes and ladders which impressed us….
Thanks so much for the recommendations. I hadn’t heard of most of these so look forward to looking them up! Thanks also for the tip about phoning the hotel to ask about adding a cot – they have far more options than what comes up in the automatic booking system!
If you want a really cheap option from London, look at Crowne Plaza Marlow.
You need to get over the fact that the hotel is accessed via an industrial estate and is an ugly modern design. However, it is on the river bank, has decent enough grounds and a decent swimming pool.
More importantly, you can walk down the river bank into Marlow – which is obviously very nice – in 30 minutes or so.
It’s 10% of the cost of Four Seasons Hampshire but certainly not only 10% as good. Since your bill for the weekend is likely to be nearer £250 than £2,500 there is also a lot less pressure to maximise everything.
(I caveat this by saying that I haven’t been since it was refurbished.)
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Hotel booking systems are almost universally rubbish at handling cots. Contact the hotel directly and ask which rooms are suitable. Often you can leave the baby/toddler off the headcount in the reservation to let it go through and request the cot in the booking notes.
I can’t agree with or emphasise this enough; especially for smaller or unique hotels rather than cookie-cutter chain hotels. For young families there is no substitute for direct contact with the hotel; Emailing to ask what they can offer; and if you don’t – and just type in room for 2+2 into online site – you will often be offered only that hotel’s equivalent of a 2-bed Presidential Suite with a price to match.
Hotels will 99% of the time be able to do something better with booked connecting rooms or an extra bed in their larger regular rooms – and usually offer a far more reasonable deal on this too.
This is why we like staying in the US Embassy Suites, Home2suites, Homewood, Staybridge, etc etc. Always get a sofabed in separate living area where kid can sleep.
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