Seeking 5 Star break but very flexible

By far the cheapest way I have found to stay in 5* hotels is by using loyalty points.

Most of the large hotel chains have their own loyalty schemes but I mainly use IHG as you can earn loads of points very easily and use them to stay at their 5* InterContinental hotel brand hotels.

Using just points, I've already stayed at the 5* InterContinental London Park Lane and I have trips to the InterContinental Amsterdam and InterContinental New York (flying in first class - also paid for with points) booked.

IHG are currently running a promotion where you could earn enough for a 2 night stay at an InterContinental by spending 2 nights at a budget hotel.

If you want more info just ask.

You're really going to have to narrow things down a little bit. Do you want London? major city? small town? countryside?

What do you want to be doing once outside of the hotel room?

There are plenty of sites to look at depend on if you are looking last minute or well in advance. Where you will get the best price varies both by current booking levels, season and time to stay. I know when we stayed at the Savoy they said their cheapest rooms are typically 2 weeks before the stay, so do that in low season and you'll probably get the best price unless you miss time it to a major event in London.

Its always worth talking to the hotel before buying via someone else. Depending on who their main distribution channels are they may or may not be willing to do something for you.

Also be aware that star ratings are predominately about facilities and set services (eg 24/7 reception and room service) and not actually a good measure of quality. If you are looking at things like castles or stately homes you'll see many arent going to be 5* because the limitations of their property prevent them from having a large enough swimming pool or such to get full stars.

I recommend offpeakluxury.com
This company does offers & deals at mostly independent country hotels of a good standard. There's a manageable number, something for everyone but not an overwhelming choice. They have a brilliant phone service and will do anything to help, and are very good at taking a brief and coming up with a shortlist. You can do it yourself on their website of course, but I prefer the old fashioned customer service. I also like that their offers are packages, mostly including dinner, and often extras on top.You get the main part of the bill out of the way before you arrive, and know what you are letting yourself in for.

I am rather put off Secret Escapes these days. They do have some genuinely very good discounts, but they also have a lot of offers that seem a bit misleading. I've heard a lot of people say that they get the worst rooms, or a much reduced dinner menu (to make it cheaper presumably). If I go to a nice hotel I want the full experience, not some corner-cutting budget version.