Weekends away in UK ideas and recommendations pls ?

Edwardia

OH starts new job shortly and we will be much better off. The downside is that he's going to be busy working long hours Mon-Fri and isn't going to be able to take time off until next Spring.

We had debts and we thought eating well and doing up our house were more important than vacations, especially because we live in a town that's on the tourist trail, with good weather and plenty to do.

So now that we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and will be emerging from it blinking our eyes.. I need some advice please !!

We haven't actually been on holiday together in years or had a weekend away either which means I'm a complete novice at this. I mean everything.. what to pack, where to go, where to find good deals, hotels or pubs v self-catering, travelling by train with railcard or by coach v hiring a nice car on a good deal..

Soo.. no kids or pets, just the two of us. As OH commutes no car but I have railcard and OH has season ticket so some travel free for him. Has a clean driving licence so car hire not a problem.

OH has drawn a line on a map that covers Kent, East and West Sussex, the southern coastal part of Essex, central and southern London, Surrey, Hampshire and Isle of Wight and said not beyond that - he doesn't want to be travelling for hours on a Friday night.

If he can commute direct in an hour or so by train on Monday morning he's happy to do that so stays could be either three or two nights. I'm thinking not more than £250-£300 on accommodation and I'd like to do it for less so we can go away more.

OH would hate boutique hotels, he doesn't like pretentious swank. At the same time though we would both hate camping, glamping, mobile homes and holiday parks. Although we don't drink OH would like a village pub with a pool table in there somewhere but a real pub not something with microwaved frozen food.

The idea of renting a cottage for a weekend and getting food delivered from supermarket/internet Friday night/Saturday morning also appeals. I figure we'd save money on food and be able to go foraging in farmers markets too and nose round the local Lidl etc.

Please can you help ?

Edwardia

108 people have viewed but not one person has any advice ?

kingfisherblue

I don't know that part of the country at all. I've just googled 'organic b&b Kent', as I know you eat organic food, and the first hit is this:

http://www.twitham.com/

It looks rather nice, and is just within budget. I haven't checked Trip Advisor or any other reviews though.

This one also looks good, and if children under 12 are not accepted, so it might be a little more peaceful (not that I dislike children, I have three of my own).

http://www.brookfarmbandb.co.uk/

Wherever you decide to go, I hope you enjoy your weekend, and good luck to your husband in his new job

Edwardia

I like the Brook Farm one, it's in a small village near one I used to live in many years ago and pretty close to Tenterden - cute little town with loads of independent and charity shops, really difficult to park though. Countryside round there is really English with some pretty villages.

The station in Tenterden is for a steam line which goes to Bodiam, right by the castle. I visited the castle as a kid, I think it's got a moat and might be National Trust. I've not been on a steam railway so I'm liking this idea.

I noticed that there's a holiday cottage and OH would prefer that if in budget. I think Tenterden has a Farmers' Market. There's a small Waitrose and a small Tesco either end of the town because yes you're right we do eat organic food.

Woodchurch isn't far from Ashford, south on the A28 I think it is. So OH could meet me at Ashford International by train and hire a car at the station I hope.

Then we could nip round to the nearby McArthur Glen outlet centre pick up organic stuff for dinner from the 24/7 ASDA next door and drive only a few miles. We'd have to hire a car as there aren't any trains and only one bus which doesn't run on Sundays AFAIK.

kingfisherblue thank you for those suggestions. :T I need to look for car hire places now to check it would work. Thank you for the best wishes too. OH is looking forward to it.

OH was in loft and found an old handbag of mine, a sort of gladstone bag type in black leather. It was filthy but I cleaned it up with leather feed and I've got something to put makeup and toiletries in when we go away now I nabbed him a tan leather M&S weekend bag from Oxfam earlier this week which was under 50% of what it would cost new.

We haven't had a weekend away in more than ten years so sorry I'm all excited sad case person.

Any more ideas ? What should I pack ?

susancs

I am a bit unclear as to whether you mean you want to go on holiday now before OH starts the new job or next spring. If it is next spring then I would sign up to the MSE newsletters to keep an eye out for the budget hotel sale dates, do some research on tripadvisor as to hotels in the areas you want to visit and try for cheap hotel rooms. In regard to train fares keep an eye by checking the train sites on a regular basis some 12 weeks before going to get the chepest fares. Also keep an eye on sites like megabus if you are in an area they cover as fares can start from 50p each way, but these go early on, when they roll out the next batch of fares. Travelodge do rooms for £12 a night in the sale, Premier Inn do rooms from £29 and the Devere hotel chain have 4 star hotels on sale every so often from about £30 a room. Greene King pubs sometimes have sales, again it is usually in the MSE newsletter.

Enjoy your holidays.

kingfisherblue

Edwardia, travelling on a steam train is great. I first went on one when St. Helens Guiding arranged a steam train trip to York to celebrate a hundred years of guiding. We had a fantastic time, and so many enthusiasts came to the different stations on the way to wave to the girls.

A couple of years ago, our disabled children's group travelled on the Santa steam train and we had an equally good time then, although it was a much shorter journey. I think we're going again this Christmas as well

Your description of the area sounds lovely. As for being a sad case, not at all. Holidays should be exciting, and when you have waited for so long, you have the perfect reason to look forward to it so much. I hope your OH is as excited as you are.

KFB x

Edwardia

susancs I'm hoping to go away once a month between October and March and maybe nearer Spring we can book something for April - depends on his workload.

OH says he's looking for something with character, neither scruffy or swanky that he can just relax in. He doesn't want to be driving for ages or sitting on a train for hours to get there and doesn't want to get up early to have breakfast.

kingfisherblue, I think many people think of the South East as a concrete jungle of commuter housing development boxes but I've known places in Kent and E Sussex where grass grows in the middle of the road and two cars in a day would be heavy traffic

I have gotten as far as looking for hire car places. OH suggested looking at bigger towns on his commute and using them as a departure point. I found Avis had places in quite a few so I've got him signing up for Avis Preferred, their loyalty card.

He is trying not to get excited I think I've also got him registering for a BITE card to get money off in rail station eateries https://www.bitecard.co.uk

artichoke

i don't know the SE Very well so can't make specific suggestions but if you are into good food why not have a look at what food festivals are on throughout the year and make specific trips to those towns when the food festival is happening?

http://www.thefestivalcalendar.co.uk/food-festivals-calendar.php

the focus will be on good quality local high welfare ethical foods - some of it organic other food produced to the same standards but by small producers who cant pay for the organic certification but still produce high quality foods



http://www.broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk/

Whitstable is a good place to visit if you like eating out - oysters and fish especially also the New Forest has lots of foodie stuff going on
art
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philc_31

Torbay is lovely any time of year.

Edwardia

The food festival is near enough as crow flies to go for a day but I've bookmarked the website for future use thanks.

Torbay - been there as a kid so has OH. He wants to vacation in Devon but it's too far for a weekend.