40th Birthday Weekend Away?

[RobM77]

My wife and I are thinking of going away somewhere in March to celebrate my 40th birthday; does anyone have any suggestions? It'll be for about 3 days and I'd like to spend under £1000 for the both of us. We like countryside, good food and wine; although if it was somewhere special and not that crowded or noisy we may possibly consider a city break.

thanks!

[tankplanker]

Ashford Estate? https://www.redcarnationhotels.com/our-hotels/irel...

Lovely place and you can't beat the service from Red Carnation. Make sure you tell them it's your birthday, when we stayed at their 41 Hotel for the wife's birthday they upgraded the room to the largest suite and arranged for a signed poster from the cast of the Musical we went to as a surprise.

[RobM77]

tankplanker said:

Ashford Estate? https://www.redcarnationhotels.com/our-hotels/irel...

Lovely place and you can't beat the service from Red Carnation. Make sure you tell them it's your birthday, when we stayed at their 41 Hotel for the wife's birthday they upgraded the room to the largest suite and arranged for a signed poster from the cast of the Musical we went to as a surprise.

That looks nice, thanks! It'd be very tight on the budget, but it looks good and I like the look of the activities available too.

[trickywoo]

I went to Budapest for my 40th, it was great.

I'm not a massive city fan but over a long weekend in October it didn't feel busy at all. Lots to do and see and it's reasonably priced so you can get a high end experience for much less than you would spend in the UK.

I stayed at the Kempinski which is proper 5* but can be had cheaply with some canny shopping around.

[One MoreDonkey]

If you like countryside and quiet then this place in the Cotswolds, it is stunning

http://heathfarm.com/

[PositronicRay]

How about the seaside

http://whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk/

or

http://www.harbour-master.com/

[AndrewCrown]

Rob...
3 suggestions all tried and tested...

1.
http://www.sources-caudalie.com/en/

It has a Michelin star restaurant, its in the middle of Vineyard, opposite Smith Haut Lafitte http://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/en/ all in the countryside... hop skip and a jump from Bordeaux airport...
You can find reasonable Gatwick Bordeaux flights with BA and Easyjet

And the Mrs can have a go in the spa...

2.

I've just come back from a shooting party held here http://www.portmeirion-village.com/stay/hotel-port... Its rather nice... food isn't bad... and it is in the countryside and down by the sea... Most of the Port Meirion houses are hotel room/ appartments with some s/c cottages...


3.
Drive to Le Touquet and stay here http://www.westminster.fr/en/page/spa-hotel-touque... Seaside and good food...

[RobM77]

Hi there. I just thought I'd report with what we did in the end. I looked into all the suggestions above, but we ended up staying in St Émilion for four days. We flew into Bordeaux and hired a car very cheaply to get us to St Émilion. As well as some general sightseeing, we spent a day cycling, a morning horse riding and another day walking. In the evenings we ate and drank wine in the amazing restaurants. We stayed in a beautiful flat on a cobbled street on the edge of town, which meant we could keep our own food for an easy breakfast and making picnics for each day out. One of the best holidays I've ever had It was shockingly expensive, but worth it I guess!