h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Odo's Birthday is the 31st of August and mine is September 3rd, so we are planning to spend the intervening weekend being luxurious in a hotel somewhere.

The only problem is: We can't think of anywhere to go.

We'll both be travelling from S Wales, and we're on a medium(ish) budget; normally we'd be on low budget, but it's our combined birthdays weekend and we reckon we could splash out a bit.

During the day, Odo would almost certainly like to ramble up a hill or two, whereas I tend to get excited about good food.

Any suggestions on somewhere exciting? We are stuck for inspiration somewhat.

B

How far do you want to go and what about travel means (foot, bike, car, train, plane, "beam", ...)?

Well, we don't want to travel huge distances for the weekend - we both have cars at our disposal (disposal being the best thing for Odo's, come to think of it). Having said that, we wouldn't be adverse to jetting off to somewhere like Dublin if we could get a last-minute saver.

B

Actually my birthday is on the 30th, but your near enough.

Fyling anywhere might cause a problem. I don't know what the regulations are now, but I don't have a passport!

I was in fact going to mention Ireland, there are some great countryside hotels with good food.....

Ages ago I read an article but can't remember any precise hotel/town names - why not take a look at the Irish tourist information site.

Then again, you might be able to get some cheap flights for the French provinces (Toulouse ?)....

Or even the unromantic-sounding Belgium which has some very pretty places (Ghent?)...

I don't think you need a passport to go to Ireland

oops (simuposting again)

You might have time to get a passport ! (If you've never been abroad, it would make it a very special occasion)

If not, thinking cap on for the UK

oops (simuposting again)

You might have time to get a passport ! (If you've never been abroad, it would make it a very special occasion)

If not, thinking cap on for the UK

Odo - I do know your birthday really...honest.

Belgium doesn't hugely romantic, I have to say. If we were to go to the continent, I'd love to go back to Prague, but the flights tend to be pricey.

I think we're more likely to end up sticking with the British Isles, though...

B

And that's another point - my passport expired in March.

B

Lake District?

Old country pubs, good walks, and more romantic views than you could shake a stick at. Though you probably could shake a stick at all the views if you really wanted, but it would take a very long time, longer than you may live, in fact. So there really are more romantic views than you could shake a stick at lol

Burgh Island, off the Devon coast, accessible by sea tractor. Amazing Art Deco hotel, highly recommended by friends although I haven't been there (yet!).

It's a long long drive from South Wales to the Lake District. And I've been there so many times.

B

I was quite interested in Burgh Island myself.

There is some info on :

http://www.salcombeinformation.co.uk/

and on another site I found :

"Bigbury, a small resort with excellent, large, beaches in a secluded position, very busy in summer, hence the large carpark area.
The best bit is that it has an island, Burgh Island, which you can walk to at low tide or get there on a large wheeled tractor thing. Adventure Island here we come!

The island has a private hotel, excellent for a romantic weekend, all in Art Deco style, built in 1929 by the millionaire Archibald Nettlefold. as visited by Agatha Christie, who used the setting in two of her books."


The "Adventure Island here we come" is a bit off-putting and there seems to be very little other info about the island itself. Still, it looks like a very good area for short break

Best make sure you get the dates right in future

The southern tip of cornwall (Lizard) is lovely at any time of year

somewhere out of the way where you can see the stars

er, how many of us are going to turn up at this romantic "just the two of them" weekend ?

I can organise a coach or two !

We have had a couple of lovely long weekends in Cornwall this year. We stayed in Looe:

http://www.trehavenhotel.co.uk/

Not a cheap B&B but Rob does the most wonderful breakfasts.

It is a short walk into Looe where there are some nice restaurants, the food at the Bistro is particularly good.

I'll tell you what queegle, I'll take you away the weekend after.

B

*waiting for Odo to come on line*