Archive for March, 2010

Already familiar with ‘staycationing’ (the UK trend of spending your annual holidays in the country) and presumably seeing no mileage in the term ‘stolidaying’, the travel press has been buzzing in recent weeks with a recently identified trend of UK newlyweds doing the same with their honeymoons. The trend, which some are calling ‘mini-moons’ (sigh) is mainly due to financial necessity as opposed to a predicted domestic heat-wave. But even so we’re sure many newlyweds are having a fantastic time on their mini-moons. And because we specialise in offering fantastic value holiday cottages we thought we might take this opportunity to recommend three of the most romantic and relaxing destinations in the UK.

The Cotswolds – Where better to celebrate your nuptials than a short distance from the birthplace of Shakespeare?

The Cotswolds is undeniably one of the loveliest parts of the UK with beautiful stone-built villages scattered across rolling hills and valleys. Explore the beautiful waterways, walk the streets of Bath and marvel at the stunning Georgian architecture, watch the races at Cheltenham or take a hot air balloon ride over the countryside, the Cotswolds is one of the best UK destinations to celebrate romance.

North Wales / Snowdonia – If the though of truly getting away from it all on your honeymoon appeals then the area of North Wales around Snowdonia could be your perfect destination.

With so much unspoiled land many people flock to the area for active outdoor pursuits – from walking and orienteering to climbing and canoeing. But if you can appreciate snowdrop flecked pastures, and in some cases even Snowdon itself, from the window of your cottage then you may not feel the need to go outside. However if you do fancy something a bit livelier then there are plenty of areas that are perfect for shopping and dining without any compromise in beauty; try Colwyn Bay for fresh air and great beaches.

North Norfolk Coast – If you’re after a beach break on your UK honeymoon then you really can’t do much better than the 43 miles that make up the North Norfolk Coast.

Much of the landscape along the North Norfolk Coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and once you walk along its sandy shores you’ll see why. You’ll also be able to see a wide range of native wildlife, but if you fancy something a bit more civilised then many of the towns and villages of the area offer fantastic and unique shopping and dining experiences. Try Blakeney, Cromer and Wells-next-the-Sea for great coastal views, fine food and good times!

If you fancy taking a UK honeymoon or even just a well-deserved break, then check our availability section for a great selection of value UK and France cottages.

What type of mum do you have? It’s an important question to answer as Mother’s Day is fast approaching and obviously you don’t want to buy an inappropriate gift – that’s almost as bad as buying an unimaginative one! So put the florist’s number down, forget the box of chocolates and have a look at a number of UK cottage holidays that offer something for every mum.

For the active mum

The wild and beautiful landscape of North Wales makes the perfect holiday location for the more active mum. Try horse riding between Snowdon and the sea, mountain biking or cycling through stunning Welsh scenery, taking to the water at the National Watersports centre or rock climbing in Conwy.

You’ll probably need to treat your mum to a relaxing holiday cottage after any of these activities. Click here to view availability of value holiday cottages in Wales on easycottages.com.

For the ‘I need relaxation’ mum

Beautiful, unspoiled landscapes and a sparse population make Dorset the perfect place to take your mum on a relaxing break. Take a stroll along the delightful Jurassic coastline and Chesil beach followed by a stop-off at one of the region’s fantastic spa and pampering centres.

You’ll probably need to find equally comfortable accommodation after so much relaxation. Click here to view availability of value holiday cottages in Dorset on easycottages.com.

For the literary mum

If your mum is never happier than when she’s got her nose in a good book (except when she’s spending time with her delightful children of course!) then why not treat her to a break in the Cotswolds. Explore Shakespeare’s old haunts and the Jane Austen Centre, stroll through Slad, the delightful village that inspired Cider with Rosie, visit Chipping Camden Literature Festival or just find a nice quiet place to sit down with a good read!

Click here to view availability of value holiday cottages in the Cotswolds on easycottages.com.

For any other mum

If you don’t think that the above suggestions will appeal to your mum then pay a visit to easycottages.com to view our entire selection of great value holiday cottages in the UK and France. We’re sure we have just the thing to show your mum how much they mean to you this Mother’s Day.