Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour - London - Oct 2009

This is an all-suite hotel right on the harbour in Chelsea. We parked in the NCP around the corner which was very convenient.Our room was a harbour view room with beautiful views of the boats in the harbour and the Thames. The suite was very spacious with a bathroom to the right on entry, a large living/dining area with flat screen tv and balcony,  a large bedroom with flat screen tv and dressing area, and a large ensuite with bath and separate shower cubicle. It was very quiet and relaxing in the room, the large bed was very comfortable. The shower had a digital control to select the temperature and turn on, very fancy, the rain shower-head, although lovely, was too big for the space of the cubicle leaving no room to put your shampoo on! Breakfast was not included with our booking and the restaurant was closed due to refurbishment whilst there, so the only option was room-service which was ridiculously expensive so we went to a coffee shop for breakfast.

When it's completely refurbished this will be a very grand hotel, and way out of our budget, so it was good to experience, along with shopping on the King's Road!

www.wyndhamgrandlondon.co.uk

Bedford Lodge - Newmarket - Sept 2009

Bedford Lodge is a large country hotel in Newmarket. Lovely modern rooms with a large bed, Molten Brown toiletries in the modern ensuite with twin sinks and over-bath shower. The restaurant here is fabulous, breakfast is great but the dinner menu is superb. The hotel is situated on the outskirts of town, the area is lovely with horses everywhere!

www.bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk

Shorefield Country Park - New Forest - July 2009

We stayed in the Milford 2 berth lodge which was a log lodge with a veranda to the front. One bedroom with four-poster bed, bathroom with sauna, and an open plan kitchen-living area. The decor was a bit dated, but clean, we loved having a dishwasher. Could have done with some patio furniture although we didn't get great weather. The sauna didn't work, not that we wanted to use it, and the 'spa' was simply a whirlpool corner bath. The Reflections Day Spa on the site is sublime with lovely staff and great prices for their treatments.

The site is much like a large Haven site, with touring and static caravans, posh caravans, an area with these lodges, some really posh lodges, and some Butlins style chalets. If I went again, I'd stay in one of the posh lodges with and outdoor hot tub and bbq! There's not much choice of food on site but the large clubhouse has good value meals and entertainment. The indoor swimming pool is lovely and warm although gets busy.

It's a lovely short walk to the sea with great views of the Isle of Wight. The New Forest area itself has lots to offer, we enjoyed seeing the deer and ponies and also the villages of Lymington and Christchurch. The Gary Rhodes brasserie at the Kings Hotel was delicious, although I understand it's now closed, I'd love to try Gary Rhodes South, now in Christchurch instead.

www.shorefield.co.uk

Five Lakes Hotel - Maldon - May 2009

Stayed for a golf and spa break for a good package deal. The hotel has everything you need for a night or two's stay. It's quite large and impersonal but the spa and golf facilities more than make up for that. The room and ensuite with over-bath shower were clean and quite large with views over looking the golf course. The breakfast was a large buffet with everything you could want and the service was good. Dinner was also very good, with good service a wide choice and a relaxed atmosphere.

The spa is very modern and tranquil with a wide choice of treatments for the usual spa prices. The lunch and outside areas are very relaxing. The therapists were very professional and the service was first class. The pool area is nice although the changing rooms could do with updating.

www.fivelakes.co.uk

Chaffeymoor Grange - Dorset - April 2009

We stayed at Chaffeymoor for a family reunion as it was perfect to accommodate 15 adults and 2 children. This impressive manor house is situated in rural Bourton on a steep hill, with formal gardens to the front, and tennis courts and country walks to the rear. It has 10 double bedrooms, 9 with ensuites and you get the whole run of the place, including the kitchen and dining room which seats 22 for dinner. We stayed in the purple room to the front of the house, which had a beautiful ensute with a roll-top bath and a large shower cubicle. The bed was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in, super-kingsize with soft high-thread-count linens. The owners are on site to help with anything you need, but mostly leave you to your own devices, you can order grocery deliveries, or pay extra for catering services.

All in all, it's a very large house to accommodate a large family, with plenty of space so that you won't get in each others hair, and lots to do both indoors and outdoors. It would be a perfect private wedding venue.

www.chaffeymoorgrange.com

Barclay Farmhouse - Biddenden - Feb 2009

We stayed in Barclay farmhouse B&B to enable us to eat at the nearby michelin starred restaurant, the West House. In the beautiful Kent countryside the house is situated in lovely well kept gardens, well secluded from the road. We stayed in a downstairs room which was well equipped with everything we needed and with a modern ensuite shower room. Lynn the owner was the perfect host, even organising a lift to the restaurant for us with some other guests. The breakfast was cooked to order and the breakfast room was very quaint and cosy. Lynn obviously enjoys what she does and the breakfast was delightful.

The West House was divine, we really enjoyed the taster starter that was sent out to us, and it was great value for money for such cuisine.

The only grumble was that staying in the downstairs room, and with wooden flooring, we could hear the upstairs guests moving around, which woke us earlier than we would have liked.

www.barclayfarmhouse.co.uk

Black Rock House - Hastings - Nov 2008

Stayed in the Garden room. Lovely small boutique B&B run by a really welcoming couple. Beautifully designed rooms downstairs and upstairs. Our garden room had a modern ensuite shower room, superb shower, fluffy towels, all details immaculately presented. Breakfast was scrumptious and cooked to order from local produce, plus a buffet of fruit and cereals.

Our only gripe was the local seagulls waking us at 6 each morning, not the owners fault, and might not be so bad in the other rooms/different times of year.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/black-rock-house.en.html