Thanks all - it looks like it could be Chester then - but not the hotel hubby fancied Quite a few of the reviews classed it as dirty - so no thanks! I think hubby just liked the look of the outside and the price Spoke to a work coplleague who visited Chester a few years ago & she said it was lovely. Now back to the hotel search

Hi Helen,

Which hotel have you in mind? I lived and worked in Chester for 4 years before moving up here and still have friends there.

The Grosvenor always had a reputation as being the grandest in the city and couldn't be more centrally placed but it is very popular with American coach parties and can get crowded. On the other hand they are very demanding guests so I would imagine that standards have remained high. The Blossoms is also very well placed and had the reputation as being more homely and cosier - a bit more country house hotel style but I had heard that it was looking a bit tired now. But Chester is surrounded by some lovely smaller country house hotels and some great pubs with rooms too in the nearby villages. So there's lots to choose from.

Driving and parking inside the city walls is a nightmare so it might be worthwhile to look for a hotel which has its own car park where you can just leave it for the duration - whether within the city or on the outskirts because villages like Christleton and others on or the ring road were well served by the local bus services and it would be easy to get in and out of the city centre.

if you want 2 great priced pubs,for food & drink go to
http://www.greatvaluepubs.co.uk
and put chester in.one is the red lion & one is the town crier,opposite the train station.
they have some great prices,for both food & drink.
we always pop into the town crier,if we visit by train,great value,if you don't want to pay,over the odds,
tracy

Did Birmingham to Cornwall last year in the Autumn half term for a 3 night stay. About 4 hours driving without the need to welly the car. I would set out early so that you get at least half a day when you arrive and have a leasurely start to the day you come home rather than rushing.

I rather fancy the one that my colleague recommended http://www.millhotel.com/ It's more than what I wanted to pay, but perhaps we could have one night in a cheapie on the way up. This looks quite nice http://www.talbot-hotel.com/

Looks a nice hotel Helen, can't say I have seen it on my numerous trips to Chester. Not a bad price for a hotel in the city centre. Whilst you are in Chester you must take a trip to Cheshire Oaks, (one of my favourite shopping places) it's not far away by car.

Denny

The Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port - not far from Cheshire Oaks - is also a pleasant place to spend an hour or two.

Hi Helen,

The Mill Hotel opened up just before I moved up here - it's very well located for the centre of the city and everything would be within easy walking distance. There used to be a couple of great wine bars close by it but that could have changed in the 20 years since I last regularly frequented them!

I'm a bit confused about the Talbot though! Looks to be a lovely little place but it's in Berriew which I though was in Powis near Welshpool and hence a long way from Chester - though probably just up the road for you in West Wales!

SM

Welshpol is around 2 2 1/2 hours from us depending on the traffic. We thought we'd stay the night there, and continue onto Chester the following day. It should take us roughly another 2 hours travelling time.

Helen
If you want any further info on Chester - let me know. We live just 15 mins away - it is a lovely place.
Irene

Well I've gone & booked it. One night in The Talbot in Berrieview on the way up, & 2 nights in the Mll in Chester. Looking forward to it now

Good for you Helen . I quite fancy a trip to chester myself .

Chester is a lovely place Lyn - plenty to do in the surrounding area.
Irene

We flew to Tenerife for a 3 day break flew Friday Night had Saturday, Sunday & Monday flew back Tuesday.

Didn't have enough holidays to take a week and was worried it was a long flight for 3 days and had expected we'd be the only one's doing it everyones else would be going for a week or 2...

No there was loads of people doing it, have heard of people doing Benidorm or Majorca/Ibiza for a weekend but there quite short flights but it seems quite a lot do Tenerife.

Had a brilliant time, made the most of every hour there, weather was superb as usual we meet some great people doing the 'weekend' .

Went to Tunis for a weekend to attend a wedding. Flew from Gatwick on the Friday. attended the wedding on Satiurday and flew back on the Sunday.

It's all that faffing about before you get on a plane at the departure airport and the same when you arrive at your destination that would put me off just going for a couple of days, I would have to go for a minimum of 5 days to somewhere even as close as Paris before I would do it.

Well Graham I have done 5 days in Goa before and I still enjoyed it But wouldn't go that for 3 days.
Probably go as far as New York

Kiltman HT Mod wrote:

It's all that faffing about before you get on a plane at the departure airport and the same when you arrive at your destination that would put me off just going for a couple of days, I would have to go for a minimum of 5 days to somewhere even as close as Paris before I would do it.

If you only took hand luggage it would tons easier as I've just found out. You could leave it till lateish, straight through to security, on the plane then at the other end just passport control and your off

It's all that faffing about before you get on a plane at the departure airport and the same when you arrive at your destination that would put me off just going for a couple of days, I would have to go for a minimum of 5 days to somewhere even as close as Paris before I would do it.

I'm generally with you on that one Graham. I only had hand luggage on the way back, but took some of the presents out for the bride's parents in an old suitcase and ditched it when I got there.