A Luxury Hotel in Ascot

40 years of marriage with one of the most romantic men anyone could ask for, what could I do in return that could even slightly compare to all the magical things that have been done for me. I pictured it.... a romantic setting in the heart of Berkshires rolling countryside. A rural setting, log fires, old buildings with character, peaceful surroundings, cosy furnishings, manicured gardens, this is what I wanted. I wanted to feel as if I was going back in history so what better area to choose than one with lots of History itself. I was looking for a Luxury Hotel in the surrounding areas of Ascot and Windsor where I could nestle down and enjoy the countryside or venture out slightly and enjoy the delights of Berkshire and its best features. Perhaps we would enjoy a day at the races, at the long famous Ascot Racecourse, or maybe a day at Windsor Castle, exploring the enchanted way the long past royal members have lived. Finally deciding on a location I could start to narrow it down and look for a Luxury Hotel in Ascot.

There were so many to choose from, suddenly I felt daunted. So many names and reviews! Stirrups Country House Hotel seemed to feature often. I wondered what was so special about this Hotel, why were they soaring above the rest? What secret ingredient had they got their hands on.  With so many Luxury Hotels in Ascot, all having the same access to local features and amenities why was Stirrups standing so high above the rest? I’ve always been one for taking chances, I did no more research and booked a four night stay at Stirrups Hotel, just from the first impact this Hotel had on me. Well, what a delight! As a very comfortably retired couple we have stayed in many Luxury Hotels and this exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Defiantly modest when rating themselves. A home away from home. We were lucky enough to enjoy a day at the Ascot racecourse. Champagne flowing whilst the sun set over the course, catching the dust kicked up from galloping race horses. We felt like Kings and Queens drizzled in luxury. Ascot Village itself is an absolute treasure to come across. Historic buildings line the high street, glittered with small cafes and patisseries. The bustle in the morning was energetic yet calming as everyone enjoyed their start to the day, a true community with heart.

Stirrups Hotel really do themselves proud. A fantastic location! Equidistant from major key attractions, all with total ease of access.  We were both completely delighted with what we had stumbled across and would return to the Berkshire area again without hesitation, and most defiantly to Stirrups. Highly recommended by ourselves, I feel Stirrups to be the truest of Luxury Hotels in Ascot as it has all you would expect and so much more.
Trust your instincts, I’m glad I did!

2012 Olympics Accommodation

With the Olympics just around the corner at less than 3 weeks away, time is really starting to run out for making those last minute arrangements if you're visiting the games. Most importantly is of course making sure you've got your tickets for the events! Coming after that, but possibly being just as important, is making travel and accommodations arrangements.

It was originally not recommended to wait until last minute to book London 2012 Olympic accommodation, as London anticipated a huge surge of visitors flocking to the city. Indeed it is expected that 294,000 visitors will be coming from overseas, and 587,000 UK visitors, all needing overnight accommodation. However, to put it plainly, the bookings have just yet failed to materialise. Part of the reason for this may be because of the huge increase in room rates for the Olympic Period. Compared to last year's rates, most London hotel's prices have gone up by 75%. A study conducted by which? Travel finds some hotel chains have put their tariffs up by a ridiculous 400%. With prices that high, no wonder visitors are being put off staying over in the city and are looking elsewhere. Due to the lack of interest, many city hotels have since dropped their rates taking them to on average £160 per room per night, a drop of 24%.

This pricing is still unreasonably high for many people though, and so they are doing what is viewed as the sensible thing to do, and looking in the surrounding areas of the capital for their Olympic accommodation. After all there is plenty of it, and much more reasonably priced, as hotels in the surrounding areas have to compete with each other by offering the best deals.

Hotels in Berkshire are being praised for their locality with excellent transport links into London. Stirrups Country House Hotel near Bracknell for example has the benefit of being close to both Bracknell and Ascot train stations which get you into London in less than an hour, whilst remaining in the scenic Berkshire countryside away from endless crowds and noise. Other such hotels in this area are also close to Windsor, perfect for the Olympic rowing at Dorney Lake. These options may involve a little more travel time, but you are rewarded with wonderful views of two sides of Great Britain; glorious countryside for your overnight accommodation, and the hustle and bustle of the city during the day. A beautiful way to celebrate the games being in our green and pleasant land.

So the lesson to be reminded here is: booking your 2012 Olympic accommodation last minute and getting a good deal is achievable, but don't be fooled by the sudden drops in rates for London hotels. There are much better deals in the vicinity of the capital where you are likely to be a lot more comfortable and experience better value for money.

Olympic Accommodation London

When I think of the Olympics in London this year, my first thought (just after sports and athletics of course) is - people. There are going to be lots, and lots, of people coming to London and it is going to be very, very busy... During the Summer, London is busy enough as it is with tourists travelling from all over the world to see the capitals historical monuments. It's easy to believe that London is the second most visited city in the entire world, sitting just behind Paris. But I think with the influx of people swarming to the Olympics this year we may manage to steal the title of first place!

With so many people due to be in the city at the same time, there is a high demand for hotel rooms, and I've seen some hotels charging absolutely extortionate prices purely because of their locations - not because they're any good. While looking for my Olympic accommodation in London, I just wasn't prepared to pay above the odds for a below average room. I really wanted to get my money's worth and believed accommodation that was good and reasonably priced could be found, if I was just prepared to widen my search area a little. I realised that I didn't need to stay right in the centre of London surrounded by people all the time, just so I could be close to the Olympic stadium. I could just as easily stay in the surrounding areas where good transport links could take me into the city every day.

I'm glad I thought like this as I believe I've found the perfect place for my Olympic accommodation near London. A countryside retreat called Stirrups Country House Hotel will be the perfect haven to come back to after what is bound to be a hectic day in the city. Nestled in the Berkshire countryside close to both Bracknell and Ascot, this traditional hotel can offer me a luxuriously styled and furnished room for as little as £125 a night. Travelling into London on the train from either Bracknell or Ascot takes less than an hour into Waterloo, where I can hop on the Jubilee line straight into Stratford. Even with the costs of travel it will still cost much less than a hotel room in the city! I know I'll be getting my money's worth with this hotel, it looks simply beautiful with fantastic grounds and gardens, and a bar and restaurant with prices that will be easy on my wallet - especially when compared to what I expect the food to cost at the Olympic stadium!

I would urge anyone looking for cheaper Olympic accommodation London for this year to cast their net a little further and be prepared to find gems in the surrounding areas - and everyone's first stop should be Stirrups Country House Hotel.

Book Hotel for London Olympics

What a fantastic year for sportsmen. The Olympics coming to London in 2012. I can't quite believe the time is finally here myself, even after 4 years of build up it seems like only yesterday it was announced. Following the announcement everyone's immediate reaction was to begin worrying. The whole nation worrying over money and spending, building the stadium, public transport... "What hell it's going to be!" exclaimed everyone I spoke to about it after the announcement. But that's just a typical depiction of Britain as a nation isn't it? A nation of worriers bonding together over an event that is, quite frankly, a fantastic opportunity for our country. But that wasn't me, I was beyond excited. As a youth I was an athlete and competed in my fair share of competitions across the UK and even stretching into Europe. An injury forced me into early retirement from sports but my love and interest in Athletics has never faded. The Olympics coming around every 4 years has kept me an avid fan and I could not be more pleased and proud that it's come to London again for the first time in 64 years.

Often I go the distance and travel to the host country to watch the events, so I'm grateful this year it's a lot closer to home! Though not quite close enough; I still had to book a hotel for the London Olympics, as it isn't feasible for me to travel there and back in a day for each event. This isn't a problem though, I'm looking forward to travelling across the UK with my wife and family to show my dedication and pride in British athletes.

In particular I'm looking forward to the rowing. I managed to get tickets for Olympic Rowing at Dorney Lake - what luck! Following the rowing I have tickets for the Men's 100 metres, the day after in London. What a spectacular event that's going to be. But once I'd found out what tickets I had and where I had to be in a tight timescale, it was clear whatever hotel I chose to book for the London Olympics had to have a great location with easy transport links in and around Berkshire and into London.

Luckily I've found just the place. Stirrups Country House Hotel in Berkshire is situated perfectly for me to drive to Eton Dorney for the rowing, and to catch the train from Bracknell or Ascot into London the next day for the running. What a perfect hotel to book for the London Olympics! My family have got a fantastic deal on a room for less than £160, I dread to think what kind of prices people might pay in the centre of London! There's simply no need to stay surrounded by the hustle and bustle all the time, when you can have a peaceful countryside retreat to come back to after a hectic day. A perfect mix of comfort and relaxation after what are bound to be thrilling days.

See, I told you there was nothing to worry about.

Anniversary Wedding Venues

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This year in April my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Having never really bothered making a big deal over little anniversaries over the years we thought, as it was a really special year - why not have a really big celebration? Surrounded by friends and family at a really special venue would make up for all the times we left it too late to organise anything special and just ended up ordering a takeaway!

It had to be at a venue of course, if we were going to make our wedding anniversary really special! Our family is a large one and I don't think I could handle catering for and entertaining a lot of people in my own home. No - I was going to find a really special Wedding Anniversary Venue and let other people do the hard work for me! To my surprise, my husband was very keen on the idea, (I knew he was an old romantic at heart!) and soon we were searching for wedding anniversary venues together. I've got to say, it wasn't easy finding our perfect venue. We had a few things in mind of what we wanted - it had to be nearby to home so it felt personal yet easy to get to for friends and family travelling from further afield, and I wanted a certain amount of control in choosing menus and the order of the evening while still feeling assured that everything was being taken care of for me. So many chain venues churn out the same type of function week after week, and places like this didn't feel personal enough for us. We wanted somewhere intimate and traditional where we could celebrate our love in a beautiful environment. I don't think I was being too choosy! I just wanted everything to be perfect.

It was my husband who found our ideal anniversary venue, thanks to a recommendation from a friend. It was perfect. Stirrups Country House Hotel in Berkshire had everything we wanted, and more! Sat in 10 acres of beautiful countryside, this charming hotel is decorated with a luxury modern finish while still maintaining its traditional style. Their largest function room, the Floyd Suite, was perfect for our wedding anniversary venue as we had chosen to have a dinner dance. The events team were amazing, willing to work with every request I had making our celebration perfectly tailored to us. As organisers of the event, my husband and I got free Bed & Breakfast accommodation on the night as well, in a really beautiful room with a 4 poster bed! It really topped the night off well. Our closest members of family also stayed at the hotel so it gave us even more time to spend together. The night ran so smoothly and everybody had such an amazing time. I'm so pleased we found our perfect wedding anniversary venue, we're wanting to celebrate the next one already!

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Luxury Hotel Near Ascot

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For one week in mid June, Ascot is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Whether you're into racing or not, there's no doubt that everyone's heard of Royal Ascot and the week of racing that follows. People come from far and wide across the country to spend the undoubtedly sunshiny day in luxury, sipping champagne in the sun, placing bets on horses chosen purely because you like the name, and having best and worse hat competitions.

Last year I travelled to and from Ascot on the same day. Big mistake. I was hot, tired, sunburned and, well, let's just say - more than a little bit tipsy. Add this to my bitter mood at not winning anything in the races while my friends had, and my journey back on the train was not a comfortable one... So this year I thought, why not turn the luxury of Ascot into a mini-break rather than a day trip? Why not continue my day of extravagance in a luxury hotel near Ascot? Once I got this idea in my head I could think of nothing else. My head was brimming with ideas of what I wanted from this luxury hotel - a 4 poster bed, a beautiful view manicured lawns and gardens, luxury furnishings with a traditional style, fabulous restaurant with a wide range of foods and more importantly, an extensive wine list, and staff who are more than happy to pander to my every need... All this was starting to sound a little expensive, and I was getting worried I wouldn't be able to find such a luxury hotels near Ascot that I could afford.

However... I did not give up hope in my search, and I'm so pleased I didn't! Just 3 miles from Ascot tucked away in the Berkshire countryside I found a little gem of a hotel called Stirrups Country House Hotel. After, speaking to some very helpful and friendly staff on the phone and looking at the website, I could clearly see that this was the place for me. It simply had everything I had asked for! What's more, I could afford it. I was surprised to learn that 4 poster Junior Suites are available from just £80 a night! At this price I just had to try it out before Ascot week. I've just returned from my stay there and I have to say it lived up to all of my expectations. Travelling from London was so easy as it's so close to both Bracknell and Ascot station, and it's easy to get to from the M4 if you are travelling from further away. I had such a peaceful weekend and I certainly was very well taken care of. I can't wait to come back during Royal Ascot Week!

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Easter Breaks, in More than One Way

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About 15 years ago, I was stuck, as a 13 year old, in a stereotypical British boarding school and wishing away the days before the Easter break, during which myself, my brother and the ‘Olds’ were going to head down from the North to take in the sites of Berkshire, including Windsor Castle, Windsor zoo and London as a whole – I could not wait.   All that stood in the way of freedom was 2 days of hellishly boring lessons and a Rugby match against the schools oldest rivals, of which I was part of the team.  We were playing at home and though our win to lose ratio was fairly even, the expectations from the school were sky high.  Playing as a lock in the scrum, we knew we would have to go to some dark places and dig deep and none of us were looking forward to it too much even less so when we saw our competitors get off their team bus.  Their front row forwards were enormous, and rumours flew round that they were playing their U15 team against our U13 team.  We were worried, but I knew on the other side of this match was an Easter break to dream of.

Early in the second half and 7 points down, their full back hoofed the ball almost directly skywards.. Muggings here thought he would have a go at catching it.  Keeping my eye on the ball, I was completely unaware of the storm of opposition players bearing down on me, and it was probably for the best, as when they hit it hurt, very much.... so much my team had to carry me off the field.  One broken foot and a fractured arm for my troubles... an Easter Break if you like.

Due to my sorry condition and the fact I could not walk, my parents decided that it would actually be best if we stayed at home to let me recover.  I have never been so upset.

15 years later, I still live in the same area, though I have a daughter of my own now.. and for this Easter breaks I am going to relive the holiday that never happened with my own family.  No rugby for her... we are taking off down to Windsor, staying at the rather gorgeous Stirrups Country House Hotel and taking in all of the sites within such easy reach... on the ‘to do’ list we have Windsor Castle, Coral Reef, Windsor Great Park, The London Eye, sampling the fine pubs in the area, and my daughter has made sure we will be heading to Legoland and Go Ape as well...

Luckily, Stirrups has given us a cracking B&B deal through their Easter Break 2012 deals so for 9 days we are going to explore and enjoy ourselves as a family... and with the money that’s left over, Dad might just be able to spend a day on one of the stunning golf courses...  there will certainly be no rugby involved in this Easter Break!

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