Go on, book the babysitter and leave the kids at home...
Earned a weekend away with the girls but stumped for inspiration? Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith pick five of the best weekend escapes, from Somerset to Sweden.
Dormy House, Cotswolds, UK
Dormy House’s four-posted beds and William Morris prints give this Cotswolds hotel a quirky edge. Grab a picnic hamper for afternoons of lawn-lazing and indulge in champagne-infused beauty treatments when their pool and spa open in 2014.
Rates: Doubles from £180 a night including a full English breakfast and buffet
At the Chapel, Somerset, UK
With just eight pared-back rooms, At the Chapel is as boutique as hotels come, and a local hub for fashion shows and exhibitions. Leave space in your suitcase to bring back treats from the on-site wine store and artisan bakery.
Rates: Doubles from £100 per night including an in-room breakfast tray
Mercer Hotel Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Tucked away in the city’s Gothic Quarter, Mercer Hotel Barcelona makes a perfect retreat from this lively neighbourhood and its many tapas bars. Savour exceptional city views over a chilled negroni by the rooftop pool.
Rates: from £205 per night, excluding buffet breakfast.
Brody House, Budapest, Hungary
It took a cool kid to snatch the Best Budget Hotel gong at this year’s Smith Hotel Awards. With a super stylish bar, art-gallery rooms and its own record label, Brody House is buzzy Budapest at its best.
Rates: from £59 per night excluding breakfast
Story Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
The Story Hotel is the epitome of effortless Swedish cool. Round-the-clock room service, a graffiti room and a destination bar with one-of-a-kind cocktails make it the perfect party hotspot.
Rates: from £111 per night including buffet breakfast
Book through Mr & Mrs Smith for the best available rates, money back on every booking, a Smith extra on arrival and 24/7 support from the in-house travel team. www.mrandmrssmith.com / 0845 034 0700