Trading Barbados for Bedfordshire, why now is the time to book a home-cation
With tier rule confusion and Covid induced exhaustion, holidaying near to home delivers maximum enjoyment and minimum stress
‘It’s not about the destination it's about the journey’ say a million Instagram platitudes. Well, right now, with a worldwide pandemic going on, I respectfully disagree.
With Hancock’s reintroduction of the tiers (and nobody quite understanding them), plus the quarantining, testing and never ending queuing involved in travelling abroad, I’d rather just arrive swiftly and enjoy thank you very much.
This last year has seen the rise and rise of the staycation, but now also the home-cation. Say what? Well it’s like a stay-cation, but nearer. Think a holiday, but within a fairly short distance of your own home. Staying inside your tier zone means no confusion about the rules. They stay the same as they are at home.
There used to be a kudos attached visiting a far flung destination. You got ‘traveller’ points for sea planes and trekking and finding off-the-beaten path shacks. Couples would play honeymoon one upmanship. ‘Oh you went to the Maldives? We went to a Madagascan retreat via a helicopter . It was in-cred-ible wasn’t it Piers?’
But when we are all so tired and stressed, this sounds like too much. Or to me anyway. In these times I want comfort and familiarity. And, full disclosure, I don't actually want to leave the hotel. For me it’s all about the room service, the cocktails before dinner, and the feeling of clean sheets and a myriad of breakfast options. The escape of domestic drudge. And to escape the same four walls I've been staring at for so long. Yes the setting is important, but it’s the immediate setting, rather than the wider one for me, at the moment. It's more important there’s a swimming pool and a spa which does muscle melting treatments and activities for the kids to enjoy so I can shake off the guilt of them staring at a screen for a gazillion hours a day.
This half term I had lined up a few options. One way up North (four hours drive) and one in a Greek Island resort. Both were appealing, but both required planning and a certain amount of bravery that six months of Covid, a couple of years of single parenting and the writing of a book had depleted.
No, I decided, I wanted to go to a hotel just down the road. Very little driving and none of it travelling through different tier zones. It reminded me of an episode of Miranda where she was all set to go to Thailand, but instead opted to go to a hotel over the road and had a thoroughly good time.
Stacey Duguid, Harrods fashion editorial director, recently went three miles from her London home to Mayfair’s The Connaught hotel. “I spent all day in the spa, lounged around in the hotel dressing gown, then got dressed and went for cocktails in the sexy bar. I spent Sunday morning in bed with a Bloody Mary and felt reborn!”
It’s a trend that Chris King, co-founder of Birch, a new and 'easily accessible’ hotel near Cheshunt, has noticed. Sold as an escape from urban living, it is less than thirty minutes away from London and offers an affordable but cool escape where you can eat great food, do yoga, throw some pots or simply lounge about and people watch. ‘“In the mid Covid world we’re all now living in, we’re finding that guests are coming more frequently than we’d thought to escape their flats or spare rooms or home offices for a genuine sense of space, good coffee and a great atmosphere.”
Hand Picked Hotels Chairman and CEO, Julia Hands adds “at the moment distance isn't relevant - it's a change of scene and a new environment that guests are craving. A short drive can take them a world away from everyday life, and that is what they are enjoying - a different perspective and a treat.”
For my for my half term get away I opted for a micro-break. Which is similar to a mini break, only shorter and so costs less. Because, and stick with my mental gymnastics here, I wasn't spending on flights, I felt justified in splashing out on luxury accommodation.
So I took my daughter to Luton Hoo, a five star Grade 1-listed mansion that ticked all the boxes in that it had a spa, a swimming pool, extensive breakfast offerings and exercise options (which the teenager will no doubt turn her nose up at).
My daughter and I park up in front of the main house, and once we get over the mortification of leaving our dented car in prime position outside, we appreciate the grandeur of the place. It’s a classic country hotel. The grand hallway is populated by older ladies holding boxes of eclairs left over from their cream teas. There are young parents trying to corral toddlers into coats. Whilst it's not cool, it’s grand, it's comfortable and it’s an escape from the day to day.
It’s just what I need. I don’t want to have to face the Soho Farm House set. Not today.
Our room, in the main house, is enormous and could easily fit a family of four. It’s slightly faded, but the views from the window are breathtaking and the bathroom has a jacuzzi bath and enough space for a small party. We go for manicures at the spa and I get a hot stone massage with Nicole which makes my stress levels plummet and my spirit soar. Dinner is delicious, with high-backed chairs and a side order of formality. It makes for a great change from scratching around in the back of the freezer.
Coming for such a short time means we take advantage of everything the hotel has to offer. Think bike riding, swimming, gymming, eating, walking round the Capability Brown designed gardens (the teenager in inappropriate shoes obviously).
In twenty four hours, and clocking up only two hours travel time (there and back), our home-cation was all about maximum enjoyment with minimum fuss.
And for the Christmas holidays I’ve booked a decadent night at Le Manor Aux Quat’Saisons. It's less than thirty minutes from my home. But feels a million miles away
Rosie Green was hosted by Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, a member of Elite Hotels. Stay overnight from £220 per room (two sharing), including breakfast. Call Luton Hoo on 01582 734437 (www.lutonhoo.co.uk).
