hips don't lie: Family weekend breaks: A mini-break for mini-terrors in Worcestershire

By

Jayne Secker

PUBLISHED:

13:25 EST, 26 May 2013

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UPDATED:

13:25 EST, 26 May 2013

The idea of a ‘luxury family break’ always seemed something of a contradiction to me. Family holidays meant lists and planning, endless repacking of the boot with enough children’s toys/clothes/accessories to amuse an entire creche, followed by a few foreign days of bickering and exhaustion.

Then a long drive home.

My two boys Jake, five, and Seb, two, are what our neighbour charitably calls ‘exuberant’.

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Waving hello to a great weekend: Jayne and her brood settle in at The Elms

I’d say they are extremely exuberant, and at varying volumes. I would not dream of inflicting them on others paying good money to relax at a posh hotel.

So it was with some scepticism that my husband Dom and I, plus the two monkeys, set off to The Elms Hotel and Spa in Worcestershire, which offers somewhere to ‘have fun with the kids and enjoy grown-up time for yourselves’. We were promised great family facilities, Ofsted-registered childcare, delicious food and wine, and a spa.

As we swept up the drive to the hotel on the outskirts of Kidderminster, it reminded me of the places I’d have dreamed of heading for on a pre-child Bridget Jones-style mini-break.

After a long drive, the kids were especially ‘enthusiastic’, but all our humours were soothed by the sight of a warm fire, with a big pile of toys that Seb and Jake immediately got stuck into. Food was quickly provided for small people and drinks for grown-ups.

The bedrooms were good-quality. We had two rooms, which were both en suite, with a corridor between. The kids’ room was far enough away for us not to be bothered by them in the night, but we could hear them.

Outside in the fantastic grounds there’s a playground, tractor, bats and balls. Inside, as well as the pool and spa, there are books, toys and board games (with all the pieces in!). There is also a creche for use during the day.

Before we arrived, we were worried about what it would be like to spend a weekend surrounded by noisy kids. And while our children are ‘exuberant’, of course other people’s are just annoying.

But we found that over the course of the two days, our kids – and everyone else’s – were unusually well-behaved. And what made the weekend an absolute luxury was to have 48 hours where I didn’t have to think about what to feed the family. You can choose to all eat together or you can feed the children earlier – they do a special kids’ dining room from 5pm to 6pm.

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And it’s good night from them: Jake and Seb look forward to a peaceful few hours’ sleep

The food for the children was good and all pretty healthy – pasta, fishcakes, chicken and loads of veg. It allowed us to get the kids fed, washed and in bed at normal time … and then get dressed up and come down for a grown-up dinner afterwards.

Their baby-listening service meant Dom and I got some precious time to ourselves, so we felt we’d had a bit of a break too.

The Elms is not a budget getaway – our weekend cost more than a week’s self-catering – but it’s worth it for the relaxation.

As we drove away, we realised this is one of the few weekends we’ve had recently when no one was told off or sent for time out – and happy children mean happy parents.

The highlight of the weekend was the fairy trail. Ten little fairy doors, hidden in the garden with a list of clues on how to find them. It really captured the children’s imagination – they absolutely loved it.

Travel Facts

The Elms Hotel Spa (0844 482 2152, www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk) offers rooms from £120 per night including breakfast. Children up to the age of 16 stay free of charge in their parents’ room but pay for breakfast (price depends on their age).

Complimentary childcare in the hotel’s Ofsted-registered creche, The Den, is also included, which is available in two-hour sessions.