By Kate Parsons, Head of Reservations
Who doesn’t love a group weekend getaway? Trips to the beach, cocktails on rooftops, the delights of a house in the country. And, perhaps best of all, no kids! But finding somewhere to stay can be time-consuming. So let us help. We know loads of places that work well for easy and affordable weekend breaks with friends, whether in the UK or abroad. Pick a date, decide what’s important for your group, and off you go.
Jump to: European city hotels; European city apartments; Whole house rentals; By the sea; With a pool; With a spa; Half-board UK stays; Somewhere new
European city hotels
48 hours in Europe, away from the daily grind, staying in a hotel with pals: the dream! These properties are within a short taxi ride of an airport, have restaurants nearby, and require no car for getting from A to B. Plus, as with all i-escape hotels, they will give you that “something different” hit you need. Grab your passport and go.
- Lisbon – Browns Central – a hip boutique base in the heart of the city (Superior Doubles, Mansard and Junior Suites can be set up as twins)
- Brussels – Made in Louise – Great value, great location, great rooms (Charming or Executive for twins)
- Barcelona – Hotel Denit – Attentive service, trendy minimalism and budget prices in Barcelona’s Gothic quarter (Superiors for twins); Casa Bonay – Cool and creative, with great-value rooms, a buzzing bar, and a restaurant that’s popular with locals (twin and triple rooms available)
- Venice – Cima Rossa – Chic B&B in a 15th-century palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal (Charming room for twin beds); Bloom and Settimo – Opulent B&B in the heart of the city, with a lovely roof terrace and complimentary prosecco (triples and twins available)
European City Apartments
Apartments give you more space and privacy than a hotel room. If you’re a big group travelling to Europe, opt for an apartment complex so you can all be in the same building but won’t have to cram into the same living spaces.
- Porto – Boutique Apartments Porto – 5 seafront apartments for 2-5; great value for money
- Barcelona – Boutique Apartments Barcelona – 11 apartments sleeping 2-5, in the trendy El Born district and the quieter Sants area
- Lisbon – Baixa House – 13 apartments for 1-7, bang in the centre of Lisbon; breakfast, a homemade cake and daily cleaning included
- Istanbul – Istanbul Place – 9 apartments for 4-7, set in hip yet historic Galata
- Berlin – Berlin Boutique Apartments – 11 apartments in the vibrant Prenzlauer Berg district (sleeping 1-4)
- Rome – CasaCau – stylish apartments for 2-4, a coin’s throw from the Trevi Fountain
Whole house rentals
Having the whole place to yourselves comes with many advantages: big living areas to socialise in, no strangers to share things with, and the freedom to be as loud as you please. If you’re desperate for a girls’ weekend break but don’t want the hassle of flying, stay in the UK – there are loads of stylish houses you can retreat to for a couple of nights. Or, for a change of scenery, go further afield. Marrakech is surprisingly feasible for a long weekend break with friends: flights are affordable, the food and shopping scenes are second to none, and the beautiful riads make for perfect pads.
House rentals in the UK
- Bath – The Haycombe Hideaway – ultimate get-together house: indoor and outdoor bars, hot tub, sun-trap terrace, funky décor. Can cater for party sizes of 2-18 (2 twins, 2-night min stay)
- Somerset – Dillington Estate – picture-perfect cottages for 2-16, with pretty, mature gardens and alfresco dining tables for lazy summer lunches. Some have hot tubs (specific check-in days)
- Norfolk – Barsham Barns – Beautiful rentals for 4-14, a hop from Norfolk’s spectacular coast. There’s a Jacuzzi and steam room, and massages and treatments can be arranged (3-night min stay)
House rentals in Marrakech
- Dar seven –small, serene and elegant hideaway with 5 rooms (only 1 twin); can be booked as a group rental for max 15 people
- Riad Dar Zaman –intimate retreat with 4 rooms (two of them can be twins) for up to 8 people, located in the quieter reaches of the northern medina
- Riad Jaaneman – fashionable 5-suite riad (1 twin) with a tropical courtyard, cool roof terrace and designer interiors
By the sea
You can’t really beat a weekend beach break with pals, but if you’re short on time, finding somewhere overseas isn’t always easy. The trick is to look for places with airports near coasts – like Faro, Palma de Mallorca or Lisbon – so you can be splashing about in the sea within minutes of landing.
- Mallorca – Bikini Island – The name says it all, really: a fun, funky beachfront hotel with pool, sea views, bar and restaurant (no twin rooms)
- Algarve – Colegio Charm House – Fabulously stylish rooms in a former palace in Tavira, close to the golden beaches of the Ria Formosa; trains serve most of the towns and beaches on the Algarve coast
- Lisbon Coast – Hotel Albatroz – A grand hotel in Cascais, with a clifftop pool and panoramic bar and restaurant, all surrounded by beach and sea
- Liguria – Villa Rosmarino – Super-stylised Italian palazzo with pool, set above the achingly beautiful fishing village of Camogli; 35 mins via train from Genoa
With a pool
Need some poolside sunbathing action, or you’re a keen swimmer in the group? Look no further…
- Palma de Mallorca – Nakar Hotel – comes with an infinity-edge rooftop pool and some of the finest views in Palma
- Seville – Palacio Bucarelli – has a dipping pool in the main courtyard, plus two of the rooms come with plunge pools
- Algarve – Casa Rosa – Dreamy little hotel with a sun-drenched courtyard and a swimming pool; Faro Airport is a mere 15-minute drive away
- Ibiza – Can Vistabella – laid-back, supremely serene boutique resort with a dreamy pool lined with Balinese beds and a bar; located far from Ibiza’s party strip
With a spa
A group spa break is going to cost a bit more, but if you want some real relaxation, being pampered is just the ticket.
- Bath – No 15 by Guesthouse – City hotel with an apothecary-style spa with vegan nut-free products. You’ll want to visit Bath’s famous Thermae Spa, too, located nearby
- Yorkshire – Middleton Lodge Estate – Tranquil country estate whose Forest Spa has a pool, treatment rooms and healthy food; lots of accommodation options for varying group sizes
- Porto – Vila Foz – Restored palace by the sea, with a sleek spa equipped with a Turkish bath, sauna and a sparkling pool
- Madeira – Quinta da Casa Branca – Classy Funchal retreat with two heated pools (one adults-only) and a spa with sauna, steam room, relaxation room, whirlpool Jacuzzi (3 twin Garden Rooms)
Half-board UK stays
There’s no time for cooking when you’ve only got one night to catch up with mates, and trying to split a restaurant bill 15 ways is far too complicated. So, look for an overnight hotel that offers half-board rates – i.e. dinner, bed and breakfast are included. With everything under one roof, you can spend more time catching up and less time worrying about where to go and what to do.
- Wiltshire – Timbrell’s Yard – an old riverside boozer transformed into a stylish boutique hotel with great food and prices
- Somerset – The White Hart Somerton – 21st-century style in a welcoming 16th-century pub with a restaurant and 8 unique rooms (mostly doubles, very good value)
- Dorset – The Kings Arms – a historic coaching inn in Dorchester, Thomas Hardy land, accessible via direct trains from London. Expect yummy food, a bar, and elegant bedrooms – some can be set up as twins
- Wiltshire – The Beckford Arms – welcoming country pub with stylish yet affordable rooms and fabulous food, ranging from fine restaurant fare to upmarket pub grub; just 2 hours from London
Somewhere new
Been there, done that, time for somewhere new? Try one of these smaller but equally accessible cities in popular European countries.
- York – No.1 by Guesthouse – Explore the Shambles, drink at a rickety old pub, then head to the hotel for a massage, cocktails and tasty Yorkshire comfort food – plus you get a complimentary pantry with ice cream, cake and popcorn
- Turin – Look To – a sumptuous four-bedroom ‘suite & breakfast’ in a cultured little city with beautiful architecture, great museums and, this being Italy, heavenly food
- Bilbao – Miro Hotel – Hit The Guggenheim and then the Museo de Bellas Artes for some high-brow art discussion, then gorge on tapas, tapas and more tapas before rolling back to this stylish design hotel with a round-the-clock honesty bar
This is just a small selection of possible options. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, just give us a call on +44 (0) 117 946 7072