They're Smart With Money Up North
And that's surely something we can all appreciate in these credit crunch times. Check out Yorkshire Cottages, specialists in all areas of Yorkshire - the UK's biggest county - as well as Northumberland, Derbyshire and the Peak District.We like their last minute deals page. They regularly spotlight deals available within 1, 2 or 3 weeks from the date you visit their site. Typical savings are between £50 and £70 per week for cottages that are pretty reasonable to begin with.
Check Yorkshire Cottages late bargains and special offers pages for regular updates on what's available.
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm?
Nice digs, good prices, fresh homemade breakfasts and responsible, green tourism is one way. We like the farmstay holidays at ResponsibleTravel.com. Think of them as country B&Bs or vacation rentals with a difference. That being, the property is on a working farm where he eggs, milk and fresh baked goods and vegetables are so local they only have to travel a few yards to get to you. And you might even get a chance to pitch in.Right now, we're liking the look of their Kent Downs farmstay accommodations in Alkham near Dover. The farmhouse is set in beautiful Kentish countryside and the three rooms are pretty and well equipped. For between £35 to £40 per person night (or £90 for a family sized room)the price is very competitive. Visit the website to find out more.
A Good Bet for a Bed in Scotland
The Tontine, a family run hotel in the lovely Scottish Borders town of Peebles, is well known locally for its simple, good value cuisine and comfortable accommodations. Our spies in the north have recently reported back that the service there is also more than praiseworthy. Built in 1808, the hotel overlooks the River Tweed, 23 miles south of Edinburgh.Bed and breakfast at £55 per person is a good deal, but the bed, breakfast and dinner rate - with access to the hotel's full a la carte menu - is an especially good deal. Advertised at £77.50 per person on the hotel's website, we've heard about deals for considerably less. Check it out by visiting the Tontine website, or by telephoning +44 (0)1721 720 892.
Wondering about that "Bet"? The clue is in the hotel's name. A Tontine was a kind of bet on life in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The prize, often a contested inheritance, went to the last member of the tontine left alive. We guess that The Tontine in Peebles was the prize in one such macabre bet.
