Help! We are traveling to the Cotswolds in August and are trying to decide where to stay. It is hard to tell without getting a first hand account just what to expect. We are looking for rooms with their own bathroom...full breakfast...some ammentities...don't mind paying a little more if it's worth it. Has anyone stayed at the Cotswold House in Chipping Campden? It's 180 pounds per night. Is it worth it?? Thank you for you advice!!

I thought the Cotswold House was delightful...my sister and I spent 3 nights there in October, each single room was £115/night which included a groaningly large breakfast. Each of our rooms, while quite different, were great, bathrooms too. Chipping Campden is a great base from which to go a-wandering. We then spent several nights at Lord of the Manor in one of the Slaughters--also very nice, but twice the cost. I'd say go for it if you can get reservatons...it seemed to be very popular with Londoners when we were there.

That should be $115 not £££, we did not opt for the house dinner (which appeared to be very formal and at the same time not-to-our tastes). There is a street front brasserie attached to the hotel which was wonderful and very affordable.

Laurie: A few years ago my wife and I rented a home in the Cotwolds for a week.It was in a beautiful property with a great location.It was a great base for exploring the area by car.The BTA can provide you with a catalog of places to stay.Enjoy.

If you find that you can't get reservations at one of the better known Cotswolds towns, conside one of the towns on the edges. Last year I stayed at Fairford (at the RAF base) which was a very pleasant little town. Also drove several times thru Lechlade which also seemed nice. Distances are so close that if you have to do this, it would not have much of an impact. <BR> <BR>North Leach also looked very nice.

A couple of weekends ago we stayed in a nice B and B called Beaumont House Hotel. This is nothing fancy, but it rates 4 diamonds with AA and RAC and has good clean rooms. Its on the outskirts of Cheltenham rather than in a village but it is a good base and htere are soom good restaurants in walking distance, also Cheltenham has some sights for the visitor. <BR> <BR>We stayed in a great big room with a four poster bed, sofa and comfortable chairs. The bathroom was clean but boring, and only shower no bath (weak shower) but Peter Voss said they were hoping to re do the bathroom this year, although these plans may be delayed after loss of business to foot and mouth. <BR> <BR>You would need to ask for Orchid or other large four poster room and it is £80 per nigt for 2 adults including goooood full breakfast. <BR> <BR>Alternatively I got a quote from Lygon Arms which I think is in Broadway (gorgeous village, excellent base) and also recommend Stow on the Wolds. Thw White Hart Inn served good food but dont know what rooms are like. <BR> <BR>Kavey

I did a search on google.com using keywords <BR> <BR>stow wold hotel <BR> <BR>then with <BR> <BR>stow hotel GL54 <BR> <BR>and a few other combinations and similar idea for broadway and came up with lots of wonderful choices... <BR> <BR>Also we drove past a place called Frogmill which looked pretty... <BR> <BR>Kavey <BR> <BR>

Try the Bibury Court Hotel in Bibury, we stayed there in Sept 98. Absolutely fantastic place, beautiful village and only 2 hours from London.Full breakfast, we had a huge room with ensuite for the 3 of us. Next to the River Coln..swans float by whilst you sit by the river on the hotel grounds.. <BR>www.biburycourt.co.uk <BR>Try and stay a few days it is within easy reach of all the wonderful places in the Cotswolds.

<BR>We spend every Christmas we can at the Bay Tree Hotel in Burford. <BR> <BR>The place is very "ye olde worlde" and gorgeous, and the staff treat you like royalty (instead of pests, like most british hotels). <BR> <BR>If you want to spoil yourself, stay in one of their rooms with a 4-poster bed. <BR>

Thank you to everyone who shared their recommendations on Cotswold accomodations....I truly appreciate it. One more question...has anyone stayed at the cottages at Owlpen? <BR>

We rented a cottage near Hidcote from a company named Rural Retreats...charming very English place with a rose garden behind it, and sheep going up the lane every morning to graze. We had a rental car, bought groceries in Chipping Camden etc.....one of the most relaxing enjoyable of our many trips to England.

I unfortunately do not recall the name but we stayed at a very beautiful place in Broadway. Absolutely perfect. Maybe this helps. I suspect there aren't a huge number of places there if you wanted to track. Elegant and tranquil.

Once again...thanks to all for the great tips and ideas...I'll report back on where we choose and give a review after our trip! <BR>