HF Holidays are best known for their walking holidays. They also offer many special interests holidays, including garden tours. In late May I went on their tour based at Conwy in Wales. Each day we toured 2 gardens, usually a private garden and a public garden. The gardens were wonderful, with renouned Bodnant Gardens as the finale. North Wales is beautiful, and even the rides to and from the gardens were very scenic and enjoyable. I've priced other garden tours, and HF is less than half the price of others in England and Wales. But, they are extremely popular and usually require booking in Jan or Feb. Because I booked late in April, only non en-suite rooms were available, but I never had to wait to use the facilities.<BR>A landscape painting group was also at Conwy, with an exhibition the final night.<BR>www.hfholidays.co.uk

rp

Joyce--thank you for this informaiton--can you describe:<BR><BR> the accommodations<BR> food (included, or on your own? what was available, in what kid of setting?)<BR> other people on tour: how many, how old, ages, where they were from, what they were like?<BR> thanks.

ttt

More info on HF:<BR>HF Holidays is a non profit organization in the UK that originally started with a goal of affordable holidays for the working class (although they now appeal more to the middle class). In the UK, HF buys country houses for their accommodations, but uses private hotels in other countries. I've stayed at 4 locations, in beautiful country settings; like hotels, some houses are better than others, as indicated by their ratings. Because HF aims for a country house party, with various evening entertainment, there are large common rooms with comfortable furniture. There's a conservatory, which is sometimes part of the dining room and sometimes a sitting room; there's also a library. The grounds might be set up for croquet or miniature golf.<BR>The food is quite good and plentiful. All meals are included. Breakfast includes cereal, fruit, yogurt, fruit juices, oatmeal, and a full English breakfast. There are three courses for the evening meal, with about 5 selections for each course, including a meat, fish and vegetarian selection. There's also a bar for drinks. Lunch is a packed picnic lunch, with pre-ordered sandwiches and a hugh selection ranging from healthy fruits and veggies to candy bars. Everyone seems to like the quality of the food.<BR>The majority of the guests are English and middle-aged. I've only gone in the early spring, so there would be more younger guests during the summer. About a fourth are American, usually women. There are also other Europeans, usually 2-4 German women, and occasionally Dutch, French and Australians. The usual mix might be 60% women. There are more “singles” than couples, and many of the singles are married people without their spouses. Everyone is very open and friendly; during meals you sit with different people, and during your walks or garden tours you also talk to others.

Joyce, thank you so much for posting this reply to my question. This is sounding like a good resource for me when I want to do something new on my own & not have to drive etc.