Celebrate your anniversary in Private Luxury in the City of Love

Going away for your anniversary is the perfect way to re-kindle romance in your relationship and to keep the fire of passion burning. It’s also a great way to spend time together away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and routine. Choosing where to stay for a romantic weekend can be challenging. It’s important to get the balance right between relaxation and romance. Choosing a hotel can be difficult, because many hotels are aimed at families and younger groups of travellers, meaning that it’s hard to get any peace and quiet on your own. Another down side to staying in a hotel is that you can sometimes be bound by rules and curfews, disrupted by housekeeping and would have to stick to pleasantries when bumping in to other guests.

One way to escape to an entirely un-disturbed break away and to still enjoy luxury surroundings is to find a house swap. Finding a property that the homeowner isn’t going to be using for a weekend or two allows you to have the entire apartment or house to yourselves as a couple. You can use the home facilities as much as you like and even cook your own romantic meals. Most luxury homes and apartments in a home swapping or house exchange scheme have romantic features like a hot tub, spa bath or beautiful views to enjoy in the privacy of your own (borrowed) home.

It’s not surprising that many couples looking to escape for a romantic break away choose Paris, the city of Love. Home exchange France is very popular, and the type of properties available to stay in for your anniversary range from city centre Penthouse apartments with views over the Eiffel Tower, to hideaway Châteaux and farm house cottages on the outskirts of the city. 

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If you do choose to celebrate your anniversary in France, there is plenty of regional wine and of course Champagne to enjoy. Fresh organic ingredients for a romantic meal for two are always nearby at a farmer’s market and the Belgian neighbours make some fantastic chocolates as well.

Choosing a private house to stay in over a hotel will allow you all the flexibility you need for your romantic anniversary. If it’s a long term relationship, and you are perhaps celebrating a Silver or Gold Wedding Anniversary, then you may choose to invite the family along to stay with you too. The benefit of house swapping is that it is completely flexible. There’s no nightly fee so you can stay as long as you like within the agreed time, or leave early if you please. There’s no reason why the two of you can’t arrive a few nights ahead of the family to enjoy the luxury property to yourselves, and then enjoy the extra space with all of the family around you to celebrate later in the week.

Five cheap weekend breaks for two

Buying your own cruise liner, renting a private island in the Seychelles and hiring Michael Schumacher to drive you round Yorkshire are all wonderfully romantic ways to waste money on a holiday. However, it is possible to have a romantic break without spending too much. Here are a few low-budget weekends away:

Bath

Saturday: After a quick look round the old Roman Baths, walk past the main shopping area to the Jane Austen Museum on Gay Street, down the road from Austen’s old house. After lunch, stroll past The Circus (a decadently pretty residential street), through Victoria Park, and along the riverbank.

Sunday: It’s only a short drive to Bradford-on-Avon, a beautiful little town. In the afternoon, back to Bath for the Spa and a trip to the Little Theatre Cinema, a cheap and cosy venue which sometimes runs arty films.

Budget: £150-250

Brighton

Saturday: In the morning check out the bizarre and quirky shops in the Laines, from the antique gun shop to ‘Vegetarian Shoes’. A trip to the beach is pretty inevitable; on the way back, you’ll pass the Pavilion, a former holiday home for Royalty and one of the finest Indian-Gothic buildings in the UK.

Sunday: A long, pleasant walk (around 8 miles) along the South Downs will take you to Lewes, a quaint town known for its antique bookshops and Castle. It’s a quick bus or train ride back to Brighton for a trip to the famous Duke of York’s Picturehouse, an arty cinema. Well, it’s that or the Brighton Fishing Museum.

Budget: £100-200

Manchester

Saturday: Whichever B&B in Manchester you’re staying at, there should be a tram service nearby that will get you to the city centre at a leisurely pace. Don’t miss shopping at Afflecks, a three-floor vintage emporium. In the afternoon, try the Manchester Art Gallery, whose collection ranges from Turner to ultra-modern pieces.

Sunday: There’s no charge for the Manchester Museum, which has stuffed animals, fossils and exhibitions on ancient and modern cultures. After that, go walking in Heaton Park and have a look around the John Rylands Library, considered one of the best Neo-Gothic buildings in Europe.

Budget: £100-200, depending on the time of year. During Labour’s Manchester conference special offers won’t apply, so avoid the start of October.

Paris

Saturday: Wander around Montmartre village, taking in the panoramic view at the top of the hill. In the afternoon, check out the designer shops in the Champs Elysses, then walk down the banks of the Seine, visiting the two islands, the Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint Louis, if you have time.

Sunday: Get to the famous flea market in Saint Ouen before the bargains are all gone, then move on to the Pere-Lachaise cemetery, where romantic heroes like Chopin and Edith Piaf are buried. After lunch, see whichever of the art galleries and museums you have time for, and finish the weekend at one of Paris’ famous jazz clubs

£300-400. The Eurostar doesn’t cost much, but the Euro is surprisingly strong at the moment, which pushes the cost up.

Amsterdam

Saturday: Walk round the canals, checking out the street artists, stalls and shops; stopping off at the Stedelijk Museum if you like modern art, or the Rijksmuseum for the old masters. The Begijnhof, a secluded garden, is worth seeing as is the Anne Frank Museum.

Sunday: It’s a 15-minute tram ride to Haarlem, which is full of great architecture and upmarket shops. Back in Amsterdam, hire some bikes and explore.

£300-400. Again, flights may be cheap, but the Euro isn’t.

Resources:

• Budget Hotels - The Guardian picks the best budget hotels in Amsterdam
• Guide to Paris - The Telegraph explains where to go and what to see in Paris
• Guide to Brighton - Time Out on Brighton’s best destinations