Shaz's Daily Getaway

Before I gave birth to my baby boy, my husband booked a wonderful stay at the Royal Lancaster London for me, my three-year-old daughter and my best friend as a ‘girls pamper weekend’. It was everything I needed after lockdown, as well as an up and down pregnancy whilst juggling mum life to two little ones. The hotel stood out to me for its stunning interior design from the lobby. Plus, the suite itself had blue velvet upholstery elegantly laid out throughout the entire place. I loved the small details, like the view overlooking Hyde Park and Lancaster Gate. In fact, if we were any closer to Hyde Park, we would have been inside it! We would wake up, order breakfast from Uber Eats and the plethora of food outlets available in Central London, then head over to Hyde Park for my daughter Siyana to have a run around. Being close to Oxford Street was also ideal. We could walk five minutes down the road and be at the Disney store or Hamleys. All of this allowed me to make it a super memorable experience for Siyana.

ME London was another mini-escape for me after lockdown measures were eased in the UK, but this time with my husband. My parents took care of the kids while my husband and I got some time to wind down. It was such a fun experience for us both. First of all, the rooms are stunning! Ambient mood lights that you can set to any colour with an enormous, embedded TV on the wall for movies.

Food is such an important part of travel for me - I love being in a place with options! Being in the centre of London at ME, literally in Covent Garden, you can’t get more of an array of food options. That’s also the fun of getting away with your hubby though, you can just eat, laugh, watch movies, eat again and eat again! Plus, I was a few weeks pregnant, so I was in my happy place. My husband went out for a bike ride using the London cycles and said it was so blissful to take in the London sights in the fresh summer evening air. It’s nice to experience the city you live in like this sometimes, we don’t get to appreciate it enough. 

Royal Lancaster London

Book

ME London

Book

One of the places that has become a go-to in Manchester is CitySuites Aparthotel and for many, many reasons. Firstly, you can get suites of any size which mimic a regular apartment, so it doesn’t feel like you’re far from home. That’s super important when you’ve got kids. In one apartment we can have two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area, dining area and two bathrooms so it just fits the bill.

The location of CitySuites is also ideal as it’s right by the Arndale Centre, so if we need to go shopping or grab some food, we can just go for a few minutes' walk and it’s no stress at all. I always look for hotels close to the City Centre in case any of the kids get tired or cranky we can turn around and be home.

When it comes to luxury in Manchester, The Dakota Hotel is the epitome. I love the vibe as soon as you walk in, with the large fireplace, dim lighting and soft music that just makes you feel warm and cosy. This is the go-to hotel to visit with your partner or even if you’re looking for a stay on your own - simply because of how well the rooms are designed, they make for a real peaceful and cosy stay. Of course, the food in the area is 10/10. From burgers to midnight pizzas and desserts on tap, you can’t go wrong with Manchester. Plus, the shopping with the hotel being near to Spinningfields is ideal for someone like me - especially when I'm away from home. I love to see the fashion and stock in those areas. 

CitySuites Aparthotel

Book

Dakota Manchester

Book