Hen party? Big birthday? Reunion? 8 incredible and bargainous accommodation options for your next group escape.
Do you holiday with your friends?
Hen party season is upon us, but rather than going in for male strippers and cheeky fancy dress, more and more women are opting for holiday house shares. The pros are plenty; complete privacy, luxurious amenities, bring your own food and bar, plus you get a lot more space and bang for your buck. Renting a whole house can make a big birthday or reunion that much more special, too. Sold? From relaxing beach escapes to luxurious manor houses, we've taken the hard work out of the search, and rounded up the best of the best.
The Pamper House - Bournemouth
As well as spacious bedrooms and seven bathrooms, this property has one very unique selling point - a fully-fitted beauty salon. Equipped to provide pretty much any beauty treatment you could want - hair, nails, massage, facials and tanning to name just a few options - this modern house has everything you need for the ultimate pamper break. If you can tear yourself away, it's a mere two minutes from the beach, too.
Sleeps 21. From £59 per person per night.
Alexander House - Bath
Contemporary living in a completely lavish setting, Alexander House boasts a private pool, sauna, steam room, gym, game room, cinema and even a stylish bar, where you can take cocktail-making lessons from a mixologist.
Sleeps 16. From £50 per person per night.
Wortham Manor - Devon
Fans of Wolf Hall will love the Tudor Wortham Manor, which is tucked away amidst rolling hills in its own large grounds. Gothic wood-carvings, flagstoned floors and imposing rooms such as the Great Hall retain the historic and atmospheric appeal while underfloor heating, plush linens and the farmhouse kitchen lend a quietly luxurious feel.
Sleeps 15. From £15.50 per person per night.
The Fish Store - Cornwall
A former pilchard-packing factory, the utterly charming Fish Store is tucked away in the pretty fishing village of Mousehole and makes for a perfect seaside sanctuary. Light, airy rooms with exposed beams, snug leather sofas, log burners and spectacular coastal vistas await, with the optional extra of an in-house culinary course with food writer Lindsey Bareham; think creamy, fluffy fish-pie, succulent crab and plenty of Cornish pasties!
Sleeps 10. From £51 per person per night.
Beach Boutique - Brighton
Fresh, fun and funky, this colourful and modern house sleeps 24 people and is central to all the action in Brighton. Whether you're there for bars, restaurants, shopping or the beaches, it's almost like having your own, private boutique hotel - only cheaper!
Sleeps 24. From £41 per person per night.
Crafty Camping - Dorset
Camping may not be on your luxury weekend getaway radar, but glamping certainly should be. The yurts, tipis and shepherd's huts at Crafty Camping in Dorset are all hand-crafted and luxuriously furnished - Instagrammable gold. You can rent the whole site, too, where you'll enjoy piping hot tree showers, cedar saunas and wood-burning pizza ovens in the privacy of your own magical woodland setting.
Sleeps 14. From £22 per person per night.
Cliff House - Derbyshire
The high ceilings, chandeliers and first-class decor all add to the feeling of grandeur at this cliff-top Victorian residence. Offering 360-degree panoramic views and fabulous walks through the Peak District, Cliff House makes for one seriously sophisticated mini-break.
Sleeps 32. From From £26 per person per night.
River Thames Barge - Oxfordshire
If your group has more of an adventurous nature, why not take to the River Thames on a quirky barge holiday? You can captain and crew the vessel yourselves, after a little tuition, or take advantage of an experienced driver, who will drop you off at various pubs and restaurants along the towpath. The barges are fully-fitted with a bathroom, kitchen and sleeping quarters, and have plenty of mod-cons - TV and DVD, iPod docking stations and even a dishwasher, which means no washing up after those leisurely meals under the night sky on the front deck!
Sleeps 11. £18 per person per night.
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