’d imagined. With its contemporary striped carpet, soft lighting and sunken seating area, it felt more like a chic mountain retreat than a hotel.The cushions were clean, the bar was inviting and it had everything you’d expect from a luxury hotel: a gorgeous

, you can use the grated zest of two oranges or two lemons. To make them chocolatey, replace 25g of the plain flour with 25g cocoa powder.MAKES APPROX 20 MEDIUM COOKIESIngredients200g softened butter150g golden caster sugar50g soft light brown sugar

at Strawberry Sky Yurts in the beautiful mid-Wales countryside. Each one has a wood burner and is decorated with exotic rugs and wall hangings, while eco-friendly illumination comes from tea-light lanterns and solar-powered fairy lights. A large yurt for six

at the office and make a cup of tea (usually the first food of the day for me), open my computer and start checking emails. Kate, who runs wholesale, and Clare, our Bookkeeper, will both be there as well as one or two sales girls. We occupy one huge room, which

desserts to choose from… The only danger is piling on the pounds if you succumb to the temptation of the rolling buffets and tea-and-cakes snacks in between meals. At mealtimes, you can choose to be sociable or opt for an empty table – chances are it won

afternoon tea. He admires Joe’s fleet of toy cars and insists Grace and Joe try some “glaces” (ice-cream) and patisseries. The Frenchman does not let his native stereotype down and is charm personified: despite living 35 years in the UK, his accent is still

and kitchen – these are the big crowd-pullers. But there is no lift to get to the upper floors, and the staircase is a little terrifying to manage with a pushchair, so access to the upstairs rooms and tea shop is not the easiestAn alternative is to push

delivered in a big lidded silver dish, and I appreciated the smoked salmon that came with muslin-covered lemon, lest a squeeze hits you in the eye. We also enjoyed a decadent Tea Time Goûter one afternoon, where Marie Antoinette’s famous quote “Let them eat

Furgler can supply all your baby needs (monitor, baby bath, changing mat, potty, bottle warmer and night light) and costs from €1,005 per person (children €240–€570) for seven nights in January, including half board and adult lift passes. The Austrians

continues to grow rapidly. Ski Verbier offers tailor-made chalet and hotel holidays in the famous Swiss resort, with a Wii and DVD player in every chalet, tea in bed, staff who will drive you to the slopes every morning and many of the chalets have luxurious