Guest houses: how to plan a romantic weekend away

Make it a date that works

When to visit a guest house is as important as where, so careful scrutiny of you and your partner's diaries is crucial.

• Look at the weeks surrounding the date: what's happening just before or after you go away?
• Do you have a huge workload coming up? If so it might be better to wait until later—you don't want to spend your time at the guest house feeling tense about unfinished projects at work.

What's your budget?

You may be able to squeeze two nights at a four-star gourmet guest house, but will that leave you unable to pay for any meals? Don't back yourself into a financial cul-de-sac: book a guest house within your means.

Agree on a location

Pick a guest house you both like: if she's on a diet, she won't want to visit a guest house that's famed for its puddings. If he hates sport, he's not going to care about bagging a room in a golf guest house in St Andrews.

Picture this

Photographs give clues as to the standard of a guest house; what they don't show will tell you what the guest house wants to hide.

If you can't see any interior shots, why not? No exterior shots? The guest house might be on a main road, or next to a building site.

Check the menu

The guest house may have four stars, but if it specialises in steak and you're taking your vegetarian girlfriend, there's every chance that she won't share your enthusiasm for dining in.

Work out your dietary requirements before you book the guest house.

Out to lunch

Booking a special deal that includes an evening meal? Try to have lunch outside the guest house.

Something special...

• Can you book the room with the best view?
• Can you phone ahead and get a bottle of champagne waiting, chilled, in your guest house room?
• Can you book a guest house that has a log fire, and get them to light it just before your arrival?
• Can you arrange for a bottle of your special wine to be delivered to your guest house room?

Late checkout

• Will you be turfed out of the guest house at 11 am on your last day?
• Some guest houses allow you to leave as late as 3 pm, though it's more likely to be noon. Sometimes you can negotiate a lie-in for a small extra charge.

Don't dismiss airport guest houses

If you're taking an early flight, don't underestimate the convenience of airport guest houses. Gatwick, Heathrow and all major airports have guest houses close by.