Bath

[Lisa in Ottawa]

I'm thinking of taking a vacation from my vacation and going to Bath solo for a couple of days. I though prices would be down and accommodation plentiful in November. Well, it doesn't seem that way. Some places are already fully booked especailly on the weekend. Well no matter I'm going during the week.

I've checked Airbnb. Thoughts on this room. They have dogs so I would need to make sure they were either non shedding and/or never entered the room. I thought it would be different for me to stay in someone's house as opposed to a hotel room. I haven't done something like that for years. Wondering if it may be too far from the center but that might be fun also. They have good reviews.
Opinions??

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

Here is another listing but for different dates. I'm not crazy about it but many places seem either full or very expensive.

 

[Lindy]

Not surprised that Bath is full. We learned that virtually everywhere we went in the UK & Ireland that tourism is way up over last year. Not that anyone was complaining, but you could hear "I'm tired" in their voices. In fact in Dublin they have been busy since well before St. Patrick's Day. And the figures were up 9%! Nicely done Dublin.

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

me again. Milton House has risen to the top. Price is right and they seem to have room. Airbnb now charges extra for priviledge of booking with them plus they do thier own conversion and I don't think rates so great.
Oh dear, there is also Bodhi House
So i think that makes 3-1 airnb and 2 bbs.

I will decide today.

I looked at 100s last night but many unavailable or you feel like you're in someone's spare room or shared toilet. One thing I hate is shared bathroom.
They seem pretty central. They mention Wells as being nearby. I'd love to go to Wells as it is first place I ever heard evensong.

Most of the places are out of city centre and up a steep hill. I don't mind a walk and like to see neighborhoods. As not way and beyond.
i was going to book Premier Inn but read it can be noisy and hot. it's above a club. And i hate hot rooms or the sounds of people clumping up and down the hallways.

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

OMG, now I'm looking at Wells also. The Piggeries too cute. They have a minimum of 3 nights. Not sure I could do 3 and Bath as well. I guess I'm realising that not much time left. I want to see more countryside. Yikes!

 

[artnbarb]

We're looking at this B&B in Bath for next summer: http://www.cornerwaysbath.co.uk/index.htm

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

We're looking at this B&B in Bath for next summer: http://www.cornerwaysbath.co.uk/index.htm

How did you find it? It's not one I've come across. I noticed they haven't updated their listing since 2006! Makes me wonder. have you read reviews?

 

[artnbarb]

I found it in a Rick Steves book! I did read the reviews, and the only negative I saw were people who were upset about the timing of breakfast - apparently she assigns each room a specific time slot, which some did not like. I think we'd set out early each day and find somewhere to eat in town. I have been in contact with the owner and she told me there are quite a few places nearby that serve breakfast, and that we could wait until the night before to let her know if we would want to eat 'in' or 'out' the next day. We were quoted €78 per night for our 2 night stay next July.

 

[Pauline]

Not about accommodations, but I have a page about Bath on Cotswolder.

 

[Pauline]

I don't like the location of the first place you posted - the AirBnb Somerton House - because the A4 is a very busy road and always full of traffic. But maybe it is not on that busy road. The next AirBnb room seems very small, but nice - but same location. Just make sure it is not on that main road.

That Milton B&B is in an area I have not walked thru, but it is probably a good location - close to the center.

Wells is a small town. The Cathedral is great but I don't think much else is that interesting. Maybe you can take a bus there from Bath, or train? It is a 48 minute drive south, and once you are down there you would want to see Glastonbury. I think it is best to spend your time in Bath and leave the other places for later.

 

[Pauline]

Cornerways is next to the huge car park that we park in and might feel like a bit busy of a street. It is close to everything, but perhaps not on an interesting street.

 

[artnbarb]

Cornerways is next to the huge car park that we park in and might feel like a bit busy of a street. It is close to everything, but perhaps not on an interesting street.

Finding budget accommodations in Bath is challenging, as you know! For us, a central location, a clean room and a good price are most important. As long as there's not road noise (Cornersway has both street and garden-facing rooms), I'm not sure its less-than-interesting street is important - or is it? Pauline, you know Bath so well, so I'm certainly taking your opinion into consideration - but finding an alternative isn't easy!

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

Well, how quickly things change. I didn't see your latest postings, Pauline. But here's what I did. I booked Beryls House outside Wells ,Sat/ Sunday (22 and 23 Nov). Ron figures he can do those dates. I was hankering after more countryside. The Mendlip hills look lovely. We're hoping you and Steve might join us for a walk on the Sunday. I think there's enough in the areas to keep us happy for 2 days. Well, really 11/2 days.

Then I checked the train schedule. I can easily do a return trip to Bath in a day. If I leave on the 9:37, i get into Bath at 11 and I can return on the 16;45 or later. As long as I travel off peak it's only 18 pounds. I thought of Wed Nov 26.

I checked many accommodation possibilites in Bath but decided that ultimately I wanted a more rural experience and now I can have both.

Bath is expensive but so is any desirable location. I gave up on Airbnb and thought I'd go with a regular BB.

 

[Pauline]

@artnbarb i am in Bath tomorrow and will walk by the B&B and take photos.

 

[artnbarb]

Thanks Pauline, and Lisa, I hope you have a wonderful time! Report back if you find any great places to eat!

 

[Pauline]

@artnbarb we had a good look at Cornerways, front and back, and it will be fine. The road is not as busy as I remembered and in the back they have a nice garden. I will post photos later today.

 

[artnbarb]

Great news! Thanks!

 

[Pauline]

Cornerways B&B is well located - two blocks from Queen's Square. It is a terrace house (row house) - the corner house on a long row of attached buildings. The buildings look historic (maybe even Georgian) but the corner house itself might be more recent.

The house is on a well used street, but the traffic is not thick and not fast moving.

The back of the house is at the edge of the Charlotte Street Car Park but the house has a back garden with trees the block the view of it. Plus it is on a lane, not directly on the car park.

I made a photo gallery with a bunch of photos, front and back. But these were taken on a very dreary November day. Photos of Cornerways B&B.

 

[artnbarb]

Thanks Pauline! I'd looked at the street with Google Earth, but these photos, plus your comments give me a much better sense of the area! I think we'll proceed with the reservation!

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

Any preference for date, days of the week? I'm looking at last week Nov or early 1st week Dec. I'd like to get my ticket this week.