Last year we stayed in our favourite hotel when we visited my father-in-law who had fallen from a ladder. Fortunately he was fine but our hotel stay wasn’t so good.
Since we’re been together we’ve always stayed in the same hotel whenever we go to Exeter. It’s an old-fashioned but modern boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Pre-Edward we shopped, lunched and stayed up drinking in the hotel bar.
It was our obvious choice when we wanted to visit the in-laws. However, post-baby all the quirky features we loved became obstacles. The rickety old lift, the changing floor levels and the bath in the room weren’t so great for a couple with a baby. Fortunately the hotel provided a travel cot and bedding but we still needed nappies, wipes, steriliser, bottles, formula, baby food, muslins and clothes – on top of our own luggage.
Somehow we got through three nights and the staff were wonderful. Edward ate toast for breakfast instead of his usual porridge. We used a cold water steriliser instead of our microwave one. We didn’t enjoy having the pushchair in the room with us and it was very strange whispering to each other after 7pm when Edward went to sleep in the same room as us.
Fast forward a couple of months and we found ourselves back in the same hotel. Slightly less luggage (I forgot the steriliser!) but the same problems. With Edward being 11 months he was more alert and found it difficult to sleep in strange surroundings. Instead of his usual bedtime of 7 he finally fell asleep at 9.45, This was awful as he normally collapses into bed so easily.
We have a weekend away in Bruges planned, a wedding to go to, and all of a sudden my easy going baby doesn’t seem quite so adaptable!
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