5 Valleys Aparthotel : Modern Self Catering in Stroud
I live in Bristol and I sometimes forget how beautiful the towns that are only a short drive from me actually are. Especially in the Cotswolds which have some of the prettiest villages, I really need to explore more of what is local to me and plan to do this next year.
For years I used to drive through Stroud to get to University in Gloucestershire and I never actually stopped to explore so it was nice to be invited to try the 5 Valleys Aparthotel and also to see what the Market town of Stroud has to offer.
I stayed at the 5 Valleys Aparthotel with some fellow travel blogger friends and I was so surprised at these wonderful self catering apartments in Stroud. They are definitely the place you should be booking if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Stroud or near the Cotswolds.
There are 15 mini apartments and 5 of which are dog friendly. I stayed in a room that was dog friendly and there were absolutely no signs that a dog had been present. I personally do not have any pets and was worried that the rooms could have traces of hair but was surprised to find out my room had dogs stayed in them, and I would never have known. Actually all the apartments were so clean it was like they were brand new and no one had stayed in them before.
I arrived after a awful drive in the rain and it was dark but I received a warm welcome from the owner Simon. He was joining us to tell us about his development and I could see his passion in these apartments and the little personal touches he does made my stay and I have nothing but praise for the 5 Valley Aparthotel.
Simon is local, although he is not based on site he can be contacted and will attend to any problems that may arise. Obviously not everyone will be greeted by the owner as we were there as bloggers we also got to meet Michael from MichaelPaulHolidays who promotes these apartments as well as some other amazing looking places to stay in the UK that I can not wait to try.
As there is no reception each apartment has a keypad to open the door and you will be emailed the passcode before your arrival, this is great,as I am always worried I might loose keys as I seem to put them down and they just disappear so I absolutely loved this idea.
I had apartment 1 which was an accessible room with a disabled wet room and a reserved parking space and I was really impressed. The apartment was large and airy, the first thing I noticed was the super king sized bed which I couldn’t wait to try out. I sometimes find that accessible rooms can feel quite institutionalised by feeling like a hospital but this room was modern and didn’t feel medical in anyway.
There was a little kitchen that was really well equipped with most things you are going to require for a short stay. It had a microwave, utensils, fridge, hob, toaster, kettle, washing up bowl, a safe and recycling containers.
It even had a ironing board folded away in one of the drawers which I thought was so clever. Plus tea, coffee and porridge for breakfast.
I adored the wet room it was modern and I fell in love with the colour of the floor so much that I am looking at having it in my own house as we are currently doing a bathroom adaption. Toiletries were available you really dont’ need to bring anything when staying here.
Each apartment had a TV, radio and there was a information sheet with things to do in the local area. Everything seems to have been thought of to make these apartments a lovely stay, I can’t find any fault in them.
All of the facilities makes these apartments the perfect self catering experience in Stroud. They will be ideal for business people who want little home comforts whilst travelling as they really did feel homely. They are also great for people doing mini breaks in the area to explore the Cotswolds further.
Later we met up in another one of the apartments that was set up slightly different to mine but had a similar theme. This apartment had two single beds which also makes it ideal for friends travelling together.
The beds in any of the apartments can be set up as a super king or two singles which is good. The beds are really comfortable. I stayed just as the weather started turning and it was miserable and cold outside but the apartment was warm and cozy. I had a lovely snuggly nights sleep in fact I didn’t want to get out of bed to explore Stroud the next morning as I was so comfortable.
This apartment had a large dining table which was great for us to all sit around and have dinner. Making the apartments also great for friends and family travelling together but each party gets their own privacy.
The décor is crisp and clean. All the pictures on the walls are Simons own photos of the local areas and there are even cushions that have been made locally.
Rooms are average of £85 and varies per day of the week and time of the year so it is best checking the website for the most up to date prices. This is really good value for the area and I would definitely recommend staying in the 5 Valley Aparthotel if you are looking for self catering accommodation in Stroud.
There is a gym around the corner from the aparthotel which is £6 a session or there is a canal path perfect for jogging or walking the dog.
What to do in Stroud
If you are wanting to explore Stroud then I would highly recommend Stroud Shambles market and the Saturday Farmers market. These are wonderful places to visit for any foodie.
I loved the local produce that was on offer, you definitely should go with a empty stomach as there are so many delicious items to try. Also bring a bag and a purse full of money as you are going to want to buy everything. All the vendors were lovely and really proud of their produce which made me want to try everything and I had a good go, I had cheese, pasties, pies, gin, chutneys and cakes.
If you visit in November there is the annual Stroud Book Festival which is great for any literature lover. There were plenty of talks by authors that were so interesting. I attended a Mary Portas talk and found her fascinating.
You can explore and walk the five valleys, Painswick, Slad, Toadsmoor, Chalford and Nailsworth, which will provide some beautiful countryside views and you can see the river Frome.
Interesting Fact : Did you know that the lawnmower was invented in Stroud?
Museum in the park is a local museum where you can find out more about Stroud and if the weather is nice how about visiting the local lido.
Another great place for foodies is Painswick hotel for afternoon tea which looks absolutely amazing unfortunately I was too full from the market so didn’t get to sample the afternoon tea but I live close so will definitely try and visit soon.
Our trip was hosted by 5 Valley Aparthotel and Michael Paul Holidays. Michael Paul Holidays was set up in 2010 and now has nearly 500 properties including a castle, how amazing would it be to stay in a castle. they offer online chat and have a inspirational page if you can’t decide where you want to go.
