Affordable chic: 6 romantic hotels

Kilgraney House
Georgian Elegance and Irish imagination in County Carlow
The drive to Kilgraney House through beautiful rolling fields is enchanting, but little prepares you for the elegant hotel itself. Its interior has been decorated by the owners and the paintings and objects give the place a well-travelled and individual feel. These surprising touches are mostly relics from the Philippines where your hosts (and cooks) Bryan and Martin used to work, and help enhance the feeling you're houseguests rather than paying visitors. Adding to the convivial atmosphere is the choice of dining as a couple or communally; while you might be tempted to dine a deux, eating with your fellow guests is the fun, sociable option.
Rates: €85 - €120
Recommended room: The Buddha Room for the big bed; The Philippines overlooks the garden; Church has the best bathroom
Address: Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Ireland

Rick's
Cool cocktail bar in the heart of Edinburgh
Rick's isn't exactly a hotel - it's a designer bar with 10 contemporary rooms. Low ceilings and coloured mood lighting give it a cosy, intimate atmosphere; brown banquette seats, burgundy leather cubes and giant cacti create sexy surroundings. The rooms complement the bar perfectly, and while there's no view, the mod cons are all there. There's even a very well-stocked mini-bar (which includes a disposable camera, Illy percolator, condoms and a toothbrush so you barely need bother packing). But with one of the most impressive cocktail lists imaginable beckoning from below you'll find it hard to resist spending most of your time in the bar.
Rates: £110 plus VAT
Recommended room: All the rooms are very similar, but we like 5, 8, 9 and 10 most.
Address: 55a Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland

Royal Oak
Modernist country comfort in rural West Sussex
From the outside it looks the very image of a quaint old pub; inside is a cosy atmosphere with a modern feel. The design ethic which unites contemporary style with rustic comfort applies throughout the Royal Oak - a rare treat from a countryside local. In other words you get the style, service and quality of a city hotel with the friendliness and charm of the Sussex countryside; perfect for a dreamy escape à deux. Staff can advise you about the best walks, then when you've worked up an appetite, the perfect ending to any day is a top-drawer gastropub-style dinner by the log fire in the open-plan dining area.
Rates: £90-£150
Recommended room: Flint Cottage at the back of the pub; Room 5 is the largest in the main house.
Address: Pook Lane, East Lavant near Chichester, West Sussex

Prices and details are correct at time of publication.

Mr & Mrs Smith: UK & Ireland Collection is published by Spy Publishing (£19.95; www.mrandmrssmith.com). Edited by Juliet Kinsman and Sophie Dening and designed by Bloom, it features photography by Adrian Houston.

Mr & Mrs Smith: European Cities Collection, out in November 2004, features hotel reviews from style leaders such as Stella McCartney, Giles Coren and Dylan Jones. Mr & Mrs Smith's Something for the Weekend CD compilation provides the perfect soundtrack to any trip away, also out in October.

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