Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel & Resort

Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel & Resort is located in a behemoth of a red-brick 19th-century manor house with more chimneys and eaves than one can count. The house is located on sprawling grounds that include a backyard overlooking the Lymington River and marshlands. Inside, the lobby has a wood-and-stone fireplace that takes up almost an entire wall, worn brown leather armchairs and couches, wooden moldings, and exquisitely carved doors. However, there are some dated touches, including busy red-and-gold carpet and gold floor-to-ceiling curtains on the windows. This hotel is suited for families, as both the indoor and outdoor pools are often commandeered by children, though many couples looking for a getaway come here as well. 

Note that while it's possible to book rooms for a hotel stay, this is also a time-share property and the apartments are typically rented out by the week.

This hotel is located on the edge of the New Forest National Park, near the city of Lymington. It's only a six-minute walk to the the train station and to Lymington Pier, where boats depart for the Isle of Wight. However, the hotel is across the river from Lymington, which means guests must take the train one stop or drive to reach the city's restaurants and shops. All the major sights within the park are within easy driving distance: It's an 10-minute drive to Beaulieu, where the 13th-century Palace House is located; a 22-minute drive to the New Forest Wildlife Park; 15-minute drive to Buckler's Hard, an 18th-century village with maritime history; and a 20-minute drive to the famous Exbury Gardens.

Even though the main house has a mock-Tudor look and feel, most of the rooms at the hotel are located in a separate extension that looks like it was built in the 1990s. Rooms have blonde wood, tan carpet, and chintzy floral curtains, and though they're homey and pleasant enough, they could use a bit of an upgrade. Many of the bathrooms even have separate hot and cold taps (typical in older English homes but an annoyance in the 21st century). The walls are thin, so noise from other rooms can sometimes be heard. All rooms come with electric kettles, irons, safes, and bathrobes, and the nicer rooms have microwaves and fridges. Free bottled water and free Wi-Fi are provided. Upgrading to an Executive Room will get you better toiletries and a sofa bed for children; most room categories can accommodate two adults and two kids, one of the reasons this hotel is popular with families. 

Macdonald Elmers has extensive features -- many more than most other hotels in the park in this price range. There are two restaurants — the more upscale Waterford Restaurant and the casual, nautical-themed Scottish Steak Club Restaurant — as well as a cocktail lounge, the Tudor Bar. There's also a spa with an indoor and an outdoor pool (the latter is often full of children), a large gym with lots of cardio machines and a weight rack, tennis and squash courts, a playground, meeting rooms that can fit up to 120, and a ballroom for weddings. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, and 24-hour room service.