The usual procedure for our bi-annual family get-together involves descending on one of our relatives' houses en masse, leaving the unfortunate host with two days of frantic preparation to ensure we're all fed, watered and wined. Whichever family member has the dubious honor of providing the hospitality generally spends the day itself stressed, tired and chained to the oven/dishwasher, getting next to no time to actually catch up with everyone else!

This year, we decided to put the pressure to perform on someone else for a change. We booked into a hotel in the English countryside, Calcot Manor, and left the entertaining to the 14th-century farmhouse's capable staff. Set amid the rolling greenery of the Cotswolds, Calcot wears its family-friendly hotel credentials on its impeccably tailored sleeve, but we still had doubts that it would be able to manage the troublesome clan that ranges from Grandma (now in her 80s) to Ellie (our seven-year old kid sister) and, in between, us thirty-somethings, our parents, and, but of course, our toddler Tom.

We needn't have worried; not only were we well catered for but we had the most relaxing two days together we'd ever had as a family. In addition to the fact that none of us had to cook or clean, Calcot has a relaxing and cosy atmosphere that puts you instantly at ease. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff and, because we were in a hotel with acres of frolic-able fields, a spa, a crÿche, a play area (equipped with Playstation, baby football and mini cinema screen), as well as bikes and trikes, kid-friendly swimming pool and more, we could (and did) get some time away from the kids when we need to.

Posted by: Tamara Heber-Percy, Mr and Mrs Smith