Jetsettersblog

Stay in the 20th Century Homes of Dylan Thomas or a
19th Century Slate-Cutting Mill or an 18th Century Country House

New York — There is nothing cookie-cutter about Wales, nor about its accommodation. And now Wales is giving travelers something to tweet about with a bevy of newly available accommodation including Number Five, the childhood home of Dylan Thomas; and Seaview, Dylan and Caitlin Thomas’ seaside home in Laugharne.

Other tweet-worthy accommodation includes Snowdonia’s Graig Wen and two affordable luxury escapes – The Grove and Ramsey House, both in Pembrokeshire on the south west coast of Wales and both positively glowing after extreme makeovers.

Poetic Properties

Dylan Thomas fans who want to step back in time and soak in the very atmosphere that inspired the late poet can stay at Number Five, the home where Dylan was born in the front bedroom in 1914 and lived until 1937.

This time-travel accommodation stays true to 1914 and even gives guests a newspaper on the day of their arrival, with the news of the day 95 years ago.

Over two thirds of Thomas’ published output was written in this home; “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” was written about 5 Cwmdonkin Drive.

Number Five sleeps six guests and can be used as self-catering accommodation from £1,500 for a week for six people. Individual guests can book bed & breakfast at £125 per night. Two-hour tours of the home are also available and cost £12. www.5cwmdonkindrive.com

Dylan and Caitlin Thomas’ seaside home in Laugharne, where they lived from 1938-1940, opened April 2009 as a restaurant with four luxury five-star rooms. Fittingly called the Seaview, this is the home where Dylan and Caitlin were said to be happiest, raising their family and entertaining guests such as Arthur Miller, T.S. Elliot and the painter Augustus Brown. Prices begin at £65 bed and breakfast. For further information about this poetic gem of a property, visit www.seaview-laugharne.co.uk

Tweet-Worthy Accommodation

Three other tweet-worthy accommodation include…

Snowdonia’s five-room Graig Wen, a refurbished Victorian slate cutting mill with furniture custom made by local crafts makers, modern design classics and traditional Welsh materials. While the décor is fab – eye-catching album covers of Welsh-language pop from the 60’s and 70’s add a colorful twist to the more traditional interiors, the views over the Mawddach Estuary and mountains steal the show: Rates begin at £55 per night single occupancy, £70 per night double occupancy bed and breakfast. Deals and discounts can be found at www.graigwen.co.uk 

The Grove, a stunning, yet relaxed 18th century Georgian country house retreat has recently opened on a 10-acre estate nestled in the Pembrokeshire hillside.

This affordable, luxury escape, well located near the market town of Narbeth, just 15 minutes from the seaside resort town of Tenby, has all the trimmings to make life wonderful – fireplaces in the bedroom, deep cast iron baths and under-floor heating.

The Grove has four stone cottages overlooking the Preseli Mountains, each with oak beams, an oak kitchen, a small wood-burning stove, local artwork and French doors opening onto a private terrace.

Starting in July, The Grove will offer 12 guest rooms (it currently offers five) and four cottages. Rates as low as £80 per night can be found online under the section “offers” at www.thegrove-narberth.co.uk

Ramsey House, a five-star boutique, luxury bed and breakfast in St. David’s, Britain’s smallest city named after the patron Saint of Wales, also recently opened after a lavish refurbishment. The guest rooms are stylishly decorated with Designer’s Guild and Zoffany wall coverings, fabrics, leather tub chairs and solid oak furniture.

Guests can choose a room with a view of the sea, the countryside or St. David’s Cathedral, or choose to be surrounded by a private garden.

Rates begin at £90 per night, double occupancy, bed and breakfast.

More information can be found at www.ramseyhouse.co.uk

Other great resources for uncommonly wonderful accommodation include the Welsh Rarebits Collection (www.rarebits.co.uk) and Great Little Places(www.little-places.co.uk)

To learn more about visiting Wales, visit www.travelwales.org