Last month, I went on holiday in England – the first time in a very long time. With even more families arranging holidays in Blighty this year due to the recession and poor exchange rates, is it possible that a domestic retreat can live up to jetting off to foreign shores?

Mum and I decided to book a few days away before I embraced my new life as a working mum. After trawling through the internet for any short-haul break, home or abroad, we stumbled on the four-star Christchurch Harbour Hotel in Mudeford Quay. Located on the Dorset coast a stone’s throw from the New Forest, the deal at £80 per night for the room including breakfast, seemed too good to be true. After being thoroughly spoiled in Barbados on our honeymoon, I wondered if Britain could live up to the hospitality of Caribbean islands who rely on tourism as income.

In just under a two hour drive from Brighton we arrived at this beautiful cream rendered building. The decor was clean and contemporary but with a tinge of old English drawing room style. The hotel restaurant dining room is flanked with large arched windows which faced out onto a terrace and beyond that, the exquisite view of Mudeford Quay. Guests have use of all the spa facilities which includes a hydrotherapy pool, salt room and sensory sun beds (lay back, breath in essential oils and listen to waves crashing). Compared to our four star accommodation in Barbados, Turtle Beach resort, it was hands down more comfortable and focused on finishing touches.

The hotel grounds even host a restaurant by Gary Rhodes, Rhodes South. It was a worthy foodie experience; hens egg with blue cheese & truffle toast soldiers, roast salted duck and fondant potato, I certainly have never eaten like in my life. With our bill at just over £50 per head (inc. a bottle of wine) I felt it didn’t make it too out of reach either. Dining out to this standard in Barbados was almost twice the price before you order wine.

Of course, it helps when the weather is as good as it has been recently. Sunny days have the ability to transform a British seaside town such as Mudeford into a lost paradise. As we sat and watched the boats out at sea by Hengistbury Head, it wasn’t just the weather that made us feel we could be somewhere tropical, it was the tranquility. Being out of season, there wasn’t a soul about but I found it hard to imagine swarms of folk in peak times as there were no shops or an abundance of bars and cafes. There were only unspoiled beaches, private huts and wildlife reserves.

Despite the British having a terrible reputation for service, everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. Even when I had to send my food back in one pub, something I rarely do, they managed it so well, I felt compelled to leave a tip for the hard working staff. I’ve always advocated foreign travel for experiencing other cultures and expanding the mind, especially for children. However, after visiting Mudeford I felt ashamed there were still many corners of Britain I know nothing about. The holiday changed my mind about the merits of domestic breaks and indeed the standard. I can truly say, by the end of our three days we experienced a potent ‘going home’ anti-climax and were sad to leave.