My favourite Airbnb: a rural retreat in the Nottinghamshire with a sauna and a cinema room that we didn't want to leave

"I'm all for a rural retreat and I'll drive the length and breadth of the country for a stay that promises comfort, seclusion and superb style... especially in January. It's the perfect time of year for a reset, and I take pride in my (self-acclaimed) ability to find homes worth travelling for - ones that feel modern yet cosy, with beautiful interiors and elevated touches. Anything that nods to the cottagecore trend, in a way that's also finished with finesse, is my cup of tea."

"Bonington Farm in Loughborough looked to be just that, and when I spotted its cluster of homes on Airbnb, I immediately added each and every one of them to my staycation wishlist. They're owned by Sonya and Raff Russo who host in similarly stylish properties elsewhere, but who bought the the landc seven years ago and have since made it their own home, as well as their livelihood. If this is where they choose to live themselves, it's sure to be the favourite, right?"

"We checked into Pamella's Place and as I drove up the gravel path towards what would be our home for the next two nights, I felt my body sigh with physical relief and relaxation. We'd hit the jackpot. Our party: myself and a friend, plus our three toddlers, had packed our cars with food aplenty, puddle suits, welly boots, and enough jigsaws to fill a charity shop. The plan was to go off-grid for two days, and to spend quality time together away from the noise."

Bonington Farm sits on 15 acres near Loughborough and features a cluster of stylish holiday homes bookable on Airbnb. Sonya and Raff Russo bought the land seven years ago and live and work there, operating similarly curated rentals elsewhere. Pamella's Place is a characterful two-story, bunk-inspired cottage with a human-sized doll's-house appearance, wrought-iron bars and an open-plan feel. The property offers seclusion, rural sunsets and complete darkness at night, making it suited to a winter reset. A group of two adults and three toddlers arrived well provisioned for an off-grid two-day family stay and felt immediate relaxation on arrival.

Read at CN Traveller