Every month, we hear from carers who have taken a Carefree break, and every month, their words remind us why this work matters so deeply. This month, one thread runs through every single story: what it feels like to be the one who is looked after, for once.
Unpaid carers spend their days organising, cooking, cleaning and caring, often for more than one person, often around the clock. The 1.7 million people in the UK providing 50+ hours of unpaid care every week rarely get to take a front seat in their own lives. So when a carer tells us they slept properly for the first time in years, or spent a whole evening "just thinking about ourselves for once," we know exactly how much that means.
Here are their stories.
Taking a front seat, at last
Alison cares for her dad, her son and her daughter. Three people rely on her every single day, and like so many carers, she always puts herself last. Her break at Slaley Hall gave her something she desperately needed: rest.
"This break came at the perfect time. I am a carer for my dad, my son, and my daughter—life is full-on, and I always take a back seat. To be able to relax (well, almost—I'm always going to be on edge worrying) was so well needed. I slept more than I ever have! The hotel was beautiful, the staff were great, and I will definitely be back… one day!"
Alison's honesty says it all — even on a break, a carer never fully switches off. But sleep, beauty and kindness still made a world of difference.
Thinking about ourselves, for once
For Rhoda, one night away at the Dunadry Hotel and Gardens meant peace, quiet, and the rare luxury of putting herself first, complete with peacocks at breakfast.
"From arrival, the staff were lovely - friendly and helpful. We requested a quiet room, and we got exactly that. The room was lovely - clean and modern. We had a wonderful night away just thinking about ourselves for once! Breakfast was absolutely delicious the next morning, overlooking the Six Mile River and watching the peacocks in the garden! I'm so glad Carefree have been able to secure McKeever hotels as it has really opened up the booking process. We will definitely be availing of another break when we can. Thank you for facilitating a lovely break. 🤗"
"Just thinking about ourselves for once." Six words that capture exactly why these breaks exist.
No cooking, no cleaning, no caring. Just laughter
Shirley's stay at Belton Woods was everything a break should be: someone else doing the looking after, and plenty of laughter with a friend.
"Just having some time away with a friend and not having to organise, cook, clean or even support with personal care was amazing. The staff looked after us and even gave us a glass of bubbly with breakfast. Each and every one of them treated us with warmth and a welcoming attitude. We laughed a lot and sat out in the sun watching the golf after we had spent a few hours in the spa and pool. Our bedroom was amazing with 2 big double beds and was very comfy, the best stay."
Warmth, welcome and a glass of bubbly with breakfast; small gestures that tell a carer: this time, you're the one being cared for.
Space to be yourself again
Janeen is a full-time carer for her autistic son, who needs a great deal of support. Her break at the Oxford Belfry gave her something carers so often lose sight of: herself.
"I have an autistic son who is also very anxious, unfortunately he is too anxious to attend full-time education and needs lots of support. It was lovely to get away from being his full-time carer and have a lovely change of scenery, and to be myself. A friend and I stayed at the Oxford Belfry Hotel near Oxford. We had a warm welcome, and enjoyed a wonderful spa treatment of a 25-minute head, neck, shoulder & back deep tissue massage which melted away all the tension. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a slightly larger room, which had a lovely view of the garden. We had a lovely dinner and breakfast. Couldn't fault our stay. Felt so relaxed and refreshed. Thank you so much to the Oxford Belfry and wonderful, cheerful staff."
Carers return home from breaks with a restored sense of who they are, not just who they care for. Janeen's words are living proof.
A proper reset
For Catherine, a stay at the Cromwell Lodge Hotel offered a calm, welcoming pause from everyday pressures and attentive staff who made sure she and her companion felt truly looked after.
"Our break was really important because we needed some time to relax, reset, and step away from everyday pressures. It gave us the chance to properly rest and enjoy a peaceful change of environment, which made a real difference to how refreshed and recharged we felt afterwards. What made the stay even better was how easy and comfortable everything felt. The room was comfortable, the atmosphere was calm and welcoming, and the staff were genuinely attentive and polite throughout. Any issues or questions we had were dealt with quickly and efficiently, which helped us feel looked after and able to fully enjoy our stay"
"Looked after" There it is again. Because that's what every carer deserves.
You deserve to be looked after too
Unpaid carers are the invisible backbone of our healthcare system, providing 80% of home care in the UK and saving the public purse £184bn a year, the equivalent of the entire NHS budget. Yet so many never take a moment for themselves. It's no wonder that 77% of carers tell us their break contributed 'a lot' to keeping them from reaching breaking point.
If you're a full-time unpaid carer (30+ hours per week), you don't have to take a back seat forever. Let us give something back. You can sign up with us and take two hotel breaks per year. Then you can leave your own testimonials if you like!
Simply click below to get started.
