I’ll never forget the drive up to North Wales last month – what was meant to be a straightforward jaunt from Manchester turned into a comedy of errors. Sat-nav decided to play silly buggers halfway through, rerouting us down some narrow lane in the Conway countryside that felt more like a sheep’s personal driveway than a proper road. We ended up with a flock blocking the way, me honking gently while my other half tried to sweet-talk the farmer through the window. “Just a little further,” I kept saying, though my stomach was rumbling and the rain was lashing down like it hadn’t seen us before. By the time we hit the A55, I was questioning my life choices, but the anticipation built as Colwyn Bay’s lights twinkled into view – that promise of sea air and a cosy bolt-hole pulling us on.

Finally rolling up to the seafront in Rhos-on-Sea, hearts lifted despite the drizzle. We’d booked this wonderful apartment in the Ocean View apartments, right on the promenade, and from the off, it was love at first sight. Parked up in the communal spot, we grabbed our bags and dashed through the entrance – lift straight up to the fourth floor, no faffing about with stairs (a godsend after that drive). There’s even a back door for anyone with dodgy knees, which I noted for future reference. Stepping inside, it was like the chaos melted away. Open-plan lounge with this luxury vibe – plush sofa, telly primed for a Netflix binge, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Irish Sea like a living painting. Waves crashing below, horizon stretching out; I stood there gobsmacked, mug of tea in hand, thinking, “This is it, the proper escape.”

First impressions? Spot on. It sleeps two cosily, perfect for us lot wanting to ditch the daily grind. We spent that first evening just parked up, feet up, watching the sun dip behind the headland – Llandudno’s pier lights flickering in the distance, but we were tucked away in our own little world. Popped out for fish and chips from a nearby takeaway, the kind with proper mushy peas, and ate them on the balcony as gulls wheeled overhead. No hordes, just that fresh Welsh breeze whipping away the week’s stress.

Next morning, still buzzing from the views, we wandered the prom – barely a five-minute stroll to Rhos-on-Sea’s beach, paddling in the shallows where kids were building epic sandcastles. Nipped into town for a bacon butty at a café overlooking the bay, then a gentle amble along the coastal path towards Penrhyn Bay, spotting seals bobbing about. Light humour in the mishaps kept us giggling; that sat-nav fiasco became our running joke – “Never trust a robot over a map!” But honestly, reflecting on it now, those little arrival hiccups made the payoff sweeter. In a world of hustle, this place was pure calm – a reminder to slow down, breathe the sea salt, and let the views do the talking. If you’re after a couple’s retreat or solo unwind, this is your spot. Can’t wait to go back.