Weekend breaks to beat the credit crunch

Now that the credit crunch has bitten into many holiday budgets, more and more people are opting for weekend trips away. With all venues just half an hour away from the airport and available on budget airlines, The Riding Company have seen an influx of bookings to their weekend breaks in Europe.

Saddle and Surf, Andalucia, Southern Spain

With guaranteed t-shirt weather all year round, enjoy two blissful nights from Friday to Sunday, in a stunning hotel located right on the beach.

Enjoy breakfast on the beach, take a morning windsurf lesson, followed by an afternoon beach ride, before enjoying an evening stroll around the historic, old town of Tarifa.

On Sunday afternoon, why not explore Morocco which is just a 30 minute boat trip away? Prices start from around £300.

Medieval Castle, River Danube, Austria

Spend a few days in a beautifully restored Medieval castle on the banks of the River Danube.

Our short breaks include cross country riding during September and October, through farming villages, forests and across open fields on 300km of cross-country hacking trails.

This also includes learning to drive around the estate in historical carriages, visiting a first aid for horses session, and a picnic lunch in the rose garden or by the river.

Then try your hand at heligolfing or relax at the M-Spa; where there are saunas, massages, facial and body treatments including hot stone massage and Ayurveda treatments.

Prices start from around £400.

Dienstl Estate, Lake District, Austria

The 400 year old Dienstl Estate is home to one of Austria's top riding centres, owned by Brigitte Kulterer, a passionate rider and successful polo player.

You can learn to play Argentine-style polo over the weekend and there is an excellent riding school for beginners and advanced-medium level for jumping and dressage.

Staying in an elegant four star country house hotel, you can take tea on the sunny garden terrace, swim in the lake, or visit one of the nearby cultural towns or Medieval castles.

Prices start around £300.

Strasserwirt, Austrian Alps
Soak up the spectacular Tyrolean Alpine landscape; by horse, bike or foot in just a weekend.

The traditional family run hotel has been in the Nothegger family for generations, and has its own riding school with award winning instructors. Ride on Arab, warmbloods and haflingers, or try fly fishing, swimming in the lake Pillersee, play golf, climbing, paragliding or white-water rafting.

Prices start from just under £300.

For more information, log on to Theridingcompany.com.