to ask how much you would pay for luxury accommodation, if children weren't welcome?

[LadyOfTheManor]

Beautiful countryside, self catering cottage (16th century old bakery) but done up to a 5 star standard. Two beautiful bedrooms with ensuites, one with a hot tub, sitting room, reading room, kitchen and decking/BBQ facilities. No under 12s allowed, dogs welcome. £650 for the week.

I think that is reasonable, considering two couples would have the opportunity to stay and split it. Would you pay that for just you and dh or you and 2 children (over 12)?

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Sounds reasonable to me. Where is it?

[discrete]

I would have paid that for me and dh pre-dc.

[discrete]

Of course it partly would depend on what else was available nearby...

[LadyOfTheManor]

I'm not advertising the place...as it's mine! Have been left some property decided to do one of them up to the nines, but unsure with what to charge. There's a one bedroom studio nearby (without the access to the grounds that we have) that charges 600 and he has it filled from March to September EVERY year, so I wondered if 650 was reasonable or not...it's just it costs nothing to go abroad these days, so I'm cautious not to scare off future customers. (It isn't open until March 2012 anyway!)

[LadyOfTheManor]

Well nearby (4 miles to the nearest town) but to the nearest "touristy" place is 8 miles, and that's Tenby, so it's full of B&Bs and hotels on busy streets, not really quiet.

I guess it isn't a place to bring kids, now I think about it, they'd probably be bored out of their minds.

[catgirl1976]

Yes sounds reasonable - obviously you are closing off some off your market with not taking under 12s but thats your choice. It may need to vary a bit on time of year but it sounds fairly cheap given 2 couples could split it. Would all depend on the area for me I suppose, eg would there be a reason to stay in that area in the first place

[LadyOfTheManor]

Well it's Pembrokeshire, there's millions of tourists lurking about because it's erm scenic and beautiful (?)

I don't know if it's normal to charge 650 for the week and allow people to bring "up to 4-6 people" or if I charge 650 for the week presuming only 2 will show up? I don't holiday in the UK so I'm terrible advice for myself.

I closed off under 12s merely for damage control and the fact the house is on an estuary and has 26 acres of woods, and I know that small children;

a) draw on expensive wallpaper
b) go wandering and I'd hate for an accident to occur.

[catgirl1976]

Sounds reasonable to me then - nice area, lots of tourists want to come etc. Would maybe drop the price off season.

[LadyOfTheManor]

There isn't a pool. But I see your point.

Surely some people just go away and stay in "nice" places with "nice" things (not necessarily wallpaper!) just to be surrounded by it? I think my market might be "older" people...and I don't intend on opening outside of season, as I don't imagine people holiday then-unless they don't have children.

I'm sending myself mad.

[issey6cats]

being as ive just booked for my son a static caravan in towyn wales for august and that was £495 for a week i think a luxury cottage sounds reasonable at £650, it depends whats nearby as if the british weather does what it normally does poeple will be looking for places nearby to visit, im surprised that you will allow pets though especially as its so high spec, (is thinking wet muddy dog and luxury bedrooms), dont get me wrong i love my furry mob in residence, but people who are allergic to animals wouldnt book due to the possibility of thier allergys kicking in, so you are halving your potential market as peole who have dogs usually arrange for family or kennells to look after thier pooches or go for plainer accomadation,

[LaurieFairyCake]

Yes, that's a good price.

I wouldn't go (loathe Pembrokeshire as I lived there for a while and all my ex's violent family live there) but loads of others without my ishoos would.

I just paid 900 for a tiny place in Cornwall with none of those facilities so that's a good price.

[youarekidding]

I agree it sounds reasonable - especially charging for the property instead of per person. In low season most similar kind of places (by that I mean ctaages/ chalets etc) are 450-500 but up to 8-900 in the peak season. I guess you could have the same variation over the year?

Your property does sound higher end market though so wouldn't go below 550-600 low season but maybe rise it for peak times?

[StickyFloor]

Price seems reasonable.
I would consider over 8s to increase your market.
Surprised you are more worried about damage from kids than from dogs!
The charge is the same regardless of how many people actually come. We regularly hire a cottage which could sleep 8 but there are only 4 of us, because it suits us.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

We're sort of an older couple in that the dc are grown. I'm 49 and DH early 50's and yes, sometimes we go away just to be surrounded by nice things/different scenery. We may be your target market lol!

(Actually I was just thinking the other day that we haven't been to Wales, your place is an 8 hour drive... )

[LadyOfTheManor]

Yes, hadn't thought about dogs and carpet. Bugger. It's just because the studio apartment nearby allows dogs, but I think he has wooden floors, that figures. OK some food for thought.

Yes, I hadn't considered opening off peak but I'll probably get in those that don't work (retired)/don't have children so perhaps that's worth a thought.

WIll be providing eggs daily from my chickens, and wood/coal for the burners. Not too sure how much hands on I'm supposed to be. Just clean at the end of a stay I presume?!

I have no idea.

[LadyOfTheManor]

Ahh Old Lady, welcome :)

[startail]

No children for a house for 2 yes, but no under 12 for a house for 4?
Only children might want to bring a same age friend, but otherwise one child is liable to be either too old or too young.
(mine might holiday together at 12 and 15, but much older than that and they are going to be off on their own). It's a very tight window.

[beanlet]

No under 10s and no dogs?

You might consider babies under 6 months, who really don't cause damage - I would have loved to lie around in a beautiful place for a week with baby DS.

[MumblingRagDoll]

I think it sounds fine...I don't thinkk people expect (or want) to see the owner unless there's a problem...eggs would be nice!

[MumblingRagDoll]

I do think it's a shame the wallaper's too nice for DC to stay though...as you're cuttting a HUGE chunk of your custom off there.

[MumblingRagDoll]

And as for the wandering....well families with DC love places to wander...that's why we go on hols to the countryside!

[MrsTittleMouse]

I would never book a holiday in a cottage that allowed animals (particularly dogs), I would be seriously ill for the whole time. Wouldn't you have to do more cleaning too? There is a definite dog smell that non-dog owners will find offensive.

On the same note - I know that feather pillows are more luxurious, but please provide an alternative. I have had miserable nights sleep in fantastic accommodation as I'm allergic to feathers.

[breatheslowly]

Can't you just search on cottages4you for broadly similar proprties or on a specialist high spec holiday let website and work it out from there? You can also gauge how booked up they are by looking at their availability.