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Original poster

If you own a holiday cottage

33 replies

Twospaniels · 04/12/2019 07:36

If you own a holiday cottage please pack a bag and go and stay in it for at least 4 nights.

We have stayed in many holiday cottages around the UK and every time there are niggly things missing or broken or unsuitable.

For instance, this week we are in a cottage. There is a bedroom and full bathroom upstairs, a bedroom and loo with sink downstairs. There are no mirrors! Not even in the bathroom! We had to pop to the supermarket to buy a small one to use. Also no socket for shavers or electric toothbrushes.

In the kitchen there are no sharp knives. Luckily we brought a couple with us as often knives in holiday cottages are poor quality and/or blunt.

This is a dog friendly cottage but there is no hose on the outside tap for washing mud off the dog.

Basic things are ofeten missing which could easily be remedied if the owner went and stayed in their property for a few days.

OP posts:
KnittingSister · 04/12/2019 08:03

YES!

Kazzyhoward · 04/12/2019 08:08

Yep, fully agree. At the same time, don't fill it with your late granny's furniture, crockery, cutlery, etc. Standards of holiday homes is rapidly improving thanks to the internet, online reviews, etc., so anyone who doesn't do the job properly/professionally won't be successful.

Teachermaths · 04/12/2019 08:10

Yes to all the above! Please stay in the place for at least 5 days and try to cook proper meals. Also make sure if it sleeps 4 there are more than 4 of everything... Ideally enough crockery and cutlery to fill the dishwasher twice! Stuff like that is so cheap now I hate places that aren't full of it.

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Kazzyhoward · 04/12/2019 08:30

Yes to at least the right number of everything. We've stayed in holiday homes marketed for 8 people with just a 2 slice toaster, a narrow/small dishwasher, only 5 dinner plates, only 3 tumblers, only a 3 seater sofa in the living room. Some owners just don't keep up with their homes - probably just send a cheap cleaner in between guests and never think to check everything else. So unprofessional.

At least in these modern times, the decent ones have a website with lots of pictures, so you can usually see the standard and the fixtures/fittings at least which is usually a good indicator along with online reviews. When we started using them 20+ years ago, it really was a lottery as to what you'd find when you walked in the front door. These days, we immediately discount any without pictures of every room on their websites along with pretty detailed narrative/description, as they've either something to hide or they're amateurs if they don't have a complete/full website. (Or same on a lettings directory etc).

Cruddles · 04/12/2019 08:34

And don't have beds with ends at the feet. It may look country and twee to have a fancy wooden bed but no one over 6' can fit in it

Disfordarkchocolate · 04/12/2019 08:37

My house is just nice, nothing fancy, the number of expensive holiday homes that make it look like a palace is shocking. I don't want to pay hundreds of pounds and then find that everything is tired and worn out. I booked somewhere this year and didn't notice they had no pictures of the bathroom; I soon found out why. It's very annoying.

Dementedmagpie · 04/12/2019 08:39

No mirrors seems a standard thing at most holiday cottages I've been to, and definitely no full length mirror because obvs if I'm on holiday I don't care what I look like, or need to put contact lenses in etc
yes to sharp knives, and a potato peeler please!!!
We stayed in a caravan in France and the level of basic was ridiculous. We had to go and buy sharp knives and a wooden spoon.(It was marketed as mid range, not basic ) The rep asked us to clean thoroughly the day we were leaving at 5.30am because there was a quick turnaround of guests but they had left no cleaning products or materials apart from a dust pan and brush!

HowlsMovingBungalow · 04/12/2019 08:41

Agree with pp about the detailed photos and list of facilities like the outside tap for dog washing.
You need to do your homework when renting holiday lets too.
Tell the agency or owners about your findings, they appreciate feedback.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 04/12/2019 08:43

I agree. I won’t contemplate any cottage/apartment that looks as though their cast off furniture has been bunged in there. Mirrors, bedside tables on each side of the bed. We stayed in a beautiful apartment in the summer and there were mirrors, but no plug socket near any of them p, so hair drying was tricky.

We also stayed in one that had rave reviews, but the sofa was cracked, the ‘dining table’ was a piece of kitchen worktop, the bathroom had a mismatched suite and I couldn’t turn on the kitchen tap. Our review wasn’t great.

leckford · 04/12/2019 08:44

The sharp knives thing could be because people might stab people or cut themselves and make a fuss. So I can understand that one.

BikeRunSki · 04/12/2019 08:44

If it sleeps X many people, please have X many seats in the living room and at the dining table.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 04/12/2019 08:47

I'm quite happy with Granny's old crockery, but I do expect to be able to cook and eat a meal for as many people as there are beds, and sit on furniture that doesn't have to be new but isn't going to fall to pieces. I prefer quirky and mismatched to all-shiny IKEA, but it's got to be functional.

PhoneLock · 04/12/2019 08:48

And don't have beds with ends at the feet. It may look country and twee to have a fancy wooden bed but no one over 6' can fit in it

This is actually a deciding factor when we are renting accommodation.

If there is an end on the bed, we look elsewhere.

AlwaysCheddar · 04/12/2019 08:48

If it sleeps 4, don’t have just 4 plates, 4 mugs, 4 glasses etc. No excuse for this!

Teachermaths · 04/12/2019 08:53

Sharp knives are safer than blunt ones so that argument doesn't wash. Blunt knives makes it harder to cut and more likely to slip and cut yourself.

Also please leave heating instructions, nothing worse than living in a furnace for a week because the heating seems uncontrollable!

Beveren · 04/12/2019 09:06

Can I put in a bid for decent size mugs? So may cottages have quite twee little cups, and I like a big cup of tea.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2019 09:10

YY to staying there a few nights. Some of the beds are awful. A firm mattress may last longer, but they are bloody uncomfortable to sleep on.

And decent mattresses don't need to be expensive. If you can get to an Ikea, there really is no excuse. Same for bedding. No-one has used sheets and blankets by choice since about 1978, so there's no reason to use them in holiday accommodation.

QueenAnneBoleyn · 04/12/2019 09:13

Very good point OP.
We’ve just come back from a stay in the Lakes where we rented a holiday cottage that sleeps 6.
Huge family sized kitchen..... one (smallish) saucepan.
We were a drive from the nearest village so going out every night for dinner wasn’t an option. How are you supposed to cook for a family with just one saucepan?

VeryLittleOwl · 04/12/2019 09:15

As a holiday cottage owner, I'm reading and noting - apologies to all the tall people, duly noted for when we replace beds! I live less than half a mile away, so am able to keep on top of things fairly well, but haven't actually ever slept in it though we do ask friends and family for honest feedback when they use it.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 04/12/2019 09:18

As part owner of a holiday cottage which we regularly use for our own holidays I am regularly amused by the conflicting nature of guest comments e.g. don't like the furniture followed by beautiful cosy cottage well furnished. Or complaints about the bed being too hard followed by comments that the mattress was soft .... I totally agree with the cutlery, chairs, mirrors etc. But when it comes to decor and fittings then individual taste really varies.

We have learned to take on board comments that are valid and ignore others while making sure the description and pictures accurately reflect the house.

SciFiScream · 04/12/2019 09:19

The bed thing is so important. My DH sleeps with his feet off the bed as he is 6'4"

Yes to everything already said.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 04/12/2019 09:22

I have had one guest who wrote a scathing review - because there were cows in the field next to the holiday cottage. Description of cottages location stated it was very rural and close to a working farm!

How dare we have cows in the countryside!!

People can be bloody bonkers.

Kazzyhoward · 04/12/2019 09:24

But when it comes to decor and fittings then individual taste really varies.

Which is why plenty of photos and a good narrative/description is so important. Give enough information so that potential customers can make an informed choice.

Ohffs66 · 04/12/2019 09:25

Another one here who immediately discounts anywhere with an end on the bed! Or just a standard double, DH is quite a big chap and I'm not a great sleeper so anything smaller than a king means crap sleep. Twins are fine tho. We are actually in a holiday cottage this week and it's really well kitted out, the wifi is great, plenty of stuff in the kitchen including salt, pepper, many teatowels (My personal bugbear is when they only give you one or two), and full instructions on how to work the heating, what times it's set for etc. And there are lamps! I've stayed in quite a few where the only light is the overhead one and it's just weird.

TeenPlusTwenties · 04/12/2019 09:28

I find there is almost always a lack of coat hooks.
Not too bad if the dining area with decent chairs is right by the front door, but a pain otherwise.