Would you book a UK holiday cottage for July?

[ScarfLadysBag]

We've cancelled our France trip but means DH has two weeks off work in July and we would like to do something. I saw the cottage websites are taking bookings for July 4 onwards.

Would you?

Also considering booking something for summer hols

Also considering it!

What's the cancellation policy?

Sorry, that didn't exactly answer your question.

Personally no, but I'm high risk (not shielding) and I can't even think about ordering a latte & sitting outside a cafe, so the thought of staying away from home is WAY too much for ME to consider.

HOWEVER, if I didn't have the risk factors that I do and wasn't able to lockdown at home (no need to go out for anything really) as I am, then I'd consider it for July depending on the deposit/cancellation policy.

The cancellation policies seem to be the same as normal (we would have to cancel a month or so in advance), but I don't know if that would change if advice changed and they had to be closed again? I'm guessing if the government advice changes and they are told to close then that's them cancelling it, not us. I don't know 🤔

We aren't high risk and it would be a fairly isolated cottage in the country somewhere, as we are going with the dog.

Yes, I have, but we aren't going to a traditionally popular area of the country

Personally no, things are still too uncertain.

I wouldn’t want to go away on holiday in the U.K. if there’s still tourist places closed, car parks and toilets closed, and so on.

We’ll be staying at home this year, and doing day trips instead of a holiday, provided that things have calmed down enough for day trips.

No I wouldn’t bother tbh, SD will be in place, easier to stay at home. Good luck with whatever you decided OP.

We don't tend to do any tourist stuff, we self-cater and go on walks mainly in the country, so it's more just about a change of scenery I suppose. DD is still little enough to be happy looking at cows in a field Just not sure whether to risk potentially losing money

I definitely won’t be. We had a holiday cottage cancelled because of lockdown but we’re just kicking off the process of taking owner to court as he refuses to give any refund credit or postponement. This is contrary to the terms and conditions which state refund is due if property is unavailable. So, no I wouldn’t just in case the property owner also thought that the terms and conditions don’t apply this year! It’s all been too painful and has put me off for a long while. I just wanted to pass on this story to warn others x

We have one booked for end of August, hoping we will be able to go!

July 2021, maybe.

Not until last minute. I wish I could cancel our booking for end July

We have one booked for mid July but we have stayed there before so they have not asked for a deposit in case we can't go. It's a self catered cottage on a farm, we will take the dog so as long as we can go to the beach and have a take away we are not that bothered if anything else is really open. We were supposed to be going to Croatia so really hoping we can get away somewhere.

The other aspect, even if you can book now and are allowed to go then by a further relaxation in the lockdown, is would you be welcome in the area by local residents, farmers, services and businesses? At the moment it is no. I'm not sure how different that will be by July.

I would. As long as you know you can cancel nearer the time if it doesn't look like a good idea then.

Local village and country market town shops aren't keen on visitors using them at the moment because of limited stock and risk of viral spread to/from staff and residents. Again, I'm not sure that will change by July. It would be possible to be self sufficient for a week and take absolutely everything with you from home, but probably not 2. Delivery slots often aren't available in rural areas, or are in very short supply and needed by vulnerable residents or those without cars who rely on them.

Not in Cornwall and July 2030.

I'd keep looking for one with a better cancellation policy - I've seen some pop up on facebook saying they have absolute zero quibble full refund policies in place for the summer.

When you say Uk, I don’t think I’d risk Scotland as we are just about to go into stage 1 on thurs which just lets us stay 5 miles from our home and meet 1 person.

I might risk England as you’re allowed to travel more than 5 miles now.

Yes I'm in Scotland but it would be northern England somewhere most likely.

Good point on the self-sufficiency! We usually take a week's worth of shopping with us or click and collect on the way. It would just be for a week.

For England, they are considering local lockdowns for rising or high infection rates - that could be a city or a more rural area.

If you needed a local hospital, GP or vet while on holiday in a rural area in July, you will find services that are already stretched.

I understand the dilemma. Our mid summer holiday in the UK - England - has already been cancelled and someone else we stay with isn't taking new bookings until 2021. We have considered booking elsewhere but very much doubt we will, not just about the risk of losing money but mainly because of all the reasons I mention above. Another concern for the staff and the next guests is cleaning cottages between bookings when people can either be brewing the virus or asymptomatic. It's a minefield and not conducive to a happy, relaxed holiday for anyone.

We have for August but fully refundable, we have stayed there before and in others of the same owners cottages. It's self contained and we would just do beaches, walks etc. We don't normally do supermarket delivery or click and collect as we prefer to use local shops and it will be a shame if pubs and cafes are closed but we really just want a change of scene too.

I think there's at least a 50% chance we won't go though, but we can change the booking to next year.

Where we are looking will do full refund if government stipulate they cannot provide accomodation