What will you expect/ not expect in a UK holiday cottage when they reopen?

[Movinghouseatlast]

I'm just writing my new guidelines for guests as we are hoping to reopen on 4th July. There have been some changes to cleaning etc. I was just wondering what guests will think?

Check in is now 5pm instead of 3pm to allow for extra cleaning.

Guests have to strip the beds and put bedding in cotton bags.

They have to put the rubbish out. I have also asked to leave the cottage as you would wish to find it.

They are asked to leave all windows open.

All extras are being removed- throws, cushions on beds, games, additional kitchen equipment as we just don't have time to wash and disinfect it all.

I usually leave a welcome hamper of an afternoon tea, homemade bread and granola, jam and butter decanted into dishes, croissants. I am still going to do this, but wonder what people will think? I think it is safer for the guests for me to cook all these things than to buy them.

I am only going to provide a few wrapped tea bags and coffee pods- usually unlimited and loose in a jar.

I would be interested to know your thoughts! Thanks.

I booked a Forest Holidays self-catering cabin in July and they say: "We’ve also developed a new two-step process: after our usual deep clean, your cabin will be cleaned again. The second phase of cleaning focuses on cabin hotspots. Cabin hotspots are the most used and most commonly touched areas of your cabin such as door handles, light switches and kitchen counters. When we clean cabin hot spots we use BioGuard - a scientifically proven, medical grade hand and surface wipe system trusted by healthcare professionals. BioGuard is proven to protect against 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. It’s also PH neutral, dermatologically tested and environmentally friendly."

That is good enough for me.

@SomewhereEast

I honestly wouldn't expect anything different from normal. If people are so anxious about catching Covid that they object to cushions & leaflets, then they'll probably find the whole holiday a stressful experience & should maybe just stay at home?

I also don't think its fair to expect any establishment to be able to reduce your risk of coming into contact with Covid to a flat 0%, anymore than you would expect them to be able to reduce the risk of tripping over something to a flat 0%.

Exactly this. I just want a normal clean and normal check in / out times. There's no way I'd be able to prove exactly where I contracted COVID during my holiday, so even if I got it I wouldn't pursue the cottage owner anyway!

I've stayed at Forrest holidays loads in the past. They are wonderful but cleaning has always been a bit hit or miss - interesting to see how that pans out.

I think the big companies have lawyers that can read through what's being expected and translate it into something feasible that will pass the regulations. Sadly individual cottage owners don't have that luxury and need to figure it out by themselves with the fear of being closed down, fined or sued I expect.

Look if I get to go away this summer at all I will be highly delighted. A late entry/early departure will be but a small pin prick of irritation compared to the many outings, holidays, meals out I had planned. If I look back on 2020 and the worst I could say was that I didn't get into my holiday cottage until 5pm then that wouldn't be so bad at all.

Wouldn't the answer be to simply offer 6-day holidays to everyone, obviously at a slightly reduced price?

Check in for all could be Sunday 12 noon. Great time for a check in..there in time for lunch and still plenty of the day left.

Check out Saturday 1pm...which is very civilised, gives them time for a nice leisurely breakfast, a last walk on the beach or whatever, spot of lunch before heading off home.

It also gives you plenty of time to clean and (almost 😉) 24 hours for any remaining bugs to bugger off 👍

As an avid cottage holiday giver myself, I would actually prefer this anyway to be honest! The late check in/early check out Saturday madness is so stressful!

The issue with lists & guidelines etc is surely that you have no way of knowing anyway? Conscientious service providers will do their best, whether they give you a ten page list or not. Unscrupulous ones will happily tell you they have done X, Y &Z, but quite possibly haven't. I would just go with places which had a good hygiene record pre-Covid

I mean let's face it...with the current set up, they're only getting 6 days anyway really aren't they? 🤷‍♀️

@GinWithRosie

Wouldn't the answer be to simply offer 6-day holidays to everyone, obviously at a slightly reduced price?

Check in for all could be Sunday 12 noon. Great time for a check in..there in time for lunch and still plenty of the day left.

Check out Saturday 1pm...which is very civilised, gives them time for a nice leisurely breakfast, a last walk on the beach or whatever, spot of lunch before heading off home.

It also gives you plenty of time to clean and (almost 😉) 24 hours for any remaining bugs to bugger off 👍

As an avid cottage holiday giver myself, I would actually prefer this anyway to be honest! The late check in/early check out Saturday madness is so stressful!

I'd go for this, definitely.

I could cope with a later check in but we are 2 adults so less to faff about with on arrival. The early checkout would really put me off though and I'm a naturally early riser.

All this talk of suing etc is ridiculous and missing the point.

Those who've caught it already aren't going around suing their care home, hospital, vicar, or whatever, are they?

It's ALL about protecting OTHERS, i.e. wearing masks so the wearer doesn't spread it, keeping 2 metres apart in case you've got it and sneeze unexpectedly, etc.

Holiday cottage owners should be "doing the right thing" to protect their guests, not covering their backs from a legal point of view. That extends to the cleaners they use.

These places should be clean anyway, but like hospitals, often aren't, due to poor cleaning and cross infection regimes, i.e. staff randomly moving around different wards using the same cloths, mops etc. It's why the likes of Norovirus spread so easily through hospitals and cruise ships etc - poor hygiene and cleanliness regimes.

I agree with the 6 night option. Much easier with children than late check in/early check out!

@SockYarn

Oh you're one of THOSE. The "ewwww homemade germy and nasty" people. I see,

Explains a lot.

Last cottage I stayed in left us a homemade cake, didn't bother me then, wouldn't bother me now.

I couldn't be doing with all this extra cleaning and all the faff of staying somewhere. As long as something is clean I'm good to go, I don't care if the sofas and the carpets have been steam cleaned and I'm not worried about catching the virus from a plate.

Anyone who is convinced they will die from touching something someone else may have touched needs to stay at home in their sealed bubble.

I think given how many people aren’t shopping or sending kids to school MANY people are scared about catching Corona. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m one of them

Rubbishing other people’s fears isn’t much use to op because op no doubt wants customers to return.

I imagine that’s about understanding the range of views and doing what will meet the needs of customers while being safe and running profitably.

@Kazzyhoward

All this talk of suing etc is ridiculous and missing the point.

Those who've caught it already aren't going around suing their care home, hospital, vicar, or whatever, are they?

It's ALL about protecting OTHERS, i.e. wearing masks so the wearer doesn't spread it, keeping 2 metres apart in case you've got it and sneeze unexpectedly, etc.

Holiday cottage owners should be "doing the right thing" to protect their guests, not covering their backs from a legal point of view. That extends to the cleaners they use.

These places should be clean anyway, but like hospitals, often aren't, due to poor cleaning and cross infection regimes, i.e. staff randomly moving around different wards using the same cloths, mops etc. It's why the likes of Norovirus spread so easily through hospitals and cruise ships etc - poor hygiene and cleanliness regimes.

You'd be surprised what people try to sue for then. The protecting others IS about legal obligations, which is why insurers are apparently saying it needs to be done. You can't separate it out.

This won't have been tested in an Occupiers' Liability Act '57 context yet as it's not been an issue. But you can absolutely bet your last penny that somebody, somewhere, will try to sue if they catch it. That's what people do (I'm a lawyer who runs OL / EL / PL claims; I've seen it all!).

And I bet people WILL be suing if people have died potentially unnecessarily in care homes etc. If their lawyers can prove that the duty of care has been breached, then they might succeed as well. It would all be very case-specific, however. Success would not be guaranteed.

@Onceuponatimethen

I think given how many people aren’t shopping or sending kids to school MANY people are scared about catching Corona. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m one of them

Rubbishing other people’s fears isn’t much use to op because op no doubt wants customers to return.

I imagine that’s about understanding the range of views and doing what will meet the needs of customers while being safe and running profitably.

But if you're afraid of shopping and sending the kids to school why are you thinking of going on holiday?

Oh, and then there's potentially employers' liability claims to consider for the cleaners as there's a duty of care there too.

Again, whether that's successful would be very case-specific.

@EggysMom - I'm not complaining about feeding my children rigidly at 5pm, I'm saying it will be tricky to manage two small children (one of whom
has Aspergers) who will be tired, grumpy and full of nervous energy.

Normally we would drive down to Cornwall to arrive for about 1pm, we would park up in the nearest town, have a lunch, have a mooch, pick up a few bits and bobs then head on over to our cottage for 3pm. By the time we are unpacked, had a cup of tea and a snack it's 5/6pm. Time just to wander out for fish and chips, time after that for a bath and bed at the normal sort of time.

A 5pm check in means we either have to leave at our normal time to avoid traffic and spend 4 hours killing time instead of two, or we leave later and risk the A303/A30 traffic (anyone who has tried to get over Bodmin Moor during holiday traffic will attest it damages ones calm significantly).

Once we are checked in we still then have to do the unpacking and settling in. Dinner is much later, kids are hangry, everything goes to shit.

Also - we holiday in Cornwall during the October half term. Hard to kill four hours in Penzance in the pissing rain and cold. 😂😂

Last year I massively misjudged it and we arrived in Penzance in the middle of a proper wind and rain storm at 10am. Ended up going to the cinema to watch Maleficent to kill a bit of time.

This year we are supposed to be going to Porthcurno. At least there is a beach to mooch on if we are early.

@drspouse I’m not sure I’m Going! We have a cottage booked but we are VERY much in two minds

I just visited the website for a steam railway I wanted to visit this summer. They had a survey there I filled in.

One of the questions was a list of additional measures they were planning on introducing such as packs of hand sanitiser, lists of what additional cleaning has been done, blah blah blah and asking you to tick which ones you would want to see. Delighted to see there was also an option for "I would be happy with none of these additional measures in place". I enjoyed ticking that and using the free text box to explain further that I'd rather have as normal experience as possible without socially distanced carriages.

If people feel anxious, they will presumably stay at home.

As for arrival time: There is an option for 6 nights: anyone can surely feel free to arrive early The next morning to have the relaxing experience that makes the next 6 Or 13 days if holiday worth it.

It is unrealistic to think that holiday companies and cottage owners will just be able to suck up what is essentially a ‘void’ day.

Maybe we could have an option where we can sign to say we don't want the extra cleaning etc? That might help. I'd prefer that than to lose a day of the holiday, though would accept the latter with a discount to reflect it.

I'm not bothered. I don't want extra cleaning!

@NoWordForFluffy

Maybe we could have an option where we can sign to say we don't want the extra cleaning etc? That might help. I'd prefer that than to lose a day of the holiday, though would accept the latter with a discount to reflect it.

I'm not bothered. I don't want extra cleaning!

I would totally be up for that

I would hope that a cottage would be thoroughly cleaned anyway. I'd expect throws, pillow protectors and cushion covers to be changed between renters - I wash mine regularly. Once the place is clean - to the usual standard - a quick once-over of surfaces, handles, door knobs and light switches with a bleachy cloth should only take a few minutes. I can manage that in my whole house in 5 minutes max.

I don't expect to catch anything from a holiday rent and have managed not to in the last few decades. Norovirus is very infectious and very common and I've never even picked that up. I'm not expecting hospital standards, but I am expecting a 'home from home'.

I have a place booked for this year and will be turning up at the usual time and hanging about if someone is still in there. If they want me to leave early then I won't have time for stripping the beds and emptying the bins. They are welcome to watch me do these or let me leave them if they turn up between the new and original check out times.

I see that there are 'guidelines'. These are not the same as rules (as a BA guy snottily told me as he distributed my family all round the plane for a 9 hour flight).

I would happily sign a disclaimer.

We never go Saturday to Saturday, always midweek and tend to book for seven nights but sometimes we've arrived or left a day early because of other commitments, as have the friends we often share a flat with.

If we could only get weekend to weekend bookings we would not be going, as the events we attend are always Thursday/Friday to Sunday/Monday events, so we would have to book for two weeks to get our weekend!

Actually it's quite relaxing going home a day early with no hassle to get up, car packed, not cleaning but certainly making sure it's tidy and moderately dirt free () by 10.00 or even 10.30am. Travel to get home sometime in the evening. Yes, we've missed a night we've paid for but I never feel so tired.