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.

A 5pm check in is late though... from a customers point of view either put in gaps or if you have to do more cleaning then employ more cleaners ... I'd not be that bothered about lots of soft furnishings so removing them isn't much of an issue..
But would not want a stripped back kitchen
Also a hamper is a nice to have not an essential... bottle of wine and some takeaway/ local restaurants /nice food shop recommendations more useful..

@averythinline

A 5pm check in is late though... from a customers point of view either put in gaps or if you have to do more cleaning then employ more cleaners ... I'd not be that bothered about lots of soft furnishings so removing them isn't much of an issue.. But would not want a stripped back kitchen Also a hamper is a nice to have not an essential... bottle of wine and some takeaway/ local restaurants /nice food shop recommendations more useful..

Are you prepared to pay for those extra cleaners ( if we can find them.....) or those empty days?

No - thought not.

Fortunately there are enough guests who accept the new reality and I'm turning away bookings at the moment as are most of the cottage owners I know. If you're not happy with what I'm forced to do to try to keep you safe then please look elsewhere with my blessing.

I could live with a slightly later check in now my children are older, but it would have been difficult a few years ago when they were smaller.

An early check out would be the thing that puts me off, though. I tidy, load the dishwasher, empty the bin and wipe surfaces when I leave, but I don't usually strip beds when I'm paying for the cottage to be cleaned. With Covid, I would be happy to strip beds and put the bedding into bags, BUT I'd expect a later check out to compensate for that.

I'd rather not have cake, etc left. I always take my own tea and coffee anyway. I'd be disappointed if the kitchen was poorly equipped, though.

I'd expect mattress covers to be washed, but not mattresses steamed. I thought fogging was used instead of cleaning everything a second time.

We’ve been told to strip beds and put sheets and towels in the “bags provided” but no bags have actually been provided. We have to leave the dishwasher running as well (which we would always do) and empty the bins (which we also do routinely) nothing else expected in the way of cleaning. We were, in the end, given a 5pm entry which worked for us because DH had to do his hobby-that-cannot-be-named (golf) before we left home anyway, so we got here dead on 5 and went to the pub, we’re all adults so no problem with bedtimes nowadays.

The early checkout is partly to protect the cleaners from you. It reduces the chance of you meeting and also gives any virus you may be leaving behind longer to settle on surfaces so it can be killed.

Fogging is actually now not recommended. It uses some seriously nasty chemicals and is probably not as efficient as other forms of cleaning. Cleaners would need a lot of training and protective equipment to use it safely.

It’s also a risk that residues from the process could cause breathing difficulties for some guests who come in afterwards.

I have a holiday cottage and check-in has always been at 4pm and check-out 10am (we are not a hotel with a team of people and neither do we have just one room to clean - maintenance might also be required during the changeover). We have a cleaning rating of 10/10 and this is achieved because of the time we put in. As a result of Covid I am requesting guests check-out at 9am if possible but no later than 10am - at the moment I would rather not go straight into a property to clean it after someone has left and everything needs to be first 'cleaned' and then 'sanitised' which are two different processes.

Upon departure my guests are being asked to open the windows, remove the bedding/towels/dressing gowns, etc and bag everything in clear commercial plastic bags provided (I am not using cotton laundry bags as these will just be another thing that has to be washed). The bags containing the laundry will be stored off site for 72 hours before being opened and washed.

Guests have always been asked to take their bagged rubbish to the external bins when they leave.

We are cleaning and then sanitising every surface with expensive products which kill everything (these products are not supermarket off the shelf grade) and for soft furnishings such as cushions/throws/mattresses, these will be sprayed with a soft furnishings disinfectant (as they've always been) and changed frequently.

Teas/coffee/sugar/welcome pack (bacon, eggs, butter, milk, cake, etc) will be provided as usual and a guest can decide to use them or not - it will be their call. I will not be removing any kitchen items (we are a 5* luxury cottage and people are paying for the extras that we provide - such as nutri-bullet, iphone charger, binoculars, wicker picnic hamper). I will not be removing reading books, walking guide books or visitor attraction leaflets as Covid only lasts 30 minutes on paper and again people are intelligent enough to make their own decision and can decide what they want to touch. However, I am taking away board games - too many bits of plastic and places for viruses and bacteria to hide.

We provide hand sanitising gel, anti-bacterial hand wash, anti-bac cleaning sprays and surface wipes as well as new dish cloths and scrubbing brushes for each change-over (we always have).

I cannot create a medical grade bacterial and virus free environment and people will be going out and about, visiting shops, tourist attractions, family, friends, restaurants and pubs so I do not see any benefit from me stripping back everything in the cottage and if someone is that worried about catching Covid then I doubt they will be booking a holiday, never mind a holiday let when they know someone could have left it hours earlier and are relying on the cleaning ability of someone else.

I hope all our guests get to enjoy a much needed holiday and for a small moment amount time they can put their trust in our 10/10 cleaning rating and relax.