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 could live with the 5pm check in. But removing games, cushions, teabags etc I would be really disappointed with....

Of course everything is cleaned between guests normally.

Does that include all the kitchen utensils, i.e. mixing bowls, pots & pans, cutlery, crockery, baking trays, tin openers, etc etc. I've been in holiday cottages where that kind of thing has been pretty filthy so it would be good to have reassurance that "everything" is cleaned, not just obvious surfaces etc.

But removing games, cushions, teabags etc I would be really disappointed with....

I think if it's clear on the website prior to booking, then there'd be no disappointment as people would know what they're getting before they book.

There was that Singapore church case where someone caught covid just by sitting on a chair that was occupied by someone with covid a few hours earlier - it brings it home to you that it can be spread just by touching cloth/material/surfaces etc. The more minimal the house, the easier to clean and the less chance of the virus being passed on.

@user1497207191

But removing games, cushions, teabags etc I would be really disappointed with....

I think if it's clear on the website prior to booking, then there'd be no disappointment as people would know what they're getting before they book.

There was that Singapore church case where someone caught covid just by sitting on a chair that was occupied by someone with covid a few hours earlier - it brings it home to you that it can be spread just by touching cloth/material/surfaces etc. The more minimal the house, the easier to clean and the less chance of the virus being passed on.

Yes I agree minimal is probably best, but you can’t throw out sofas and beds, and if you have them then they are as likely as anything to transmit it. Also I’ve heard this case spoken of before but I don’t think it’s usually spread like that. It would surely take someone coughing on the seat, and then someone else sitting on the seat and then the part of clothing that was on the seat then touching their mouth or nose? I mean, possible yes, but really unlikely to be the case, the virus is not generally that contagious.

My only real concern with the holiday cottage situation, and I am booked to go to one this summer, is if someone gets ill, then they have to presumably self isolate in situ for the duration of symptoms?

I think if you are asking what would I want to see to reassure me to book these are my answers:

(1) clarity about the last time someone will have been in the property prior to me entering. I understand a lot of the research suggests breath of an infected person a lot more risky than infected surfaces. I would be wanting a time when the last person cleaning will leave and to be told the cleaner was wearing a mask through the clean and also wore gloves and that they didn’t wear shoes inside.

(2) reassurance that floors have all been mopped and all surfaces cleaned with a detol type cleaning product

(3) reassurance all rooms ventilated and how long for since the last let

Any welcome hamper I would want to be all sealed branded products.

I would be bringing loads of hand wipes, detol wipes etc with and doing a good clean once we arrived tbh as well

We have a property booked for 9 July and aren’t sure if we will go tbh

Oh regarding the welcome hamper, I think you could ask your guests in advance and give them the option. We'd be delighted to accept it and take our very small chances, but others would prefer not.

if someone gets ill, then they have to presumably self isolate in situ for the duration of symptoms?

This is a really good point, @BrokenBrit, and one I am currently emailing my MP about.

If one of my guests falls ill with Covid, then I still have a contract with the next guests, so it wouldn't be possible for them and their family to self-isolate there for up to 14 days. I am a single mother running a business, and my children's home depends entirely on my income, so I can't just cancel the next guests and put them up in a hotel. My insurance doesn't cover guests becoming ill; sickness insurance is the guests' responsibility (though I think they would find it hard to obtain insurance for a pandemic now). My contract is with my individual guests, for the respective period which they have booked.

I am not a health professional, and can't diagnose an illness which a guest says they are suffering from. I can't take on the responsibility of someone who becomes ill with diagnosed Covid any more than I can take on the responsibility for anyone who becomes ill with diagnosed flu/measles/norovirus/anything at all during their stay.

The latter are things which people have been contending with for a very, very long time. Everything in life involves a degree of risk. My sister, many years ago, in her 20s, came down with bad chickenpox on the day when she was supposed to be going on the holiday of a lifetime to America.

These things do happen. On the whole, we have to face them when they actually happen. There is normally a way to cope.

There was that Singapore church case where someone caught covid just by sitting on a chair that was occupied by someone with covid a few hours earlier

Evidence for this please? Maybe someone coughed all over the seat and a person put their hand in snot/goo? Agree the more minimal the house the better though (and less to clean, too).

And washing with hot soapy water is enough to get rid of the virus so why do you have to go over again with bleach?

Getting rid of the welcome hamper is mean (or reducing its contents). You don't catch the virus from food.

Visit England has some silly rules at the best of times but it sounds like they are going over the top here.

I would definitely want cushions as it's uncomfortable without them

I would be quite happy for the later check in, or even the next day to know that the cottage was properly clean / disinfected between guests. I would rather arrive to dine the cutlery / crockery still in the dishwasher (clean) . Otherwise I would probably rewash it.

I am really surprised that people are fussing about things like there being no cushions , books , games etc as after all these weeks of not being able to go anywhere or take holidays I will just be happy to be able to get away. Particularly if Wales gets opened up!

And people really think no tea / coffee available for when they arrive is a big deal? How difficult is it to take this with you? I can't imagine holidaying without taking basic necessities such as this with me.

Could you refund all bookings for the last day and say for example all sat arrivals must leave Friday, it would give plenty of time for any extra cleaning if that makes sense, then the check in time and arrival time can stay the same and there has been 29 hours between people staying (obviously other than the cleaner).

This doesn’t feel evidence based. It feels like an excellent way of both inconveniencing guests and making them feel unwelcome, with the added bonus of not actually helping prevent the spread of the virus, as the risk of transmission with a normal level of cleaning is incredibly low anyway in this scenario.

Making guests strip their beds and bag the sheets, plus emptying the bins (especially bathroom bins etc) is sensible, but that followed by normal cleaning would be plenty.

In the cottage we are staying in you have to empty your own bins anyway as bin day is not changeover day (we stayed last year).

I sorry I've not read the whole thread.

I know I'd want as PP has said, for dishes to be left on a hot wash in the dishwasher so I know they haven't been touched. Extra washing up liquid.

I'd like a description of how you have sanitised each room.

And if you can get them. Easily removed Sanitisation stickers with a date and time written on. So we would know what's been done and what might have been missed.

I'd like bedding to be left in the plastic bags from the laundry (if that's what you use) and I would make up the beds.

I'd also want the windows open so air exchange could happen, but I appreciate this might not be practical.

And for dettol surface spray and wipes left out for our use.

A wipeable welcome box would be appreciated. With each item inside to be sanitised by us on arrival.

I'm quite paranoid, so I appreciate my steps might be over the top to most.
But these things would mean I could highly recommend a property.

get a couple of cushions with washable covers. or garden cushions with wipeable covers... (we have some indoors and quite comfy for supporting backs.)

ditch the bed cushions, they are disgusting anyway...
extra pillow per person instead.

hamper: unopened packs of coffee, tea, sugar and biscuits. bottle of milk inthe fridge. all are wipeable by guests if they desire.

get rid of all things that are not easily washable inthe kitchen... You would be surprised at what some places have.

do get rid of all ornaments. (autistic children and ornaments do not mix anyway) it will be easier to clean.

Split your games stash into two stacker boxes. alternate stacker boxes between guests so the other box can go into quarantine for 72 hours.

definitely have all crockery and cutlery in the dishwasher on hot wash for arrival. I wash it all anyway. who knows what standards the previous guests had!

provide dishwasher tablets.

i would not mind making up beds myself. you could wwash linen and box up for the next guests. Tell your guest that. (one place had spare linen in stacker boxes in each room)

think about things that people have to touch... blind cords, light switches, door handles, bannisters, things you would not ordinarily clean each time.

bedding and towels provided in stacker boxes with a lid, to bne returned to box on leaving. Leave box for 72 hours before washing for your safety.

Just checked Sykes Cottages and their cleaning advice states that owners might want to amend check-in but doesn't say they must. My check-in time still says 3pm so that's when I plan to arrive (but I'll get lost as always and turn up 2 hours late anyway).

Slightly off-topic, but I'm not sure I'd use Sykes as a benchmark. They seem to be simultaneously ripping off owners and customers at the moment. Dreadful company.

Lots of these suggestions sound fine. A reduction in kitchen equipment would be awful for us - this summer we are extremely unlikely to be frequenting restaurants every day so we’d need a well stocked kitchen.

Oh yes, definitely keep the kitchen stuff.

With restaurants problematic, you might find even those who normally eat out will want to cook more (or might not have any choice in the matter).

If guests are particularly cautious they may well wash everything themselves before they use it, in any event.

It depends what is advertised, (including what other guests have commented) as the last thing you want is for your guests to feel short changed. For the coffee, tea, sugar etc can you have two complete sets and rotate between guests then there's no hygiene issues. Nobody will mind about later entry or lack of decorative throws but I would like with the complimentary tea, put half the games for one client and other half the next. I wouldn't worry about kitchen equipment too much but do remove excess eg if it's equipped for 4, just leave 4 wine glasses and 4 tumblers not other kinds.

I think it goes back to doing what you are asked to do and no more.

If guests are nervous about catching covid-19 from a spatula, then for their own sake a holiday is not going to do them much good and they would be far better just staying at home.

I guess one positive benefit of this is that it will encourage holiday home owners to strip out unnecessary ornamental dust catchers. We stayed in a property once in Wales that for some obscure reason had bunches of dusty twigs tied up and on the wall and hanging from the ceiling. It was like walking on to the set of the Blair Witch project.

Check in times for the two I have booked remains the same 3pm. I’d be disappointed with a 5pm check in and it would probably put me off booking.
I’d expect an owner to pay for an extra cleaner to do it in the same time. If I’m paying £1800 for three nights, I don’t want the time shortened.
I’ve never liked holiday homes that are full of ‘stuff’ so wouldn’t want too much by way of old books and games.
We’ve always had an empty cupboards policy in our cottage and I’d always expect people to remove their rubbish and strip beds.

I agree with those saying I would just expect it cleaned to a high standard as usual.
If I was concerned about catching the virus I wouldn't be travelling and staying away from home.

It all sounds good apart from leaving a place as I'd wish to find it. I always clear up but I'm not going to cleave it pristine as in the next people can come straight in when I'm rushing around to be out on time.