Holiday cottage owners - things I would like pls!

[EinsteinaGogo]

Hi everyone,

There have been a few posts from holiday cottage owners recently (which makes sense, due to situation).

I'm browsing holiday cottages / lodges in Suffolk for between Christmas and New Year, and I'm pondering my 'must haves'.

Obviously, everyone has their own 'must haves'. In our case, we only go out for a few hours a day. the rest of the time we spend In the cottage.
so my must haves are:

Excellent wifi
Good sized Smart TV with Netflix at a minimum, ideally Amazon and ability to have other apps
King sized bed

There are so few places that have smart TVs -
I'm actually thinking about bringing one! And so many places only have a double bed. My DH is 6'4". Double beds mean rubbish sleep for us.

Renters: what are your must haves?
And owners - can you get me smart tv and massive bed pls?!

@TheoneandObi 😱😱😱😱 oh my god - a parrot? Some people are officially bonkers.

After reading this, I have formed a resolution never to run holiday lets. Ever.

Why? All the owners need to do is be honest and upfront about what they do/don't provide. It's easier than ever due to simple/cheap websites. Upload loads of pictures, and full narrative of fittings, equipment, etc., and you're sorted.

People can then make an informed decision, if they don't like beige, they can go elsewhere, likewise if they don't like leather sofas. It's ALL about managing expectations.

Where people have problems is where they're not clear in their listings/pictures as to what is/isn't provided, or worse, where people deliberately misrepresent their properties and then wonder why their guests get upset when they arrive to find something completely different from what they expect.

I think 10am checkout is to allow enough time for cleaning. If it was midday you'd have to push back the check in time for the next guests.

Yes - especially if they have more than one property to clean and turn around. However, we've been to places in the past on out-of-season breaks (sometimes just for a long weekend or mid-week) at the times of year when owner are just glad to get any business in and keep the place ticking over. It's been very much appreciated when, on occasion, they've told us that there's nobody coming in after we've left, so feel free to have a leisurely last morning and no need to leave until lunchtime.

I agree with Kazzy. We once stayed in a lovely but cold and spartan place in Perthshire. In truth, it was more like student digs, really, but the owners were completely honest from the start that they were going to be renovating and kitting it out properly hence the bargain-basement price for the time being.

We were very happy with the deal, but I suppose you'd have to be careful of all of the idiots and chancers these days who leave terrible reviews (or threaten to) after they've been made fully aware of what the deal is - like having a big slap-up £5 all-day breakfast at Bert's Cafe and then complaining that it wasn't as posh as The Ivy.

I don't remember who listed a few things which were taken away from their holiday property, but you holiday home owners, do you charge a deposit to protect yourself from an occasion like that? Or not?

Or airbnb doesn't allow them? I have been charged security deposit in the past but never via airbnb...

Would clients be put off having to pay a deposit? How do you prove/accuse people of taking a knife or a radio? Must be quite tricky...

Enough towels! If you have a hot tub/pool, i want a big enough towel to use with it aswell as towels for the bathroom. I don't want to use the same towel for both!

Yeah if there's no one else coming in on check out day we are often flexible, saying guests can be out by lunchtime. Trouble is if you use a regular and good cleaner you don't want to be messing her around with random start times. But of course we can be flexible when time allows.
Deposits - no never done this. I like it tho when people fess up to breakages and dont just sneak away without telling me. It gives me a chance to make a swift replacement. I can't afford the time to count wine glasses every week!

Trouble is if you use a regular and good cleaner you don't want to be messing her around with random start times.

Oh, no, indeed - but if you ask, s/he might also appreciate the occasional flexibility if instead of having to turn it around between 10-3 on one particular day, you can tell them that the guests are leaving their mid-week break on Thursday and the new guests come in from 3pm on Saturday (sometimes there might be weeks between bookings if it's January!). They might prefer the regular routine, but they might jump at the chance to be able to spend Saturday with their kids and then (COVID notwithstanding) get the place cleaned next week when the kids are at school. In fact, if it's a Christmas/New Year booking leaving and then the next guests aren't coming until February half term, you probably don't want to clean it only to then have several unattended weeks for dust to build up again.

Yes. Which is why I said we can be flexible! I guess cleaners often have other jobs lined up tho. Mine fir example does our cottage clean then often goes straight on to do our neighbour's (own house) clean because she likes it done on a Friday, same as our changeover. Honestly we owners do try our best to be flexible. You'd be amazed tho how many folk rock up at midday while sheets are still flapping and hoovers running. Don't mind us, they exclaim. And we try not to. We smile nicely and say 'welcome'! I'm glad my job is doing the garden. I just put my head down and mow!

I think the definition of holiday comfort is everything you already have at home, plus. We have lived in our forever home for 25 years, and it is comfortable and pleasant to live in. If I am paying you, then I would like to be equally or more comfortable in your letting house, and I'd like something extra too, which might be the beaches, or the historic sites, or a parade of fabulous restaurants, clubs and bars on my doorstep. That's why I am travelling to your property instead of staying at home.

What I don't want: I don't want a kitchen that assumes no one is going to cook in it, so a sharp knife or two, a chopping board, a sieve and a salad spinner is minimum entry level. Enough crockery and cutlery for the number of guests, plus 2 extras. Several saucepans.

I don't want a 4'^6" bed... DH is 6'5". So minimum kingsize. emperor is preferred. Not particularly bothered about an ensuite, but I prefer a shower, so bath only is an automatic non starter. I haven't had a bath since my DS was delivered 21 years ago. But a heated towel rail is mandatory. I don't like damp towels.

A very basic kitchen pack: tea towels, dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid, a sponge and pan scraper. Plus right size bin bags, a handul of tea bags,a litre of milk, salt, pepper, vinegar, oil and a rudimentary spice cupboard. Forget the local jam. In fact, given the number of times, I have had to buy all of these, please tell your cleaners to leave the items the last tenants left behind. That way you will end up with most stuff most people want, and it won't cost you a penny. Just pay your cleaners properly.

Is this enough of a rant? I do hope someone somewhere .reads this.

Ability to put on the heating! The place we stayed in in Ireland last Easter had the heating on a timer and we were told not to touch it and to phone the owner if we wanted a 'boost' as she would do it remotely?!!

If I am paying you, then I would like to be equally or more comfortable in your letting house, and I'd like something extra too, which might be the beaches, or the historic sites, or a parade of fabulous restaurants, clubs and bars on my doorstep. That's why I am travelling to your property instead of staying at home
Yes that's great, I'll just move the sea 150 miles inland, I'll remove the quaint and historic market town on my doorstep. I'll personally open a parade of fabulous restaurants on my street. I'll get rid of the National Park I live in. I'll flatten the historic mountains near where I live. Just so you can have something extra.

Instit You've missed the PP's point. Your quaint market town and National Park and mountains are the something extra!

(Though the idea of a salad spinner being essential amazes me...)

My wish list:

Excellent wifi.
Comfortable beds (although people have different preferences for how soft they like the mattress to be).
Blackout blinds for all bedroom windows.
A fridge the right size for the property. We stayed in one cottage that slept 10 and it only had one little fridge.
Maybe some kind of guide for the TV, as they all seem to be different.
Information about what to do in the local area.

Also washing machine and a very good selection of kitchen equipment, plus sharp knives.

'emperor is preferred'

😂

Yes that's great, I'll just move the sea 150 miles inland, I'll remove the quaint and historic market town on my doorstep. I'll personally open a parade of fabulous restaurants on my street. I'll get rid of the National Park I live in. I'll flatten the historic mountains near where I live. Just so you can have something extra.

Spectacularly missing the point. People want different things. As long as you're clear and honest about your property, local amenities (or lack of), then people have the information to make informed decisions. If there are no restaurants within easy walking distance then make that clear, i.e. say something like restaurants just 10 minutes drive away. It's ALL about managing expectations. If you don't given a full, complete and honest description of your property, local amenities, locality, etc., then don't be surprised if people complain.

With airbnb, when you review you have 5 or so different fators to score the host on, one of them being accuracy of listing. If a host were to score consistently poorly on that measure, they'd know about it!

Having said that you do get some inconsistent feedback sometimes. We had a 3 out of 5 for accurancy of listing once, and when asked the guests how we could improve they messaged to say it was so much more lovely in reality compared to the pictures! Another scored us an overall 3 out of 5 with a completley glowing descriptive review, including how they will be back. When i got in touch to say Thank you so much for the wonderful review but what can we improve on, they said not to change a thing, they're not a fan of fancy 5 star hotels anyway!!

Entirely out of the hands of the owners, I know, but somebody upthread mentioned visitors' books. Am I the only one who hates it when guests dwell on the weather - almost blaming the owner for it - or give their entire day-long schedules for the whole week?

By all means make a passing comment about the rain and giving hints and reviews of lesser-known attractions or facilities that others might like, but whatever possesses people to write:

Tuesday: We decided to have a quiet day in, play Uno and watch Paw Patrol because it was pouring all day and the children didn't sleep well the previous night. Harry has been missing his term-time routine and his school-friends and poor little Olivia is teething at the moment (we've been buying Bonjela by the lorry-load!!!!!!!!!!!!). Timothy has also been struggling with his recovery from a nasty bout of the flu that came on two weeks before the start of our holiday

It would be boring enough in your own personal family journal, let alone one for all guests to see over several years. At least with the Janet & Roy letters, people know either to ignore them or to settle down with the popcorn for comedy value.

Yes that's great, I'll just move the sea 150 miles inland

Sorry, but that reminded me of Basil Fawlty when the guest complained about being unable to see the sea from her room

As a PP said, the extra is what the accommodation AND local area combined can offer over what the guest already has if they'd just stayed at home, and being honest about what's on offer so that people can decide if it's the right place for them.

If you have a remote lodge in the Highlands, by all means tell everybody about the breathtaking mountains, amazing views across the lochs, peaceful serenity, wildlife, forests and woodland walks; but don't promise guaranteed blazing sunshine and a Tesco Extra two minutes' walk away.

I rarely self cater, but for me reliable wifi is important (to check what is open, when and how to get there), a comfy bed, and peace/quiet at night.

@NobbyButtons The first image your request brought to my mind was a murder cottage (knives) and cover up (washing machine to get the blood stains out).

I think I need to change my reading material.

Useful instructions for little quirks of the heating, TV etc, but don't go overboard.

Stayed in a remote cottage once. All through the house were little cards tied onto objects with string, giving instructions on how to use said item. It was like having Hyacinth Bucket at your elbow throughout the stay.

Can't remember them exactly but was something like:
"Teapot: Make sure you put a mat underneath it so it doesn't burn a surface, and don't allow drips to escape."
"Chair: Please pick up, don't push along floor as it makes marks."
"Table: Please put mats down, and if children are eating, line floor underneath with newspaper (Scotsman will do, prefer DM)"
"Tap: Don't leave running, it will overflow."
"Door handle: Make sure it doesn't bang into the wall and make mark."
"Bread knife: Do not take on picnics. All losses will incur A FINE."

bedding and no more pointless bed cushions and dressing that never get washed.

A THOUSAND TIMES THIS!! Even pre-pandemic it disgusted me to think how many germs breed in those things. I don’t even like that it touches the bedding we will use! We stuff it immediately under the bed as soon as we get there. Luxury hotels have realised that spotless pressed bright white bedding is much more appealing, hopefully holiday let owners will figure it out soon.

What’s with the hate for leather sofas? Fabric sofas are pretty disgusting. I’ve been on holiday with a family whose toddler weed on the sofa multiple times and threw up on it once, and their older child spilled a glass of milk on it. They did a good job spot cleaning but it wasn’t a full clean. They certainly weren’t about to own up to the owners and lose their deposit!

We don’t holiday with them anymore but I never feel relaxed on a fabric sofa in a holiday let or hotel. I’m always terrified to smell it. At least a leather one can be wiped and sprayed.