What 'out of the ordinary' things would really delight you in a holiday rental?

[Malin52]

Just bought a holiday rental property (yes, I'm in another country with no COVID restrictions except the border remains closed) and I'm super keen to make sure my guests have a really lovely experience.

I've had many experiences of my own of staying in holiday homes with crap or limited amenities that ruins a holiday so between that and the various threads on here I've got a pretty decent list of 'non negotiables' ie full length mirrors, table lamps, 2x the crockery/glassware for max capacity, range of sharp knives, potato peelers, sieves, enough lounge/dining space for everyone, good towels, various saucepans and oven dishes, food serving dishes and tools, games and books you can actually read rather than a job lot of shite picked up at a knockdown price (the beginners guide to Visual Basic in one place I am reminded of) etc.

But I'm Keen to know what would really make you think your hosts had really thought about your needs? Some of those things that you wouldn't normally find but you wish were there or things you have to remember and pack, or go out and buy

Rental is a two bed , beachfront location

Some thoughts I've had:

• basic cooking bits on top of oil, salt/pepper such as mixed herbs, chilli?
• kitchen consumables such as paper towels, cling film, tin foil?
• couple of Tupperware boxes for picnics, cool bag and ice packs,
• ice made up in the freezer
• chilled tap water in a glass bottle the fridge
• beach bits: sunshades, blankets, body boards
• reuseable bags for the supermarket
• sugar, teabags, coffee.

Anything else?

How would you feel about using food items someone else had used previous such as the herbs, oil, sugar etc? What if there was a decanted sealed jar of ketchup in the fridge (bbq on the deck and I always find buying yet another ketchup just for a couple of burgers v annoying). Would the ice and water delight you or make you go eurggh?!

Thoughts welcome? Too much effort for the potential for someone to think it's all a big grim?

Definitely a clothes horse -so many holiday lets don’t have them. And not one of those flimsy wiry ones - a decent big one

I think do the basics really well, otherwise people do expect more and more

What I really like:

Proper blackout blinds or hotel style blackout curtains - I want to sleep in!
A comfortable bed
Good sheets and towels
Hangers and hanging space
Beach towels - otherwise people will take bath towels to the beach
A great shower
A decent bath
A decent heating system.
A comfortable sofa /chairs
comfortable kitchen/dining chairs
A washing machine
A dishwasher (even a little kitchen top one)
a heated clothes horse

Plenty of crockery, cutlery, glasses that doesn’t look mismatched and scanky - IKEA is fine

Half decent pots and pans (bit better than ikea) and a full range of key bits and bobs (eg cheese grater) - IKEA is fine for these - but in a two bed place I don’t think you need two of these.

Kitchen combustibles would be great - you never get those - clingfilm, tinfoil, kitchen towel.

Proper salt and pepper grinders filled up.

I wouldn’t provide oil/spices etc but a welcome basket - bottle of wine and breakfast would be great, with sachets of oil/ketchup etc to see you through to the next say - wine and local produce make it feel special (but yes you will have to check vegan etc - and have a simple plan to replace). Couple of loo rolls to see you through to next day.

Yes to filled ice cubes - the very fussy don’t need to use them, most people would be delighted. No to water in fridge.

I am happy with 2nd hand books and simple games - but yes to checking that there is some decent stuff in there. Buckets and spades, a cheap beach game or two

A really good guide to the local area, including walks, rainy day ideas, local craft shops, heritage stuff. The nearest 24 hour shop. Anything like an art gallery trail is good. A bit of historical info about the area is good - helps give a sense of place and makes it feel like an adventure.

Extra things

Coffee machine is great - but do provide a plunger as well so people have a cheaper option

A fire or decent fake flame electric fire is great if you expect winter guests - nothing nicer than a flame.

Some cheap IKEA throws for winter guests.

A drier or good quality washer drier

I haven't read the full thread but a few things I like to find in a holiday home that I'm sure people have already said:

Washing machine and tumble dryer. Nothing worse than going home and having to tackle the laundry.

Nice, good quality bedding. We stayed somewhere once that had very old bedding in a 90s terracotta type pattern that was going very thin in parts - made me wonder what else they were scrimping on.

A lovely mattress topper.

Decent knives - I've been so many holiday homes that had shit knives that I've taken to bringing my own. And a decent potato peeler.

I’m ultra fussy about beds and linens. I wouldn’t sleep on old beds. Ditto towels and bathrooms

The local produce is a lovely idea, it adds a personal touch, its a gesture, rather than supplies. Making sure everything is really clean and working well is the main priority.

I am fascinated by the people who are concerned about the freshness bid dried herbs and chilli flakes! I would expect salt pepper and oil as a minimum. Just make sure the oil bottle is clean. To feel like the host had made an effort then a food hamper always goes down a treat. Last place I stayed provided wine, a small cake, butter and bread. It was heavenly.

But the single most important thing for me is a truly clean bathroom. Like totally spotless with no mould in the grouting and no drain smell at all.

Great thing we unexpectedly had @Malin52 was a cool box and refreezable ice packs - made picnics on the beach or further afield much easier.

I think the 90s mismatched furnishing May limit the “luxe” end of the market a bit. You need to match offering to whose going to use it - a nice high-end romantic getaway needs furniture to match that aspiration and appeal before people book. A Nespresso and Alexia isn’t going to override an ancient sofa or beds.

As people have said, get good basics in place. For example, we’ve got quite heavy antique sleigh beds in the two king rooms, but it’s a Victorian cottage and they’ve very good mattresses and white cotton bedding, so look right for the setting.
We have more than enough people we know booking it, so don’t advertise or need to attract custom; we’ve done it up as we want - which means it’s very comfortable and beyond usual holiday cottage offerings. Because we know our ‘customer’ base very well, we’ve changed what’s included as everyone’s families have grown, aged and now want it for the younger generation as well. I do think understanding who is going to be using it makes a difference to how it is fitted out.

We don’t keep food of any sort, just a salt and pepper mill. We do keep a few bottles of wine and some beer which people are welcome to use and replace.

I reckon the Tupperware and ice packs would be taken deliberately or accidentally every month.
A welcome basket with some nut-free cake, biscuits, tea, coffee, milk and chocolates would be lovely.
In rentals I often find they lack serving plates and decent size mugs - always so small.
A good flask might be a good addition and less likely to be taken.
Clean carpets! Regularly cleaned due to people being far more likely to run around in dirty shoes, etc as it isn’t their home so not their problem. So unpleasant for the next tenant.
Good luck OP. But don’t go too far with extras. It will cost you a fortune.

I'm always happy to find little sealed jars of condiments like jam/marmalade, and some lovely biscuits or cakes go down well. I don't mind using oil that's in the cupboard, but maybe get one of the glass oil decanters and top it up between guests?

We don’t keep a cool box mainly because we want people to support local economy by using the numerous cafes and takeaway outlets on the seafront and in town.
Decent garden furniture is good; steamer chairs, shade and table and chairs for eating. Good solid items that are robust enough for teenagers and comfortable.

What do people class as a small mug? I find a half pint mug ample for a hot drink. Any bigger and my drink would be cold before I finished it.

I don't think I have rented anywhere that hasn't had half pint mugs.

Good sheets and a decent duvet. Not sheets that don't stay on the bed as they don't fit or a duvet for the next size smaller bed or super thin (summers are not that hot here).

Proper fluffy towels, and enough for the number of beds (as in at least 2 large ones, preferably 3, not 2 wee hand towels), and at least 2 tea towels and 2 hand towels in the kitchen.

Enough cutlery, crockery, glasses etc for the number of beds plus 1 extra. And enough mugs for a round of tea seperate to a meal without washing up (and decent sized mugs - I have a collection at home from my purchase of 1 decent mug for me, and latterly a 2nd for dd, when on holidays over many years).

A couple of serving dishes. While I don't do Uber gourmet, I do want to cook nice food so decent pots, a pan that will do a stir fry, a couple of trays for the oven etc. At least 1 mixing bowl (so we don't have to use all the cereal bowls to mix things, and then wash to use for the meal itself). And a measuring jug. And a jug that could either be a sauce boat or a milk jug.

Kitchen utensils. OMG! A decent knife that is sharp enough to cut. (Prefer 2 - a chopper and a Bread knife at least), I always bring a small sharp knife. At least 2 wooden spoons, a slotted spoon, a whisk, a spatula that will actually turn food (a tongs as well would be fantastic). A peeler, tin opener, corkscrew. A weighing scales (very basic is fine).

A great place we stayed had an electric beater (the kind you push 2 beating arms into) and a couple of trays and a couple of round cake tins. That was great! (I usually do so,e baking on holidays but bodging it). That house also had a really good torch (remote so potential for power cuts), picnic bag and rug, decent chairs to lounge outdoors as well as sitting chairs (there were cushions for those in the cupboard with the picnic things), and a good bookshelf and couple of board games.

A couple of nice ones have had either a wood burning stove or open fire that works, and enough fuel for 1 fire (including firefighters). If the weather is miserable, I'm happy to get some "fire in a bags" or a bag of logs but having the makings of the first night is great.

A good selection of books. Not just the romance fiction type.
Nice jigsaws with all the pieces!
Thick curtains
WiFi

And then I'm happy.

OP it sounds like you're doing a great job. If you're buying new beds I would definitely recommend zip and link so you can give guests the option of twins or doubles. Also you can get zipped duvets to save on cost. We only use synthetic washable pillows - no one's ever asked for feathers or foam.

As someone mentioned, you don't have to cater for kids and pets. However we started off with neither but quickly found we were missing out on bookings (we're near the coast so lots of families with dogs). Kids stuff (cot, highchair) is only brought in when required. Toys, books etc are kept in a cupboard. Also we initially decided not to provide iron, hoover etc but now find it easier to offer as much as possible so guests have everything they need and don't have to ask for it. However don't be tempted to use your holiday let as a dumping ground for everything and anything you don't want in your own home! Guests appreciate matching good quality thoughtful items rather than clutter.

In terms of "renewables", I'd love there to be a couple of spare toilet rolls for each toilet on arrival, even a half used roll each of kitchen towel, tin foil, cling film, grease proof paper.

In the bathroom, either a refillable container or a supermarket one, but if there was either a half full bottle of hand soap or a fresh bar in each bathroom, and a liquid soap beside the sink, that would be great.

If there is any kind of coffee maker, having at least a couple of servings initially would be great and knowing in advance what type means I could bring what I need (nespresso pods, other pods, grounds and filters for a pot, grounds for a plunger, ....).

In the kitchen, a few have had partially used salt and pepper, cooking oil, sugar, teabags, jar instant coffee etc. I have tended not to use these, but occasionally they've been useful. Some wash up liquid is great, and if there is a dishwasher and/or washing machine, a small amount of tablets/powder for those would be great.

Some have left a few things on arrival - bottle of wine, small pack of butter, jar of jam, home baked cake or nice loaf crusty bread etc, sometimes a bottle of milk and maybe a packet of rashers and mushrooms or eggs in the fridge. (Usually 3-4 bits max, only 1 was most of those).

I have a 4l box from IKEA that is my self catering box (and now camping too), built on years of SC holidays and their failures. It's a mix of tools I really miss if they're not there, and consumables that we tend to use on holidays (often they get in there by being bought on holidays and I throw the leftovers in the box for next trips as I have what I need generally in the kitchen at home). It has:
A tea towel, hand towel, 2 j cloths
A new pot scrubber (to be left behind/thrown out on departure), wash up brush, and 100ml squeezy bottle of wash up liquid.
9 dishwasher tablets (for a week visit) and enough washing powder for 3 washes (it was 2 double tablet packs, next time will have to be 3 capsules), in a ziplock bag
2 silicon hand mitts (for,lifting hot pots/trays)
Matches and 2 firefighters and a handful of nightlights (only ever lit on something to contain them safely)
Wooden spoon (short), sharp knife, peeler, can opener, corkscrew, IKEA non-stick set of (spoon, ladle, whisk, spatula, slotted spoon), tongs, handful of clippers (to seal bags)
Bin bags, couple of bin liners for small bins, part used box of ziploc bags (lots of different uses!!), part used box of ice cube bags (often there isn't an ice tray)
250ml bottle of olive oil, salt and pepper, couple of our favourite seasonings.

Part used pack of bamboo skewers (for bbqs or oven use)
Part used roll of tin foil, part used roll of parchment paper (there's usually cling film there, ziplocks cover most things I'd need cling for, but if I do end up buying 1 partway through, it will be stuck into the box)
Coffee filters
Handful of sugar "straws" and any other sachets I've gathered (ketchup, Mayo, vinegar, mustard) that might be useful

I have

Actually, a plea would be for WiFi.

A hairdryer is useful but I normally bring 1 with me (and the others don't care on holidays).

A bbq and coal for 1 night would also be fab, but a note saying what shops sell coal, or disposable bbqs, would be equally useful.

I would throw out any ice or bottle of tap water in the fridge as I wouldnt know how long they had been there.

Some basic cooking stuff like oil and salt/pepper would be great. I love the idea of beach stuff

a plea would be for WiFi.
Oh, that's a non-negotiable.

Do people SERIOUSLY think water goes off??!!

As someone mentioned, you don't have to cater for kids and pets. However we started off with neither but quickly found we were missing out on bookings

But then you also risk losing custom from people who don't want to stay in a house where dogs have roamed. It's up to the owner to weigh up which type of customer they want. As long as the listing clearly states either "dogs welcome" or "no dogs allowed", then it gives the potential customers the information they need to make a decision. What an owner can't/shouldn't do is try to keep everyone happy - someone who doesn't want a dog friendly house isn't going to be happy if they arrive to find dog smells, dog hairs, "rubbing" marks on wall corners etc.

I love a welcome basket - some teabags, nice shortbread and a bottle of wine make my smile delightedly when I see them.

a plea would be for WiFi

Not only "wifi" but GOOD wifi throughout the house, not just slow speed in the lounge. But again, put details on your website - if it doesn't reach to the upper floor, then say so. If it's slow, say so. Conversely if you've got a decent speed and good coverage, shout it from the rooftops. It matters to some people!

Garden stuff for me, so swings, slide, football nets, climbing frame etc
Obviously if space allows

Comfy King size bed. Comfy seating such as sofa and armchairs. I am short in stature with a bad back. So cushions and somewhere to put my legs up.

Do people SERIOUSLY think water goes off??!!

It might not go off but water left in the fridge for a week in a bottle tastes disgusting