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

297 replies

Malin52 · 22/02/2021 06:14

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?

OP posts:
BobsDouble · 22/02/2021 07:36

Biggest beds you can fit into the room. I won’t look at anywhere with a standard double because I’m used to sleeping in a king or super king.

ArtemisBean · 22/02/2021 07:37

Definitely a really nice welcome basket with delicious things. The one downside to self catering for me (we go for the privacy and living space you can't get in a hotel) is having to shop, cook and wash up, so anything that makes those things as quick and easy as possible! We once stayed in a cottage where we could pre-order a full English breakfast delivered to the door - heaven!

RampantIvy · 22/02/2021 07:42

Yes to a king sized bed. Double beds are too small and too short for us. We like plenty of room to sleep.

Power outlets next to each side of the bed. DH uses a CPAP machine so this would be essential.

Interested in this thread?

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DorotheaDiamond · 22/02/2021 07:43

Enough loo roll, kitchen roll, dishwasher tabs, washing up Liquid, cleaning cloths, bin bags , cling film for whole stay.

A proper sized kitchen bin!

SushiGo · 22/02/2021 07:43

I am another that doesn't really like left food. It's particularly annoying when the previous guests groceries are left behind in the cupboards, leaving no space and lots of out of date food cluttering the cupboards!

I honestly think less is more. Think about who is likely to rent your place, a couple? A family with very young children? Then leave say half a dozen things that they would appreciate rather than trying to please everyone.

GoLightlyontheEarth · 22/02/2021 07:50

Welcome pack is always greatly appreciated. Milk, biscuits or a nice cake. Dishwashing tablets, some washing powder. Drying rack. Fresh coffee and a cafetière would be very welcome. Personally I am grateful for herbs and spices, along with a small bottle of olive oil. Ask guests to replenish anything used up.
A good radio or Alexa makes such a difference. Good lighting is crucial. So many holiday lets have awful lightning so you can’t read properly.
I love a mini pack of nice shampoo and shower gel. Tea lights.
A TV with Freeview which doesn’t need three hours of trial and error to make work properly.
Binoculars if there’s a view. Lots of info on walks and places to eat. Where is the nearest supermarket, petrol station and doctor.
Great bed, as big as possible, with a really good mattress and quality bed linen. Fluffy towels.
Cleanliness!! Good range of cooking equipment and lots of crockery which is nice to use.
An interesting range of books and games.
A proper sofa which isn’t fake leather and nice cushions with a couple of throws.

drspouse · 22/02/2021 07:56

I am not a germphobe with health anxiety so I'd happily use any opened food (water does not go off FGS).

merrymouse · 22/02/2021 07:57

I think a lot depends on where you are.

If I were renting a holiday let in October in the UK, I would appreciate things like tea pots and board games, and because eating out is expensive, I'd be more likely to want to self cater and would be more interested in cooking equipment.

If your holiday let is somewhere warm where eating out is cheap, I'd be imagining spending the day on the beach and aperitifs on sun loungers before going out.

GoLightlyontheEarth · 22/02/2021 08:00

Clingfilm,
Tupperware and a flask are also greatly appreciated!

Mumdiva99 · 22/02/2021 08:01

I would like to be told in advance if you have a nespresso machine (as we were last year on holiday). So I can bring capsules.

No to water or ice made up already. A bottle of water from the shops left for me would be very welcome.

Think profit margin and time to clean between guests.....don't faff around- I would rather the floors are mopped than I get a roll of clingfilm.

A couple of cleaning cloths, a bottle of all purpose mr muscle cleaner, 2 sponges with scouring tops, and a bath mat.

Somewhere to hang wet swimsuits and towels. And pegs to stop them blowing off.

Ad you are abroad I wouldn't bring my own food over - but tell me where the best shops are.or if there is a bakery etc. Also would your guests typically drive to you? If so and they will pass the supermarket on the way- tell them before they arrive so they can stop on the way.

Our favourite rental was an air B&B in Norway - but it was someone's home.so very well stocked. But the yet us use their gas BBQ and had scooters for the kids to borrow.

Last year's rental also had a bbq, and they left one bag of briquettes for us which was great.

actiongirl1978 · 22/02/2021 08:01

OP just another thought. If you plan to leave proper coffee, please leave decaf too - I cna only drink decaf and its sometimes hard to find proper ground decaf in shops on holiday.

I take my own to the US as the coffee in supermarkets there is dismal.

And maybe an aeropress less maintenance needed than a nespresso machine.

actiongirl1978 · 22/02/2021 08:01

And much cheaper!

CherryRoulade · 22/02/2021 08:02

Not cupboards full of sticky jars of bits and pieces. Clear, clean cupboards with sufficient space for shopping.

No tut. No ornaments or twee bits and pieces. A lack of clutter.

A bread bin and set of chopping boards.
Sharp knives.
Butter dish.
Decent sized pans for number using property. If it sleeps eight you need large pasta pans and good sized ovenware.
Unchipped crockery, decent mugs. Not too much that it becomes cluttered.
Tin foil

Large comfortable beds with decent cotton bedding. Unstained and not lumpy pillows. Mattress topper. Bath sheets and beach towels. The

Lavatory paper and bin bags. Hoover. Disposable cleaning cloths. Cleaning fluid. Dishwasher tablets. Instructions for washing machine, heating, hot water.

WiFi. A television that works. A booster, if necessary.

A BBQ, in good repair, with charcoal and lighters.

Local information- walks, restaurants, attractions, takeaways, doctors numbers. If for overseas visitors then emergency numbers and brief explanations about health, police, fire and transport. A decent first aid kit. An emergency kit with things like a small sewing kit, string, safety pins, scissors. A torch and batteries. Appropriate safety equipment- CO and smoke detectors.

If you’re market includes young families, then stairgate, socket guards, high chair, cot, book box and a few non-fluffy good quality toys - a wooden garage, train set balls.

If there is a specific local activity then maybe equipment. We have a shed with body and surf boards in ours. We used to have buckets and spades, but few tiny people using it at moment. We have an arrangement with beach hut provider for seasonal use of a hut on the main beach. Maybe passes to local hotel pool or Spa etc.

We also have tennis racquets and balls, as there are public courts on the same road.

Curtains that shut out light. Washing machine. Dishwasher.

WilsonandNoodles · 22/02/2021 08:02

Our favourite places have come with friendly hosts and some home baking and/or locally made alcohol.

CherryRoulade · 22/02/2021 08:04

Yes to Nespresso or similar. Assume that is standard now with capsules.

Yes to laundry line and pegs in garden. A rotary airier is good idea plus over bath airier in case of rain.

Slurtdragon · 22/02/2021 08:05

Hi Op!

Congratulations, how bloody exciting for you!

You could purchase smallish things like, oil/salt/pepper dispensers, and ‘seal’ them, as in put a little fresh pully-off sticker to show that they’re fresh?

Ice - I wouldn’t be likely to use unless on the little welcome letter (if you decide to do one) it basically reassured me that everything was fresh.

A little milk or again ‘sealable’ bottle, coffee again can come with a sealable sticker.

You could even get some done personalised.

When staying in noiiiice hotels, a few lil choccies never go a miss, and are always a delight.

Recyclable Cleaning wipes, washing up liquid, and kitchen roll (though I know not exactly the most environmentally friendly).

Biggest thing for me is the sofa being actually nice (not a cheap nasty leather - specifically), and the bedding being WHITE WHITE WHITE. I weirdly prefer hotel/cabin bedding to smell v slightly chemically clean than Lenor.

All the suggestions you’ve made sound fabulous too. We have a holiday home that isn’t able to be rented out, so it’s different, but we sometimes have friends stay in it (when covid allowed us to go there 🥴😭) and I always liked to make personal touches as above.

Good luck with it! xo

Slurtdragon · 22/02/2021 08:06

& just to point out obviously the sealable idea would be for you to be able to refill them up - saving pennies!

RampantIvy · 22/02/2021 08:06

Assume that is standard now with capsules.

I wouldn't assume that at all. A cafetiere is fine. Yes to a washing line. Decent and comfortable garden furniture if there is a garden.

pensivepigeon · 22/02/2021 08:07

Books. Lots of them. It can make my holiday.Smile

TH22 · 22/02/2021 08:08

A super amazing coffee machine would be a dreamy for me! I don't mean a nespresso (though I would accept that), but a lovely (faff free) bean to cup machine that does lovely coffees would be delightful!

MaryIsA · 22/02/2021 08:14

Going against the grain a bit. I like it when there's salt and pepper and oil.

About marked, the bbqbox with ketchup, mustard etc id like.

Love a welcome box, its helpful to know if there is one and whats in it. My vegetarian sister and family have turned up to a big box of bacon black pudding etc a few times.

Ice cube trays, decent glasses.

We stayed a a lovely self catering that had a bar with a the bits and pieces of alcohol that people had left, sll clean and lovely. Also one with an honesty bar.

Depends on your market.

BonnesVacances · 22/02/2021 08:14

If you have Netflix watch Stay Here. Some good tips on there about having a short term rental.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 22/02/2021 08:15

Plus sockets with integrated USB ports. We have them at home - they are brilliant.

Washing up liquid in the kitchen, scourer etc.

And local produce is always lovely.

drspouse · 22/02/2021 08:16

Oh and no glass tables or ornaments or vases. We always put them away.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 22/02/2021 08:17

Yes to good blackout curtains / blinds.

Cafetière.

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