What makes the perfect self-catering holiday?

[NeedATan]

We are looking to start a self-catering holiday business, starting with one dog-friendly two-bedroom cottage in a rural part of the West Country (UK). We have a pretty comprehensive list of what we need to buy and provide (it will be quite high end, mostly aimed at couples, friends or families with older children) but we'd love to hear from you what you like to find when you go and stay in a self-catering property. Anything and everything considered! Thank you.

I'd go against some PPs and say twin beds please in the second bedroom of a 2 bed house (or a convertible zip bed). We holiday in the UK a lot, sometimes just with our two kids but often also with in-laws. DH and I would always prefer a double bed, but no way would my kids share a bed (tried that - disaster!) and neither will my parents or in laws. I have had to turn down endless otherwise perfect houses because all the rooms have double beds, even in a four or five bedroom house.

Oh, and a visitor book, please. I don't just want your local recommendations (though I definitely do want those) - I want to read about where previous guests have eaten, which beach they liked, etc.

Also, the last (brilliant!) house we stayed in sent a list in advance of exactly what we'd find in the house (down to number of bin bags, loo rolls etc), which was so helpful. It's great when an owner leaves you a big box of laundry tabs or loo rolls or whatever - but even more helpful when they've told you in advance, so you haven't already brought your own.

We used to do a lot of self-catering holidays when the children were young, and sometimes currently, even thoigh it is now just the two of us.
In the old days, we had to take our own linen and make up the beds on arrival, which is now a thing of the past (thank goodness).
So, the thing that is most specific is off-road parking.
Some outdoor space, at least a patio if just us, but an enclosed garden when we had young children.
Nowadays we want good wifi, especially as some remote locations still have bad phone reception.
Most self - catering provide a book/folder with all the essential details, including how everything in the house works from washing machines to dishwasher, but also local telnos, and local attractions.
If the house is in a village then a walk around the village detailing anything of interest.
A TV, some jigsaws, or games, or a few books are also ideal, but we generally dont bother with any of it.
In The kitchen at least 1 sharp knife.
I suspect few people would do loads of cooking, but the usual basic stuff is fine. A dining table (might not actually use it for eating but for laptop, etc)

Clean, WiFi, no clutter, no battered board games or books. I’d only choose self catering if there were several places within walking distance to eat out at. Not a holiday for me if we have to cook and wash up as can stay home and do that.

Comfy sofa. I have stayed in so many SC places with hard, uncomfortable sofas/chairs.

Shower with decent water pressure.

Environmentally friendly - clear recycling instructions (they can differ across areas). Environmentally friendly cleaning products. Glass food containers with lids - to avoid food waste.

Information on locally sourced produce.

A decent picnic basket.

Nice comfortable bed, with white bedding and soft pillows.
Comfortable sofas and chairs, maybe a footstool too and some nice blankets for when it's cold outside. Fully stocked kitchen, with decent sized cups that hold more than 2 mouthfuls, decent sized glasses and enough cutlery for everyone. Shower over bath or a bath and a separate shower. Shower needs to be powerful and the bath needs to fill up quicker than a centimetre every 5 minutes. Towels that actually wrap round you. Good sized smart tv, strong wifi, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer or at least an airer. A welcome back with information on where things are, nice patio area with table and chairs, umbrellas provided would be a nice touch too and also information on how your recycling system works and what days your bins go out and which colour for which day.

Enough cupboard space to store food. Its self catering, I need to be able to store the food I will be cooking. So many places seem to think it's great that they have provided every single kitchen utensil you can think of, all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen are rammed full of stuff. I turn up with a weeks worth of shopping, where do I put it?

More plates, bowls, glasses, cups, cutlery than there are beds. So annoying if there is only 1 plate and 1 glass per person.

If you provide a washing machine, some way of drying things that is not a tumble dryer. Either indoor clothes racks or an outdoor clothes line. If it's an outdoor line, it needs pegs too (more than 3 pegs).

Must be spotlessly clean.

A decent guide to the local area, not just your favourite restaurant (though by all means point out the best ones). It's nice to have a choice of all types of eating places, not just the ones the owner likes, we might like something different. Things like where nearest supermarket, pharmacy, doctors, A+E are. Then touristy things and local walks. Train/bus time info. A guest book is also helpful if people can be encouraged to recommend what they did during their stay that was good. Tide times if you are near the coast.

A way of contacting the owner or whoever can sort out problems. We stayed in a place that said Mr X lives on site and can help you. But there were about 20 different houses 'on site' and no phone number for Mr X. He never popped in to introduce himself, so how the heck were we meant to contact him? Knock on all the doors until we found the right one?

I would highly recommend staying there for a few nights before you let it to customers, stay in both rooms and use the wardrobes, drawers, bathrooms, kitchen etc. That the only way you will find out if door handles are broken, lights don't work, the curtains in x room don't quite close, the pans don't fit on the hob, or the shower won't work if the washing machine is running, that the bedside lights are too bright/dark for the room, there aren't enough plug sockets, a door creaks or a drawer is a bit stiff etc etc

Not a memory foam mattress. Especially in the summer, too blooming hot.

Reading through these comments, it strikes me that one of the things you need is to give a real sense on your description of what kind of a house it is - because people are very different. So, in contrast to a couple of PPs, I love nothing more than to discover a massive cupboard of board games and books, as battered as you like. And I cook most nights on a SC holiday, so I want decent equipment and a good dining table (and a couple of general cookery books would be lovely). (I'm also very happy to eat a previous guest's leftover pasta and ketchup, though I'm not suggesting you put that in the advert ).

How about some board games? We stayed in a great place a couple of years ago with some games it was really good fun

I have to say aswell I'd say no pets dog hair is a nightmare

Years ago I used to clean some holiday cottages the owner used to give us rolls of parcel tape to go over the carpets with it was horrendous

After a bad noghts sleep I've just thought of another - spare pillows. I like to use two, only having one is annoying. Access to a barbecue would be lovely too. I'd also like a dust pan and brush to clean up spills. Please also have a door mat, last place we stayed in didn't but had a no shoes inside rule which I agree with but I'd like to at least step inside to remove my shoes. They also left us slippers (new ones, like the towelling ones you get in hotels which are only designed to last a few days). Not very environmentally friendly though, I'd rather know in advance and bring my own.

Parking, some kind of outside space with seating and a table. Comfortable beds, good quality duvets and pillows, large bath towels. Decent supply of crockery and cutlery, and properly equipped kitchen; I don't expect every appliance under the sun, but tin opener, peeler, grater, spatulas, mixing bowls at least.
Good WiFi if possible. A radio and something to play CDs.
NOT leather sofas, they are so uncomfortable.

We go back to same place every year, the deciding factor is the location and facility.

Near a pub that does family bar meals abs has a beer garden.

@specificnorthwest

Reading through these comments, it strikes me that one of the things you need is to give a real sense on your description of what kind of a house it is - because people are very different. So, in contrast to a couple of PPs, I love nothing more than to discover a massive cupboard of board games and books, as battered as you like. And I cook most nights on a SC holiday, so I want decent equipment and a good dining table (and a couple of general cookery books would be lovely). (I'm also very happy to eat a previous guest's leftover pasta and ketchup, though I'm not suggesting you put that in the advert ).

Yes, definitely! You could never please everyone, but it’s funny that some people would be really relieved to find salt, pepper, tea bags and cooking oil in the cupboard yet others would find it disgusting that there was other people’s stuff ‘left behind’!!

One person’s wonderfully comfortable bed, would be another person’s nightmare as it was too soft!

Good descriptions and lots of photos has to be a must. The ability to ask questions about the property and get a quick online reply before booking would be really useful as well.

Personally, I like
a really powerful shower (my dad would much prefer only a bath!)
plenty of big soft towels
Easy to use cooker, or instructions if difficult!
Sharp knife, Pyrex jug, mixing bowl.
2 pillows each
A full length mirror not just in the master bedroom-we often go away with other couples and it’s annoying that there’s only ever one.
A telly big enough for everyone to see. We stayed in an 8 bed house a few years ago with a 22 inch telly!
Parking-plenty and easy to access
Good WiFi
A brief booklet telling you about local attractions and useful facts like where to put your rubbish. Contact details for owners is useful, too.
A big enough freezer to fit something other than an ice cube tray. For holiday puddings!
Plenty of storage in general-for food in the kitchen, toiletries in the bathroom, empty cases in the bedrooms.

I think this just tells us everyone is looking for something different OP, but the common wants are WiFi, comfortable beds and seating, and decent sized wine glasses!

If dog-friendly is your theme, I imagine muddy walks, so your cottage needs to facilitate the fall out from that.

@CeeceeBloomingdale

After a bad noghts sleep I've just thought of another - spare pillows. I like to use two, only having one is annoying. Access to a barbecue would be lovely too. I'd also like a dust pan and brush to clean up spills. Please also have a door mat, last place we stayed in didn't but had a no shoes inside rule which I agree with but I'd like to at least step inside to remove my shoes. They also left us slippers (new ones, like the towelling ones you get in hotels which are only designed to last a few days). Not very environmentally friendly though, I'd rather know in advance and bring my own.

I always appreciate a BBQ but please also leave me something to be able to clean it with, somewhere to put the ash,and ideally some BBQ tongs etc.

Unfortunately you have no control over the most important thing, the absence of rain.

Parking, wifi, bed linen and good quality towels (inc large bath towels) provided.

If the WiFi is shit, either explain that at the time of booking or improve it and test it. I’ve been to loads of places which tick the WiFi available box but it actually means it works in one room only and is shared with the adjacent holiday cottage.

For me:

1. Tap water I can drink and heating.
2. Wifi

Nothing else much matters but we always find even in hotels there is a bed issue. So many of us are single and will not share beds ever so I would like single beds always (which couples could then push together).

I also liike never to see anyone so not having the owners around and not having to see them but something very easy about getting hold of the key would help. I stayed on my own abroad a couple of years ago and apparently so many people had lost the key the owner put a code device on the door. BUT it kept failing and I had up to 60 minutes sitting on the door step waiting for her to pick up a phone (not that signal was good) to come over to let me in. A normal key would have been so much better perhaps with a spare hidden in an unlikely place.

I am very allergic to things like cat hairs and dust so I need to know animals are never there (or that they are so I can avoid booking that place)

Sharp knives and pans large enough for number using property.
WiFi and good TV reception.

An outside space with seating.
Local maps and information about walks etc that isn’t easy to find from Internet.
If you say dogs welcome, please accept many dogs are larger than a Yorkshire terrier and get beds/ bowls etc that are large enough.
Umbrella.
Depending on location, access to things like body boards, folding chairs and windbreak for the beach.
Clean, modern books and good quality complete board games and jigsaws for adults and children.
A small first aid kit and sewing kit, clothes pegs and somewhere to dry wet clothing.

Not too much tat, ornaments etc. Empty cupboards for food. Not lots of leftovers. A freezer space for ice cream, fish fingers and peas.

Parking, Wi-fi, loo on same floor as bedroom, heating, well equipped kitchen, washing machine and drier, bed linen changed in the middle of the fortnight, good towels (and large), small freezer, somewhere to sit outside. Not bothered about dish washer.

We stayed at a holiday cottage last summer, and due to covid they had reduced what equipment was provided in the kitchen as in between guests they were putting everything in the kitchen through the dishwasher to be covid safe. Therefore only 4 plates/cups etc and basics with saucepans, roasting tins etc. We just needed to load the dishwasher with as much as possible before leaving. So, if you intend to do similar, it may be an idea to think about what you provide as the basics. They had also removed most un needed soft furnishings, ornaments etc as all took additional cleaning time. Was still a lovely place to stay, and had everything we needed. Another plus is tv that can put fire stick or similar into. And fully detailed laminated book of equipment instructions etc. They did not provide tourist leaflets but did provide info on local tourist things and web links in the handbook. If is always also nice to receive a little welcome pack - even if not one you may for. I bottle of wine is nice, but we were given a pack of local cookies, a bag of coffee, a small milk in the fridge, a local butter pack, and some bread. Prob cost about £15 - £20 (which I am sure was accounted for in the price we paid for the cottage), but meant that when we arrived the kids could have a cookie, we could have a coffee, and there was bread and cheese if couldn't get to shop straight away. That little touch was very much appreciated, maybe more so as was not advertised and was unexpected. We also take a knife sharpener with us each time! Comfy beds (obv), but a spare fleece /blanket for the beds is always helpful. And to ensure doesn't smell of dog for non dog owner stays, but have the useful things to be dog friendly - wipe clean furniture covers dogs and kids! Good luck with it.

Sorry about some of the typos!!