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What makes the perfect self-catering holiday?

115 replies

NeedATan · 13/03/2021 18:25

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.

OP posts:
Shineonyoucrazy · 14/03/2021 11:42

A home made lemon drizzle from the owners was a lovely touch in our last cottage! Tray of tea bags, coffee and milk for a brew on arrival. Dishwasher. Plenty of loo roll. Speakers to play music. WiFi. Washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs, clean sponges and dishcloths, surface cleaner. Foil. Guidebooks and leaflets, books about the history, natural history etc of the area. An eclectic selection of reading.

HairyToity · 14/03/2021 11:49

Location is terrifically important. I want footpaths and walks. Maybe a cafe or shop walking distance. I purposely always check its not on a main road with no pavement. I don't want to have to get in the car for everything and everywhere.

I also like outdoor seating and an enclosed garden.

Lunariagal · 14/03/2021 12:01

In no particular order

Dishwasher
Washing machine
Decent WiFi
Smart TV so can log into own Netflix etc
Curtains that actually obscure light
Decent pillows
Season appropriate duvets
Decent mattresses (not 20 years old or rock hard)
No excessive ornaments
Matching crockery / cutlery and enough of it so not washing up after every meal
Sharp knives
Baking trays (for pizzas)
Decent sized freezer
Appliances that function (had a broken grill before now)
Decent shower with hot water
Reading lamps
Off road parking an advantage
Books / games an advantage

I might add some more later....

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Jemenfouscompletement · 14/03/2021 14:01

Board games are a lovely idea in theory but sadly their use is not respected at all by the families who stay. I find scrabble squares under beds, monopoly cards in the laundry bin it's a nightmare. If parents supervised the games and made sure they were put away correctly there wouldn't baca problem but they clearly don't. Board games are expensive and I won't be replacing them.

LlamaofDrama · 14/03/2021 14:17

Kitchen stuff, decent knives as already mentioned. Oven dishes in a mixture of sizes, not just "feed the 5000". A good coffee machine always makes me feel I've hit peak luxury. Some of the places we've had abroad have given us an electric citrus juicer which was amazing!

The ability to dry damp clothes/ towels. Eg after swimming, or after showering - even if I don't run a wash, I want my towel to dry between this morning's shower and tomorrow's, not to go smelly on a titchy rail. If we've been out, and got caught in the rain, I want somewhere to dry coats before they're used again. I've rejected a lot of holiday options because we won't be able to dry things and I won't spend my holiday surrounded by smelly damp fug.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 14/03/2021 14:18

What I want from a self catering holiday and from a self catering property can be different, but are complementary. I want the area to be by the sea, have a decent town nearby, with good restaurants, coffee shops and attractions of various types within reasonable access.

What I want from a self catering property, is to have a sea view, or an easy walk to the sea, to pubs and restaurants, to have comfortable, clean and cared for furniture and facilities. All the things mentioned already are a must. Why would I want to stay somewhere less comfortable than my home. I wouldn’t choose anywhere without parking either.

ItsLoisSangersFault · 14/03/2021 14:32

King size bed is a must. I won't even look at anything with a smaller master bed.

An easy way to dry clothes. Uk holidays are often wet and I don't want to pack a hundred changes of clothes. A utility room with a tumble dryer goes a long way with me.

Simplicity of oven/stove. Nothing worse than having to get to grips with an induction hob or an aga.

People really care about their coffee but everyone has different preferences which they are fiercely attached to. I would cover all bases by having a cafetiere, nespresso machine and (for me most important) a stove top pot - also called a moka pot.

I also dismiss anything with leather sofas or sofas in general that look small or uncomfortable. Lots of knick nacks or breakables can be quite stressful too.

ouchmyfeet · 14/03/2021 14:38

Lots of people have listed things which fall in the nice to have category for me. There are two things which I need and won't consider renting a house without:

  1. At least king sized bed
  2. Single beds for the kids

I don't understand kids who can share a double bed, mine kick seven shades of shit out of each other Confused

Ormally · 14/03/2021 14:52

Lovely shower and decent ventilation in the bathroom - not a dusty and tiny extractor fan that runs and rattles as long as it wants. More than one loo.
Great case of books.
Parking.
Nice mirror, not a strange thin one inside a wardrobe door or something.
Would feel spoilt if there was a window seat (ambition for moving house, as well).
Swing in the garden for younger people. Bonus points if a proper but safe tree swing.

yearinyearout · 14/03/2021 15:27

Please put a mirror near a plug socket for hair drying! Lost count of the number of cottages I've stayed in where they haven't thought of that.

tiredteacher100 · 14/03/2021 15:40

Wifi
Nice crockery and decent kitchen equipment
The correct amount of chairs so everyone can sit in the living room/dining table/outdoors.
More than the exact amount of cutlery than people
Tea towels

Brochdogs · 14/03/2021 16:12

Fully enclosed garden and with a nice outlook
Comfortable mattresses and good quality bedding
Two bathrooms each with good shower, good quality towels
Nice size kitchen, good knives, decent size mugs and glasses
Nice crockery with good sized bowls etc.
Wi-fi
Dishwasher
Space to hang coats, put wet boots, dog stuff, rucksacks, etc.
Hooks in bathroom!
Good selection of pans including a big one!
Simply decorated without loads of ornaments
Washing up liquid, new sponges, and a few basics like tea bags, milk, on arrival. Loads of tea towels
Heating that you can alter yourself....stayed somewhere once where it was controlled by the owner and it was a PITA
Bins....clear instructions and bins to allow recycling
Good luck!

ginandbearit · 14/03/2021 16:18

Deliveroo

Xenia · 14/03/2021 16:29

IN addition to what I said above I agree on bins ( we seem to have so much more rubbish than most - at home I have NINE wheelie bins for a start!). A very large rubbish bin in the kitchen and bins in each room is good.

Also I have no clutter at home - so try to ensure not a single ornament - just surface after surface with nothing on it at all.

No food. I keep going to places even hotels with masses of junk food I have to ask them to clear out, particularly if children might raid it. Not even things like milk and bread are wanted for us.

NeedATan · 15/03/2021 19:55

@Jemenfouscompletement

Board games are a lovely idea in theory but sadly their use is not respected at all by the families who stay. I find scrabble squares under beds, monopoly cards in the laundry bin it's a nightmare. If parents supervised the games and made sure they were put away correctly there wouldn't baca problem but they clearly don't. Board games are expensive and I won't be replacing them.
are you a fellow holiday let owner then? I was thinking about a PP's suggestion of providing speakers to play music. I can imagine that at some point they would 'disappear' and they are not cheap. Cleaners cannot do a full inventory after each set of guest leaves and to provide expensive things can are easy to remove is a big risk, I hear.
OP posts:
NeedATan · 15/03/2021 19:58

@Ormally

Lovely shower and decent ventilation in the bathroom - not a dusty and tiny extractor fan that runs and rattles as long as it wants. More than one loo. Great case of books. Parking. Nice mirror, not a strange thin one inside a wardrobe door or something. Would feel spoilt if there was a window seat (ambition for moving house, as well). Swing in the garden for younger people. Bonus points if a proper but safe tree swing.
The master bedroom has two window seats and the living room has one ;-)
OP posts:
willibald · 15/03/2021 20:02

More than enough towels. A dishwasher. A washing machine. A comfortable, large bed, not a double.

milveycrohn · 16/03/2021 10:27

I answered earlier, but have now reread through the thread and later answers, so will reiterate the following;
Most Important is off-road parking (but also state whether this is only for 1 car, as you cannot assume that a cottage for 4, is going to be two young children, as older children or young adults may have a second car. So state carefully if the parking is one car only).
Wifi - Nowadays this is essential.
A welcome pack is nice, but mainly milk, tea and coffee, and maybe sugar. No Need for bottles of wine, scones and jam (which we have sometimes received). These things are nice but not essential. Please place the milk in the fridge. Yes, really, we once stayed in a cottage in Cornwall, where the owner left the milk on the doorstep. The heatwave of 90 degrees, meant that by the time we got there, the milk was off. The owner complained that we got there late (7.00 pm, from Kent).
I would not use any food that was left, except for salt, and pepper, so please check the freezer for unwanted items, as this is the place where stuff often gets left.
I would suggest you should know your market. For example, if the cottage is just for 2 people, then you would obviously not get families.
If the cottage is larger, specify whether cot, highchair, etc is available, and whether there is space in the main bedroom for cot, or travel cot, etc
For wheelchair users, specify whether there are steps, anywhere, ie steps between rooms.
Also, in one cottage, the bathroom was on a different floor to the bedroom, requiring negotiating an old spiral staircase, that was very steep, and probably not suitable for elderly, so this kind of thing should be specified.
I think everything else has already been mentioned.

Lentillover1900 · 16/03/2021 10:29

I never stay anywhere that is “dog friendly”
I don’t have dogs in my home
So sure as hell don’t want to stay somewhere that has had dogs

Controversial Grin

Lentillover1900 · 16/03/2021 10:32

Superb very high end shower
Spotlessly, meticulously clean
Outdoor hot tub
Nice info pack of good walks and activities
Super clear house instructions

Lentillover1900 · 16/03/2021 10:34

* Great case of books.*

Disagree
Unless you say ok for guests to leave with them
Otherwise start a great book and then have to leave it

MazDazzle · 16/03/2021 10:37

Comfortable sofas - not leather.

King size/super king beds.

Those are both dealbreakers for me.

Lentillover1900 · 16/03/2021 10:38

And think very carefully about your food cutting boards
Not wood certainly

RunnerDown · 16/03/2021 10:41

Needs to be very clean
Comfortable bed.
Decent shower
Nice wine glasses and mugs really make a difference. Hate finding wine glasses that are tiny with really chick glass

CommanderBurnham · 16/03/2021 10:44

All the takeaway menus in a folder please.

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