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Original poster

Feedback/ reviews on a holiday cottage (any owners here?)

23 replies

EasyOnTheEye · 07/03/2022 18:15

This is a WWYD.

We've self-catered for 40 years in all sorts of places so have a good idea of what's okay and what isn't.

Just come back from one place which fell short of expectations BUT it didn't affect us that much as we were using it as a base to visit family so spent little time there. However, there were things I feel other guests might like to know.

I feel a bit sorry for the owners who clearly tried, but haven't got it quite right- it's only been rented out for 8 months so far.

The main issue was the agents' listings said fridge/freezer and it wasn't - just a tiny under worktop fridge.

There was nothing to cook / serve a meal in, other than one single ceramic dish ( sort you'd use for lasagne.) No mixing bowls, no casseroles, no roasting tins. A couple of baking trays and that was it.

There was no dining table that was usable. After one bad review the owner had provided a drop-leaf table, but no chairs. The living area was open plan with a kitchen area and sofas. so there was nowhere to put the table anyway (it was stuck in a corner) and no dining chairs.

As I say, we ate with nearby family, but this is listed as a luxury house.

I don't have the owners' email or I might send them a kind email.

Would you leave a review pointing out the downsides?

OP posts:

CottonSock · 07/03/2022 18:17

Yes I would. Just state the facts.

rookiemere · 07/03/2022 18:17

Can you email the agents rather than leaving a review ?

rookiemere · 07/03/2022 18:18

Actually sod that just review it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays

Original poster

EasyOnTheEye · 07/03/2022 18:18

@rookiemere

Can you email the agents rather than leaving a review ?

I tried to today, but it was to a 'no reply' email address (which came with the booking details.)

I could scour their website and see if they have another email address.

OP posts:

DespairingHomeowner · 07/03/2022 18:32

I think it’s fair to leave a factual review: if I chose a self catering apartment I’d expect to be able to cook a meal and sit at a table to eat it !

averylongtimeago · 07/03/2022 18:35

I have a holiday rental and yes, leave truthful feedback- say what was nice (hopefully clean,nice owners, good area whatever) and what was missing. Chairs for a dining table is pretty basic stuff tbh

Original poster

EasyOnTheEye · 08/03/2022 07:27

I am loathe to upset the kind owners, but there were some glaring small issues.

No washing up brush or scouring pads in the kitchen, just a J cloth. This is a cottage for 4, there were 3 pans and a frying pan. No non stick milk pan.

There was a half size dishwasher, so of course you need to wash pans in the sink (we have porridge) not wait to run the dishwasher.

They had provided a lovely welcome hamper and some quality toiletries, but it didn't compensate for no dining table/ chairs, and a poorly equipped kitchen area. The kitchen is fine if you want to microwave something, or make something on the hob, but not if you want to do any cooking.

Most of the other 4 and 5 * places we use have a full set of cookware- mixing bowls, scales, casserole dishes, roasting trays.

Am I being too harsh :)

OP posts:

Dembones292 · 08/03/2022 07:36

Why not write them a letter? You know the address.

rookiemere · 08/03/2022 07:38

I've changed my mind. Write the review and mention the points. They've been renting for 8 months, not having cooking implements or somewhere to sit for dinner would be big no nos from me.

EinsteinaGogo · 08/03/2022 07:42

Easy to do.

"We had a great stay and the bedrooms / lounge was very comfortable.Our trip was to spend time with nearby family so we didn't need to cook or eat in the property.

If this is your plan, speak to the owners before booking because there are limited
Kitchen and dining facilities.

FAQs · 08/03/2022 07:45

I think you’re asking quite a bit for the kitchen, they already provide 3 pans and a frying pan, you want mixing bowls, scales etc, that’s quite a lot for a holiday cottage, agree re chairs though, that would be frustrating.

icelollycraving · 08/03/2022 07:49

For a smallish place, I wouldn’t expect huge amount of cooking dishes etc. I think leave a review saying you enjoyed your stay, what was nice, and what it lacked. A place to eat is fairly low expectation. Is it somewhere people would be out and about more? Less inclined to cook?

Gazelda · 08/03/2022 07:51

@EinsteinaGogo

Easy to do.

"We had a great stay and the bedrooms / lounge was very comfortable.Our trip was to spend time with nearby family so we didn't need to cook or eat in the property.

If this is your plan, speak to the owners before booking because there are limited
Kitchen and dining facilities.

That's really lovely wording.

OP, I think you need to mention this, so that the owners are able to rectify. Their business won't do well if other guests come away frustrated at the facilities. And unlike you, other reviewers might not give kind or fair reviews.

yorkshireteaspoonie · 08/03/2022 07:52

I think a non stick milk pan is quite specific! Not sure I'd expect that. We took a Gousto box to our last place and used that for food for the week, maybe suggest to the owners that others may do similar and expect more utensils to cook with then they are providing currently. Maybe they are expecting those on holiday to be eating out?

rookiemere · 08/03/2022 08:02

I think the lack of dining chairs is the biggie.
Even some fold down chairs in a cupboard would suffice.
We don't cook loads when on holiday but we do like to sit together when we eat.

InkySquid · 08/03/2022 08:10

I think the lack of eating space is an issue, although if I've looked at the listing and not seen a dining table I wouldn't assume there is one.

The description of pots and pans provided sounds adequate to me, not great but not bad enough to complain about if you're going as far as the lack of a non-stick milk pan!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/03/2022 08:10

@FAQs

We always stay in a gold star / 5 star holiday cottages and they are always fully stocked- scales, tea pot and coffee press,baking trays and full set of saucepans , one even had a slow cooker. I'd be very disappointed with not even a milk pan especially as it's described as 5 star!

Yes OP, I'd be leaving a factual review.

Original poster

EasyOnTheEye · 08/03/2022 08:20

I am definitely not going to mention all the points that I've posted here. They were for info here, just to give an idea of what it was like.

The property is advertised as having a fridge/freezer and it doesn't. One review already points that out. That reviewer said that the owner had offered their freezer ( in their house nearby.) Clearly that's not acceptable- who wants to be calling on the owner to dig food out of their freezer.

The fridge was tiny - 2 shelves- so it would be tricky to arrange an online delivery and keep food fresh (and obviously not frozen.)

It's about 6 miles from the nearest large supermarket.

No pubs or cafes within walking distance- in a rural location.

The only way it works at the moment is to eat a ready-meal (or something with minimal prep) on your lap in the living area. I guess some folks would be ok with that although there are already two reviews mentioning this downside.

OP posts:

Original poster

EasyOnTheEye · 08/03/2022 08:25

There was a drop leaf dining table in the corner of the room. I think this was added as an after thought following a bad review .
However, it was not physically possible to use it owing to lack of space. Walking through the lounge/kitchen area was an obstacle course as it was so crowded with the sofas.

Some reviews said they had to move furniture to use the table (Heavy sofas/)
And there are still no dining chairs UNLESS you are expected to carry some dining-style chairs out the bedrooms.

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/03/2022 09:01

The fridge freezer, or lack of, is worthy of a review on its own. Imagine if you had done a big on line shop for the week !

Mindymomo · 08/03/2022 09:32

We give honest reviews, some aren’t taken well, but we’ve been going to holiday cottages for over 30 years, so know what to expect. If they’ve not been doing this for very long, then they should welcome all feedback. I would definitely mention the lack of freezer, I take frozen dog food, so wouldn’t be happy if there wasn’t one. I’m sure a frying pan is on the list of things holiday lets must have, but non stick pans, I’m afraid you cannot guarantee. Also mention the fact that there’s no seating at the table. We go away as a family of 4 but usually book somewhere that accommodates at least 6, so we tend to get a bit more of everything.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/03/2022 09:36

The dining table situation is pretty fundamental. I would email the agents and or post a review.

Again the fridge freezer isn’t correct. I have stayed in loads of self catering places and quite often think the owners need to spend a few days living in the space themselves.

Original poster

EasyOnTheEye · 08/03/2022 09:37

Likewise @Mindymomo
There were only 2 of us in a place sleeping 4. We always go for bigger than we need to get more space etc.

The cottage had been used previously as a type of 'granny annexe' to their main home. I think whoever lived in it made use of the main house and these glaring 'faults' were not obvious to the owners.

OP posts:

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