Do you use the books/games in a holiday let?

[Maltester71]

Just wondering! I own a holiday property with a book case in the hall. It’s a small space, I’d like to replace the bookcase with a console table.

DH says people would miss the books.

what do you think?

Also thinking about it, I'm not as good a reader as I used to be I blame mumsnet so if the book I've brought with me isn't as gripping as I'd hoped, it's nice to have something different to pick up. Mind you if there isn't any books, I'll just buy one from the charity shop.

Definitely games. Sorry.

Excellent explanation! (It’s a slim table for places like hallways just looks nice and handy for keys etc)

I have a holiday home in Brittany. I leave Monopoly, Cluedo, Game of Life, Jenga, compendium of games in a wooden block with Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chess, Memory Pairs, Backgammon, Four in a Row, Draughts, Solitaire with marbles, pack of cards, Snap Cards. Loads of books for all ages, about 100 children's DVD's loads of family DVD's, local books about area, 5 or 6 jigsaw puzzles, 48, 100, 500 and 1000 pieces, crossword books, tennis rackets, badminton set with nets and rackets, boules, kites, various buckets, spades, shapes and water can. 2 bikes and a large inflatable kayak with paddle and a small paddling pool for back garden. I think people need to be entertained if it rains.

We love reading the books and playing the games in a holiday cottage, a console table would just be another surface stuff would get dumped on.

I think we all need a link to this then! How many does it sleep?

Yes would use the books. Agree with PP it's usually ok to take one if you leave one. Wouldn't just take one and reduce the number. We took two nearly adults to a holiday cottage this summer and ended up playing dominoes one evening.

I would never go on holiday without taking enough to read. If self catering I also take games.
Going next week with adult DC and I'll be taking ticket to ride.
Having said that if there was a good selection of fiction I would do a swap. Leave one and take one.

I love a random selection of books in a holiday cottage. but if I take one home to finish, I'd leave another. Surely that's how the circle turns?

I also really like books and games at a holiday let - even if we just browse through and don't necessarily use them per se, it makes it feel homely and lived in. I definitely always look at the local info, any guidebooks, maps, flyers and brochures etc.

Just got back from a holiday let. Read 2 books and started a third I will finish on my kindle. Random books are always the best. Dc enjoyed the games.

A vote for both board games and books! As a kid I remember going to air b+b's and loved seeing what they had on the shelves. Travel books like beach books, and things to spot in local area were pretty good. Easy to play games like Frustration, operation, and 'don't buzz the wire' were big hits.

I love the books. Whatever you've brought with you, the ones in the house always seem to be more enticing.

Yes to board games, ideally uno (original technically not a board game) scrabble and monopoly, snakes and ladders perhaps for younger ones then a random game so we can argue over interpreting the rules

@AudTheDeepMinded, it has 7 bedrooms and at the moment we have just let family and friends borrow it but once I have had a new kitchen fitted I think I shall let it out because if I let it out for 3 or 4 weeks a year it would cover all French taxes and as I get older I use it less. It has a green cycle route straight into Morlaix which is 2 km away and is 300meyres from a national forest. 20 mins from beach. I am mad because I keep about 6 wet suits in different children's sizes and adults too. And a sat nav too with images of places of interest programmed in for my visitors.

Put books in the toilets, tbh i think a table for keys/misc more useful!

I’d get rid, they’re always grubby and dusty and I find they take up useable storage space (tiny St Ives cottage had a WHSmiths sized games and book cupboard that would have been a perfect folded clothes spot). Most kids have iPads or phones with them these days or like our niece does, take their own toys.

Sometimes I find holiday let’s can be overly filled with too much stuff akin to charity shop bric-à-brac, mismatched plates and glasses and a gazillion pots and pans that you’d never use but all look like someone has and didn’t scrub them properly…then there’s the bed spreads and flat as a pancake cushions everywhere and always some kind of broken wooden ornament rotting away.

I dream of winning the lottery to have a few let’s that are done with a minimalist approach, crisp linens, beautiful original artwork, showers with powerful pressure, underfloor heating and a view to die for but at affordable prices so those on a budget don’t have to contend with the bric-à-brac 😆🙏🏻

Yes, particularly the games, especially ones that are easy to teach younger kids like Connect 4, Kerplunk, Jenga. A pack of cards is handy too, for those days when the weather’s dreadful and you can’t go anywhere.

What’s a console table?

Books definitely. Games occasionally.

caringcarer please let me know if you ever let it out.

OP

You want to remove a bookcase full of books and games and replace it with an empty table?? Console table means something very different to me, something I definitely do not want at a holiday let.

Games are the best, the card game monopoly is a good shout.

What is a Console table?

My kids need no further encouragement to get on their gadgets thanks very much.

Games and books yes please!

You are brave posting about owning a holiday let on Mumsnet 😉

It's a gorgeous part of France @caringcarer . I could be interested! No current plans for a holiday and too much going on work wise to make any, but very promising. Brittany is going to be the sweet spot between too hot and not hot enough. And beautiful, varied landscape.

I used to have a holiday let (now residential let). I had a small selection of books, games and DVDs. The vast majority were from charity shops, so I told guests that apart from the guide books/maps they were free to swap them with their own.