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What would your ideal holiday cottage have?

86 replies

Merryoldgoat · 31/05/2023 13:47

I’m on holiday in a very nice cottage but it’s one of those where I feel they’ve skimped a bit of functionality.

Its not a budget cottage but not the height of luxury and I feel a few small things would’ve made a massive difference.

Proper bath sheets - towels are the size of postage stamps

Thick curtains. Once it’s day they offer zero protection from the light.

Decent shower - it’s like a trickle and makes washing the beach off really hard.

Easy to use cooker/hob - we’ve got an induction hob here - no manuals and not all the pans work without putting a metal thing on the hot plate first.

What do you think is a must in a holiday cottage? I’m in a grump because I’ve injured myself. The cottage is very nice, I’m just missing.

OP posts:
sadieshavingashindig · 31/05/2023 22:52

A massive bed, top spec coffee machine and a butler.

brassbells · 31/05/2023 22:54

Also, if you want to find out if there are small steps push a cardboard box around the cottage

There are so many small steps that able bodied people just do not notice

WhatADrabCarpet · 31/05/2023 23:18

As others have said, some good quality knives are essential.

As are, a dishwasher, a corkscrew ( with a bottle opener) a freezer that's bigger than an ice box, cushions ( essential on big sofas ) a shower mat for slippy showers, more knives than guests ( for spreading etc...) instructions for wi-fi, appliances, recycling etc..., a non rusty barbecue.

Oh and plenty of tea towels and dishcloths.

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PopcorningPancakingWheeking · 31/05/2023 23:23

Jacuzzi

Decent Wifi

Sea views

comfortable beds

a lovely garden to sit out in

BlackeyedSusan · 01/06/2023 02:55

Two showers so that someone is not waiting ages to get washed after being in the sea.

An outdoor tap so you can wash off wetsuits etc.

Private parking.

Private garden. (Doesn't have to be big. )

Two front door keys so people can come and go without hassle or locking other people in.

Proper fire exit routes not just one door that you have to walk through the whole house to.get to.

Kazzyhoward · 01/06/2023 09:36

People have different needs/wants, so I'd make sure that your listings had lots of pictures of every room as it would be upon moving in, and different views of each room, so people could see exactly what they're getting re layout, quality/style of furniture/fittings, towels, etc. Also a comprehensive list of what's provided in terms of kitchen equipment/utensils, etc. I've seen some good listings where there are pictures of the cupboards/drawers open in the kitchen showing the cutlery/crockery/glasses, etc so, again, people can see exactly what they're getting. It's all about managing expectations. If people know there's poor wifi or no dishwasher tablets, they can make their own arrangements/decisions and it avoids disappointment and ultimately poor feedback.

Kazzyhoward · 01/06/2023 09:54

@Pringleface

You are saying that any damage caused by guests is the fault of the holiday let owner. I don’t agree.

Not saying that at all. Of course, guests are going to cause some damage, sometimes deliberate or careless. My point is that sometimes, it's purely accidental, and sometimes the owner contributes by providing cheap/flimsy furniture/equipment, cheap/thin glasses/crockery, etc., cheap kettles/toasters, etc.

Also sometimes it's poor design, like one we stayed in last year where the kitchen door opened onto the fridge door, so you had to close the kitchen door before you could open the fridge door, and both were marked/dented where one door had been banged into the other, repeatedly, by numerous guests over a long period of time! That kind of thing isn't the fault of the guest, it's the fault of the muppet who designed the kitchen that way!

Coincidentally, just been doing the accounts of a couple who have two holiday cottages (I'm an accountant). They've only spent £1,780 on repairs/replacements for both for the full year - that's on gross revenue of £54,000! I wouldn't call that excessive in the slightest - it includes a replacement sofa, replacement bedding/towels, replacement cutlery/crockery/utensils, boiler service and a couple of plumbers bills, one to fix a leak and the other to clear a blocked loo!

If you are seeing huge/expensive repairs/replacement costs, then there's a reason for that. It's not normal. Either there are problems with the property and fixtures or you're target guest market is more likely to break things, i.e. large groups, party groups, hen/stag parties, etc. If your target market is couples or families of 4, then you shouldn't be seeing significant damages!

taxguru · 02/06/2023 10:26

Muddy boot tray inside all exterior doors. "Encourages" guests to take off their outdoor shoes before trampling over your floors/carpets to help keep the place clean.

Along with coat hooks just inside all exterior doors for somewhere guests can take off and hang their coats/jackets, bags, etc.

Door keys on sensibly sized key fobs, not huge wooden blocks! People will just remove them from big chunks of wood and are more likely to lose them if they're not on a key fob at all. It's also very annoying and fiddly having to remove the huge blocks and then put them back at the end of the holiday.

What would your ideal holiday cottage have?
What would your ideal holiday cottage have?
Beargrumps22 · 06/08/2023 11:15

whenever we stop in chalets/caravans/cottages most of the time the shower is a mystery so clear instructions would be helpful. last place we stayed the shower would only produce cold water only on the last morning we found a button underneath that you had to press for hot water! so yes telling us would have been helpful as I had never come across this setup before.
I agree with bath sheets and nice cotton sheets not polycotton that is all I use at home and hate polycotton.
a decent hoover to clean up with would be great.

Pinkywoo · 06/08/2023 12:39

A bath, my kids are still little and the 3 year old has sensory issues and hates showers (I need earplugs on the rare occasion I have to put him in the shower!).

KirstenBlest · 06/08/2023 12:40

@taxguru , take one with you. I always do because mirrors tend to be in places where the lighting is poor or it's impractical to do things like apply make-up or put in contact lenses.

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