What would you expect to find/love to find in a holiday let?

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

We want to set up a small cottage quite near a beach, about mid-range. We want to make it friendly and homely, a nice space to 'get away from it all'. What are your essentials in a holiday let? What would you like to see more of? What small extra things would give you that 'special' feeling? Thanks!

I mostly want it to be clean, and for it to be absolutely clear and accurate what is provided in the listing. I want a floor plan that shows bed arrangements, and photos of each room ideally.

I also love an information folder with clear guidance on bins, local area, any takeaways that deliver, local doctors/dentists/hospital for emergencies.

A starter pack is nice, but if you do decide to leave any food products like cakes/biscuits etc in addition to the loo roll/dishwasher tabs/foil type stuff, then please make that clear on the listing so that people with allergies have the chance to ask you not to.

Wifi is a must for us, and def more than one TV, with ideally netflix or similar.

I love to find games, and especially a games console, but as stated previously please keep a check that they are working/complete.

I also love the idea of somewhere to put wet/mucky stiff, and maybe somewhere to wash off sand outside!

Any British holiday let needs some means of drying wet stuff. If not towels and cosies, raincoats and boots!

Coffee machine (specified in details so you can bring correct pods/beans etc)
Books are always good
Motion sensor light in loo
Scissors
Dishwasher tablets
Washing up liquid and brush
Clingfilm
Foil
Decent choice of pillows
Good knives

As someone who is staying in a holiday let 1 bed apartment right now, I wish there was:
A bath mat
Towels that meet in the middle when I wrap them around me (I'm size 10-12)
Space to put my food away in the kitchen
A chain on the outer door
A water filter jug with a filter fitted
Guidance on rubbish and recycling

I wish there wasn't:
Other people's left over food and drinks in the fridge
A dirty fridge, hob and crockery/cutlery so I have to wash everything before using
A sofa bed that is excruciatingly uncomfortable to sit on
Crumbs in the cutlery drawer, mould in the washing machine seal and a pile of washing powder next to the machine on the carpet
A bed that creaks loud enough to wake you up every time you change position
A feeling that the owner's rickety old ironing board/sofabed/coffee machine/washing machine with the drawer front missing is supposed to be good enough for someone paying £850 a week

I'm pleased there is:
A clean bathroom
A fan
A comfortable mattress
Homely touches without going too far
Parking permit for residents zone
A well equipped kitchen

Ample crockery and cutlery for the number of guests staying ie,not just one cup,plate,bowl,glass,spoon etc per person.
Towels that you can actually wrap around yourself after a shower.
Plenty of spare pillows.Some people like to sleep with more than one pillow.
Somewhere to dry clothes inside and outside depending on the weather.Cupboard basics like salt,pepper,oil,sugar etc to start off with.
Detailed instructions as to how all the appliances work.
Contact numbers of local restaurants.
A selection of board games.

Repeat business is so important, my parents have been holidaying in South Devon for the past 44 years. In that time they have largely used 3 different properties and have only moved on when the place got sold.

Location and price are key things. I can forgive a lot of things if those two are right, so with the aforementioned lack of bedside table I could overlook it at £700 a week, but when they put it up to over £1800 (COVID times) I was less willing. (There were other things as well)

Most of all I want a competent owner. Primarily I want it to be professionally managed and for us to be left alone to enjoy the house in peace. I do not want to have to deal with the owner - this is a business transaction; I am not attempting to be your friend or acquantance.

For this reason I refuse to book through airbnb - I have had a bad experience in the past of the owner phoning us to give instructions and then a day or two later to check that we are alright. Then when we had left the owner contacted us to complain that we had not left it in as pristine condition as she thought it should be

If I am booking I want honest photos and a description before I book and then clear instructions about where to pick up the key/ a code for the key box - I do not want to have to deal with the owner. I will leave at the suggested time and then put the key back as instructed.

In terms of decor and furnishings I want something plain and good quality which we can use and wipe clean easily at the end without too much trouble. I do not want knick knacks, the owner's cast offs or other rubbish.

coasters for mugs and cups - I don’t want to worry about marking other people’s furniture.

trays for transporting food items especially if you have a patio or outdoor eating set up.

large pots and dishes- so if your place is advertised for 6 ppl, I should be able to make dinner for 6.

Tupperware/tins for storing open packets of food.

a decent hoover and big bin.

things that are not essential but that I would love:
washing machine and drying area so that I don’t have to do a massive wash when I get home.
welcome biscuits/cake with tea and coffee.
books and board games.

I don’t want other ppls left-over food because it makes me feel like I need to clean up before I can settle and realistically I’m not going to feed my kids food if I don’t know who touched it or how long it’s been there.

I agree with not wanting too much owner contact too. I can exchange pleasantries on day 1 and say bye. Other than that I don’t want too much chit chat. I usually get DH to do the talking as he is much more sociable!

I'm the same. Hate having to deal with the owners in person and I actively look to avoid booking a place where the owner lives, i.e. next door, or on site, etc. Far prefer professionally owned/managed places. I just want to book online via the bookings diary, get a code for the key box, and leave the keys at the end.

Nothing worse than the owner living next door, constantly wanting to chat about what you're going to do/what you did, that day, showing you around the house on arrival, etc., popping his head over the garden fence for a chat when you're having a BBQ or playing in the garden, etc. Worst one was where the owners were literally always sat on patio furniture in their front garden right next to our front door in a kind of courtyard - you just couldn't avoid them, obviously they didn't go to work as they were always there, all day every day! Urgh!

We try to find places who have multiple holiday lets, such as farm barn conversions or blocks of holiday apartments, etc - more likely to be professionally run. The last few have been just like that and it's absolute bliss not having to deal face to face with the owners.

Just back from a fabulous place in Pembrokeshire, had everything we could have wanted except a dishwasher which obviously I knew when I booked it. Couldn't fault it.
My starting points are sparkling clean(surprisingly rare), comfortable king sized bed, good free wi fi, TV and safe parking if taking the car, sufficient kitchen utensils/crockery/cutlery for proper self catering and a good shower. A view/garden and seating area depending on location.
I don't want old grotty furnishings/crockery/utensils/ bedding and towels. Please don't keep using stuff which no longer looks/feels nice.
Nice to find basic condiments, washing up stuff or dishwasher tablets for the length of stay, soap etc in the bathroom, milk and wine in the fridge.

I'm a little piglet so I always like homemade cake plus milk and tea bags.

Also decent mugs and wine glasses (I really hate those cheap ikea ones you always get).

Make sure there are champagne glasses.

Lots of fresh towels that match.

Decent bedding.

Decent TV selection.

A log burner.

A bath.

Spotlessly clean.

I always like a convenient USB socket for charging devices. Otherwise, I think clean, matching linens, decent equipment large enough to cook a meal for the house when fully occupied. And most people's requirements are fairly straightforward... but definitely enough comfortable seats.

Read half this and I feel really depressed.

I have a holiday cottage but due to other work and life commitments, we haven't actively marketed it since Covid. There is a washing machine, an indoor airer, 2 very long washing lines in the garden, a basket to carry it in and pegs. I don't have a drier, so I'm not providing one. I don't have a dishwasher and there isn't one in the cottage (no space for one). There is a 3G mobile phone signal on one network, otherwise nothing. The internet round here is really slow and only suitable for emails, certainly not for streaming. However, you can park 10m from the door in a courtyard, use our garden, there are chairs and a table in the courtyard and up in the garden.

I tell people before they book exactly what is here. If they NEED a dishwasher or smart TV, bluetooth speaker or whatever, this is not the right place.

OP, I wouldn't bother with the bikes. Make sure you get decent insurance - I am happy to recommend. If you are not close by, who will be on-hand for the emergencies or last minute requests? I have taken guests to the local hospital and provided various odd household items as a one-off.

I think what you offer is fine, it's more about being clear and specific in listings.

Not everyone wants internet, many people love the ability to get away from it all and don't want to be tied to their phones etc. So your place will suit many.

I now go through listings very carefully because I want something to suit me, and I ask questions if things are unclear. It would be helpful if hosts just made things clear and had good photos

Absolutely be clear about the internet, we had one cottage that had wifi in precisely one spot. Fine if they had said so as we wouldn’t have planned to bring work/would have planned in a cafe as needed

My pet peeves at holiday cottages is not having decent reading lights by the beds or bedside sockets for plugging in phone chargers. A hairdryer, a caffetiere and a family-sized teapot are nice too. Somewhere to hang coats and put shoes and enough hooks on backs of doors, especially for towels in the bathrooms. Good luck with your new venture.

We're staying in a National Trust holiday cottage this week and not only are the knives OK, there's a cheapy knife sharpener, genius!

Enough crockery and cutlery to last more than one meal
Decent knives and pans. Especially pots and pans big enough to cook for 4 people if your let is set up for this.
Baking tray big enough for a pizza
A roasting tin

if you plan to let to families, the best surprise we had was a very good size baking tray, muffin tray and mixing bowels and measuring jug. Ideal for cookies and muffins where you don't need an electric mixer. Rescued us on a rainy day.

Basic cleaning provisions, dishwasher tablets, some laundry pods if you have a washing machine, some general cleaning stuff and a hoover/broom.

I appreciate some food items but maybe check upon booking as lots of people are now using plant milk and you just waste money on a pint of cow's milk.
Things like cling film, baking parchment and aluminum foil are also good.

A duvet with tog appropriate for the season. I absolutely hate finding a massive thick duvet on the bed in the middle of summer.

Am in an amazing place on holiday at the moment. Massive tv, induction hob, remote controlled everything - windows, blinds, aircon. But, but, but no shelves in the fancy shower so bottles and soap on the floor.

Criminal.

Gosh, thank you! Loads of great information and advice here, you've all been very helpful and I can't possibly quote or thank enough individuals (although I might pm a couple of you, thanks). It sounds like it should be quite easy to please most, many of the 'nonos' are things I wouldn't dream of doing (my cast-offs? urgh!).

We plan to allow dogs, (obviously!) would you provide dog bedding?

We had a place in mind but it looks like we won't get it, but will keep looking...

I wouldn’t expect bedding, but if allowing dogs please make it really clear in the listing if the garden/patio (if there is one!) is enclosed or not, and also if it would be suitable for reactive dogs. I.e middle of nowhere, no neighbours, limited cars etc so the right pet owners visit. Also whether they’re allowed on furniture and upstairs is super useful to know. Dog bowls can be helpful at times and also a spare baby gate could be handy!

My first priority would be for it to be spotlessley clean.

Second if you’re going to the effort of getting useful welcome things like milk then please tell visitors in advance. Otherwise it’s a bit of a waste as I would bring my own milk etc then maybe have too much.

Also a full inventory of what you’re getting is so useful then you actually know what to bring.

I read the title as “would you expect to find love in a holiday let”. Turned out very different 😂