Hot tub in new holiday let or not?

[Loafbeginsat60]

We are building two three-bed holiday lets on our farm - they are quite private and have nice views over the countryside.

We will accept dogs and offer activities such as fishing and clay pigeon shooting and possibly options to get involved on the farm but not sure about that yet.

Anyway my question.... do we put in hot tubs or not - two small ones, one large one or none at all? I hear people think they are grim sex ponds and yet others love them.

What's does the collective wisdom of MN think - would you rent a rural properly without a hot tub or would you like to see one provided?

Thanks

A salt water hot water sounds great if that's allowed/possible. I am not allergic to chlorine but get terrible chlorine itch so have to douse myself in vitamin c before showering after every interaction with chlorine which makes the whole experience a bit of a pain and puts me off (it's supposed to be relaxing!). So would be very interested in a non chlorine based hot tub! Love a hot tub!

Also while you are asking, while I do not have a chlorine allergy, I have multiple other allergies including to fragrance. I have found it is INCREDIBLY hard to find "fragrance free@ holiday places. So that's no fragrance diffusers/air fresheners/febreeze etc used anywhere (as these linger and hang onto soft furnishings). And bedding and towels washed in fragrance free detergents. Not a massive ask you would have though but I really struggle to find hotels and/or holiday lets. The latter especially.

Apparently if bedding is sent out to commercial washing services then it is normally fragrance free.

Anyhow thought I'd mention this as a fellow allergy sufferer you might be amenable to considering accommodating this.

Why not build property to let to someone year round? I'd guess many young people leave your area, might stop a few leaving.

No thanks, not remotely interested. However, I realise they are very popular and not having one may affect your rental potential judging by the comments on here and other recent threads. As an owner I wouldn't want the amount of work required to keep it pristine between every occupancy.

Can I ask why you wouldn't use it if it was salt water? I thought being more natural would be better as you don't put your face in a hot tub or swim in it.

I'm only new to this so need to find out all the pros and cons?

Thanks for your reply!

How long did it stay hot for? Tjanks

you are putting me off too!!

Thanks for the advice

I think this is what we are leaning towards now

Thank you

Did it! That's interesting - do the wood fired ones not have chemicals in them?

Dog in the hot tub!!!!! God no surely people don't do that....

That's something I could definitely accommodate as I don't use fragrance in my washing and use sensitive non bio.

I'm not a big fan of these smelly air freshener things anyway, better to have some nice flowers on the table and a very clean house.

I use essential oils to clean my own home - purdy and fig. Would that set you off too?

I'm glad you mentioned it as it's not something I would have thought about otherwise, thanks.

It wasn't heated and obviously being outdoors it did cool down more quickly, but I just topped it up with more hot water. I was in there for about two hours 😂

We wouldn't get planning on the farm for that.

Diversification into tourism is allowed as it attracts money into the rural area.

I'd do one with a hot tub, and see how it goes on, then for the other one (whichever has the nicest view) a claw footed double ended copper bath tub with plumbed in taps, well secluded to look out over a view. Easier to keep clean and keep up with water testing.

No chemicals, no filter. Just a big outdoor tub filled up with a hosepipe and heated via integral wood burner and then drained after use.

Yes we have just had this conversation in the car. Put one in and see how it goes.

If we find it's a nightmare cleaning and filling etc we can remove it and take it to our house 😉

And if we feel the other house needs one, we can add it in later.

We always booked accommodation with a hot tub. We did get our own in the end so stopped booking those with hot tubs in the end. It's in the garage now though cos it's getting too expensive to run all the time. We have just come back from a week away in a house that had a hot tub. The owners empty out after every visit and re fill it with fresh clean water for the next lot of people coming in. It's filled from the hot tap outside. They also come round daily and check the water and add in the necessary chemicals to keep it safe. Me personally I love them. Nothing better than a nice soak in lovely neck deep hot water with the added benefit of being jet blasted by jets to ease those aching muscles after a day of hiking

Hot tubs are generally a bit grim and I wouldn’t book a property knowing that dogs could have been there.

The noise might be an issue if the properties are adjoining, it would be annoying sitting out in the evening if you had to listen to the rumble of a hot tub from next door.

Another vote for a fragrance free house from me too, I don't like fragranced laundry products and air fresheners.

I think because we are so rural people coming here will want to bring their dog (if they are doggy people)

There are so many lovely walks and lochs to swim in. Better put in an outdoor shower perhaps!!

They aren't joined no, and the hot tubs would be on opposite sides.

I'm hopeful that people staying wouldn't be massively noisy if they knew they had neighbours outside too? But who knows. Nowt so queer as folk they say...

Thanks for your feedback

Can't I tempt you with some star gazing even?

Most people want a hot tub on holiday (especially places where weather can be hit or miss).

I'm sure all those complaining about "chemicals" live a completely chemical-free life - no perfumes, shampoo, dishwasher tablets, detergent, body lotions. And I'm sure those calling it people soho or a shared bath or whatever other nonsense don't go swimming then and share water with strangers.

I work in product management and generally speaking we say build minimal viable product first and then iterate.

So get some money coming in for the minimum outlay at the earliest opportunity (so no hot tubs) and see how that goes. It may be that you are busy all the time and you don't need to spend any extra money.

If you find the bookings are low for certain times of the year you could try advertising it with the hot tubs to see if it gets more interest (just do email enquiries for those, then say sorry all the weeks are taken now but would you like to go on our mailing list when they are).

Then do your sums: how much are the hot tubs, how much maintenance do they need, how much on electricity, how much extra cleaning, what refunds will be needed if out of order, effect on insurance, will there be extra water charges, what if the price of electricity rises etc and weigh that against the extra that you could charge (again you can work that out before building them).

My guess is it won't give you any extra returns but it will be lots of extra headaches.

Well it's definitely a hit or miss weather area. I like to think that the stunning scenery makes up for it (just)

Thank you that's excellent advice.

The property we have just arrived at - the hot tub has been emptied and cleaned and is now at 20 degrees. So it's going to be to 10 hours before it's hot (based on 2d per hour)

So if people are staying for 3 days and you have another booking right after it wouldn't be available for anyone's first day of holiday would it.