Your ideal holiday cottage

[averylongtimeago]

We have a holiday let - and it's the time of year when I plan and do improvements ready for the season, which starts at Easter here.

What have I not thought of? What would the vipers of MN like me to provide?

For reference: we are not in the UK, have nice warm summers (but not tropical!) , we are rural , have a pool and appeal to people who like the outdoors, history , dogs, bikes , nature. We get families during the school holidays and empty nesters with dogs at other times.

So: what would you like me to provide?

A fence around the pool to make it child safe! When my children were younger it was really difficult to find anywhere that had this and it was a selling point for me.

It is the law here in France for all inground pools to be either fenced or to have a pool alarm- so I can "tick" that one!

How about:
Bikes
Is it possible for the pool to be heated?
Decent mattresses and quality bed linen
A bottle or some other gesture to welcome each set of guests
Generous supply of pool towels
Generous supply of tea towels
Generous array of kitchen equipment
The possibility of a mid week clean at additional cost
Beach paraphernalia if you’re not far from a beach
Detailed information on weekly markets and eateries

Decent beds, enough chairs for all guests at the table, secure garden, tea, coffee, sugar, bin bags and enough tea towels/cloths, basic cleaning kit, guide to good places to visit, books/ games, decent size fridge/freezer, enough knives, forks, spoons plates glasses etc.

washing machine/dryer

I'm sure you have this already, but I'd want (so as not to have to bring):

• a travel cot
• highchair
• baby bath (actually don't need this any more but would have found it handy), especially if no actual bath
• sippy cups and toddler tableware
• toys/games/books
• baby gate if there are risky stairs

Possibly worth staying for a couple of days and see what is missing, how comfy the beds are

Air con
Actual good beds with nice big duvets (even if height of summer, I want the option of a duvet!)
Minimal nicknacks around - child friendly reasons - but nice interiors eg art on the walls, makes it feel nice and not sterile
Good shutters/curtains that do the job (make things dark)
Good reliable telly
Big fridge
Toys and games provided - slide, playhouse, board games, pool toys all things we regularly find in places we stay

We have stayed in cottages many times in the U.K. and overseas and what I always think (without fail even for the best appointed accommodation) is that the owners should practice holidaying in their own property and it would be clear to them what was missing. If your clients are mostly flying in only take what you would put in your suitcases, if they are more local then you can put extras in your car.
With a pool dedicated pool towels (dark colours) are necessary in addition to house towels otherwise folk will drag them outside and plenty of lines or aiders to hang damp towels and wet swimwear on this always seems to be an issue unless you provide a tumble drier and don’t mind them using that all the time.
Be detailed about what you do provide in the description as well.

A sharp kitchen knife

Sharp enough knives (and or a sharpener)

More than one pair of scissors

Dishwasher tabs (as they're expensive to buy, usually come only in large packs, and not everyone travels with them)

Really good information on local attractions, takeaways, public transport, bike hire, emergency doctor/vet etc

A point of contact -ideally a dedicated phone with SMS and WhatsApp to cover voice and written messages that you (or your nominee) responds to promptly if there are any queries during a stay.

Wifi that's up to the task (and reaches all the bedrooms)

Loads of pool towels. A place i stayed at asked you washed them all which was fine by me. She also provided different towels for the beach. Tons of them.

We stayed many years ago in a gite in france it was fab we had a welcome pack with milk ,bread etc and details of places to visit In the area which was useful.
Decent cookware maybe nowadays an air fryer might be useful .
Had books and some board games.
Local shops opening hours

All the highchairs etc available on request, not cluttering up the place for those that don't need them (having stayed somewhere with no storage because the cupboards were full of travel cots, beach toys etc). Or have enough storage for the visitors as well as the child stuff.

Blackout blinds for those that want them, normal thin curtains for those that prefer some light getting in (I hate blackout).

Enough dishwasher tabs to last the week.

Enough towels for shower and pool.

Good information about local places, restaurants etc. Decent wifi. Clear instructions for TV etc.

Hooks on the back of doors and in the bathrooms to hang wet towels on. We go to places that leave loads of lovely towels but have absolutely no where to put them once they are wet.

Try cooking a meal the kitchen yourself to check whether you genuinely have what a family would need to do that. Sharp knives? Vegetable peeler? More than one chopping board so raw meat can be cut on a separate surface? Tin opener? Multiple saucepans and frying pan? Baking dish? Enough crockery and cutlery that I don't have to have run the dishwasher after breakfast in order to have dinner because a four person cottage only has four plates?

Muffin tray and loaf tin so I can bake.

A decent BBQ

Central heating and an open fire/log burner if it's cold. France can be freezing at Easter even in the south especially at night.

Big beds (that’s my number one requirement), really comfortable mattresses, good quality bedding and towels.

Bonsoirs bedlinen
Outdoor blankets
Plenty of soft/task lighting
A Vertuo Nespresso machine and capsules
Decent teabags
Comic books, books, jenga, Rubik's cubes, jigsaws, scrabble etc.
Instructions for anything a bit high tech on the property.

A couple of very big parent-sized mugs in addition to the ordinary sized ones (I have had specific feedback about these!)

Plenty of bins .

We stayed at a cottage in Scotland, and there was only a bin in the kitchen.

Ideally , there should be a bin in every bathroom and bedroom too.

Travel cot, high chair and removable stair gate.

A few tupperware tubs or equivalent, plus some cling film/aluminium foil.

Knife sharpener! Plenty of chopping boards (not just 1!). A cafetiere. A decent vacuum cleaner.

Lots of throws for sofas and a prominent sign asking guests to use them if they are going to allow their dogs to sit on the furniture.

Decent knives
A non horrible not glass chopping board
Bin bags

We mostly bring everything with us so no too fussed. Comfortable lbed linen and pillows.

Toilet roll

What takes it to the next level for me is a really thoughtful welcome pack with some local delicacies.

Also appreciate a well equipped kitchen with some basics like washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs, bin bags, cooking oil, salt, pepper and some mixed herbs so you don't have to bring it all.

I do like it to feel a bit homely and not too generic 'Centerparcs' but I guess that's a personal thing.

Somewhere sheltered from wind to sit outside, and under cover to protect from either sun or rain. If it's warm and raining, I still like to be out there rather than inside.

A washing line.

Plenty of leaflets for local attractions.

A nice view. Probably not something that could be arranged by you though!

Is it warm enough where you are to grow a lemon tree in the garden? V handy for G&Ts if so.