How much to expect to be included within a holiday cottage?

[luckysdadsway]

We are currently away for 7 nights in a beautiful holiday cottage. We paid £2000 for the week.

Little things have really irritated me. There is a dishwasher for example but not a single dishwasher tablet included, a washing machine but no wash tablet, a fancy coffee machine but not coffee pods for it. No washing up liquid, the only bin bag included was the one in the bin. For a family of 5 for the week, one bin bag wouldn't be enough!

The instructions clearly say leave as you found it. I'm happy to do that, but surely if they want me to clean then they'd at least provide a dish cloth and some surface spray? Perhaps I've been spoilt in the past, however I'm sure even a haven caravan we've stayed in had a little cleaning bundle with a dish cloth, washing up liquid etc.

What would you expect to be included at that price point?

I don't do self-catering but judging by threads on here, there are a lot of cheeky landlords around who think you should strip the beds, empty the bins etc AND pay a cleaning fee on top of the extortionate rent as well.

I'd expect things like dishwasher tablets and washing powder to be included, and I think it's mean not to provide a welcome pack with tea/coffee etc. I appreciate some guests might whine about being vegan and it being dairy milk in the fridge but you can ignore them and cater to the majority. The one time I did self-cater fairly recently we had a generous welcome pack including bread, some meats etc and tea and coffee.

It might also depend where you are - if most people come by car you can expect them to bring provisions but if you know they fly or use the train etc then it's even meaner not to provide a welcome pack.

The main thing is I expect to know in advance what there is or isn't. I don't mind bringing a handful of dishwasher tabs from home if I know I need to, but don't want to be trekking to a supermarket or village shop to buy a whole box the first day.

Most places we have been included a few supplies like a washing up kit, dishwasher tablets and some cleaning supplies under the sink so you can clear up a spill if necessary. At £2000 the week I'd certainly expect it. Maybe the previous guests took it all home?

Nope. UK. Frying pan for fried eggs as house ones are nearly always shit.

Been houses with no wooden spoons, or decent baking trays or knives or tin openers or peelers. It's really random what they have missing. Getting replacements is difficult in some places.

We take a bucket (wash the wet suits) and washing up bowl as well. It makes life easier on holiday.

Use different things each year. I do wonder what I am going to be bringing home each year.

I have autistic kids so shopping isn't fun. Plus they like what they like and no making do. We didn't have the budget for eating out as well and with allergies it is tricky.

I do find it tight if they don’t leave at least a couple of extra toilet rolls. Other than that I don’t mind too much except when we went back to a cottage we had been to before and this time it seemed a bit unloved. If you have a tea, coffee and sugar barrel you should put something in it or remove them, ditto an oil bottle.

You really need to read reviews and check with owner BEFORE booking what’s provided because this just make going away holiday and absolute mission

Best place we went to had over ten spare toilet rolls, washing up liquid, bin bags, cling film etc. Lots of tea bags, coffee pods, freezer with lots of ice, oils salt, pepper, all the basics. Shower gels, shampoo, conditioner too.

It also had a shared laundry room with free detergent, tumble dryers etc.

Best of all they had an honesty fridge with milk, water, juice but more importantly after a long drive, wine!

It wasn't the fanciest apartment but I loved it!

If I’m paying 2k for a week, I’m expecting there to be more then a few coffee pods, washing up stuff and dish cloths, toilet roll - the lot! How stingy of the owners.

We’ve stayed at quite a few holiday homes over the years (never paid more then £800 for a week though) and they’ve all left us washing up liquid, sponges, dish washer tabs, tea towels etc. we’ve had a few nice welcome hampers too, with coffee, nice tea bags, milk and biscuits. One even left us some fresh eggs from their farm.

Edit: We do always bring our own tea towels, bin bags and a cleaning spray, just incase, but there’s always been something under the kitchen cupboard to clean with.

Years ago we stayed at a lovely cottage in Pickering. We had a long drive - we opened the boot to let our dog out and he ran into the house ahead of us through the open door to find a beautiful home-made cream tea sitting on a low coffee table.......

It really varies in places I've been to. It's best to check in advance so you can take a few bits with you if necessary. Try messaging the host to politely ask if you can have some of those things - it may well be that they can be brought to you.

Stayed in a couple of Airbnbs across Europe this summer as we were interrailing, and it struck me as both stingy and shortsighted that we were left with no binbags and no detergent/tablets for dishwashing. I want to leave a place clean, and I’d like to trust that the dishes are clean when I arrive. It’s a pittance out of a €300/night stay to leave one bin bag and one dishwasher tab (out of a multipack) per day and surely makes the job easier for cleaning staff and cleaner for the next visitors if guests aren’t scrimping on what they’re left with (so of course I left a roll of bin bags and sundry stuff behind.) It should be standard to say ‘your welcome pack includes xyz for your x number of nights’ to take away the uncertainty.

I’m in Airbnb in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. We’re here for a week. Including flights, car hire and our Airbnb house it’s cost £2100 for the 4 of us. It has washing machines/dishwasher and all the trinklements to go with it. It’s also unbelievably beautiful. We’ve been to quite a few in the UK and also across the alps and I’m always disappointed in what some of them leave. This one we’re in must have fallen from heaven because it has everything.

What did the reviews say?

Please please can you provide name

(Little things have really irritated me. There is a dishwasher for example but not a single dishwasher tablet included, a washing machine but no wash tablet, a fancy coffee machine but not coffee pods for it. No washing up liquid, the only bin bag included was the one in the bin. For a family of 5 for the week, one bin bag wouldn't be enough!*

That would irritate me a lot - a dishwasher tablet per day etc should be the minimum.

Even Center Parcs gives you a bit of soap and washing up liquid though when I was cutting a tiny bar of soap in half earlier this year I was equally unimpressed!

It’s this one! It’s honestly unbelievable! The view is from two of the bedrooms and the balcony! It has every amenity you could want! Photos attached but need clearing by MN!

Divine
can you share the link? Thank you!

https://www.airbnb.com/l/0uWBnXlF

What activities have you been doing and what’s the weather like?

We go to a very cheap self catering cottage. The first time we went it was basic they didn't even have hand soap so we spent the first day washing our hands with the kids shampoo 🙈
At the price we paid we accepted it wouldn't be bell's and whistles.

We went again and took hand soap this time! but this time (I imagine after some reviews or feedback) they had dishwasher tablets, hand soap, spare toilet roll and tea towels.

I'd definitely leave some gentle feedback. At the price you paid I would absolutely expect the essentials. At the very least if on the listing they list out what they supply it gives a heads up with what you'll need to take. Maybe a small survey with preferences could be helpful for those wanting to leave food etc.

Gets 4.7 average review

I know daft but for last 8 years only done minimum of 4.9 and never disappointed. Honestly, it’s been 12 sensational air bnbs and 4.9 is my stake in the ground!

We are in a glamping pod and outside of the dreary weather I’m super impressed. Washing up liquid plus a cloth and a sponge; tea towel; spray, enough coffee tea and hot chocolate for one night. Toilet roll etc- I’m going to leave a glowing review as we really haven’t wanted for much.

I know Sykes gets a bad name but I book several cottages every year with them and have never had a problem. The thing is, they have so many cottages and I have some very particular needs - fri to fri, 2 large dogs, remote parts of the country. I have tried other companies and they can't match Sykes. For starters, many of the search engines are just for "pets" but you can't specify 2.

We owned a cottage and always had -
washing up liquid and dish washer tabs
cloths
bin liners
tinfoil
soap
coffee
tea
sugar
milk
salt and pepper

What vehicle do you have @BlackeyedSusan ?

For the sake of minimising germs at least you would think they would provide hand soap. Disgusting.