to ask how much you would pay for luxury accommodation, if children weren't welcome?

[LadyOfTheManor]

Beautiful countryside, self catering cottage (16th century old bakery) but done up to a 5 star standard. Two beautiful bedrooms with ensuites, one with a hot tub, sitting room, reading room, kitchen and decking/BBQ facilities. No under 12s allowed, dogs welcome. £650 for the week.

I think that is reasonable, considering two couples would have the opportunity to stay and split it. Would you pay that for just you and dh or you and 2 children (over 12)?

"DogsBest, would you resent only allowing the dog downstairs if you were to holiday with it?"

Gawd, not in the least - I'm very much a "Your house, your rules" type. And considering that an awful lot of folk aren't as soft as me and don't allow their dogs in bedrooms at home anyway I don't think that this would be likely to be a big issue.

Did someone say plum jam? :o

Yes I think it would be more of a crown pleaser if the dogs were kept away from fibres/carpets/bedding/curtains etc. Not so much for hygiene but definitely for allergy purposes.

Do dog owners bring their own food? (I mean for the dog!)

Yes, we bring our own food - dog and human. :)

Towels, I'd expect to have provided. Maybe it would be helpful to have a dog-towel available in the porch/wetroom/whatever too.

When i have looked at proprties to rent they have always been per property and not per head.
Towels are a must for a luxury cottage, I would also like to see hand soap in all the bathrooms.
Also good is things like condiments, washing up liquid so on and so forth.

sounds gorgeous - i want another hol now!

i would not like someone to come in while we were there tho as we often like to do our own thing spend days in having kinky sex so no to cleaning, changing towels etc.

Oh and big towels please. 1 bath sheet, 1 normal size and 1 hand towel per person. I am sick of drying my body and hair with 2 tiny towels which my poor DP has to then use wet.

Yes I think £650 is great but I won't be booking because of the under 12 ban. DS is 8 and I consider him safe to take to places with wallpaper/antiques/lakes/streams etc. In fact I would love to book somewhere he can wander & play outside, no he definitely won't be bored. I think you should reconsider age for children to over 6 or 8.
We only book dog friendly places , no upstairs is not a problem, wood/tiled downstairs floor definitely the way forward.
Please publish website as I would like to book.
Please leave stock with basic salt/pepper/olive oil/mixed herbs & loo roll.

Yes, with you there Spuddy.

We stayed at the Hilton not too long ago, and I have hair down to my backside almost, and they provide a "hair towel" which wouldn't suffice as a flannel.

Egyptian cotton a must?

I would have thought that allowing dogs would put people off who don't have dogs - it is nigh on impossible to get rid of dog smell. Also - how would you police them only being allowed downstairs?
If there are enough people with dogs who want to rent though it wouldn't be a problem.

As soon as building is complete, I'll take some photographs and show you first :) Then you can all fight for it. Maybe I'll offer it to MNHQ as a prize for something.

Would a washing line be necessary if I have a tumble drier?

Ops, meant "please stock with"...............and 2nd KaraStarbuck about washing up liquid!

Mighty, aside from noticing dog hairs upstairs, I can't police it.

I can make it clear that it isn't appropriate, and provide a baby gate for the bottom stair. The only other thing I can do is deduct from the deposit the cost of having the carpets professionally cleaned-I'm a stickler for dog hair, I hate it (and I own dogs!).

Washing line would be a bonus but by no means essential (depends on space).

LadyOfTheManor - as a dog owner you have a moral obligation to accept dogs..........surely?.....yes you know you do .

Hmm. THink I'll have a gander at the Cottage site and see what's going on there. I have the plus of private parking and grounds, no where near a main road (ideal for dogs again, and possible children). Lovely walks etc. I just don't want to be associated with the type of tourism that Tenby brings in (B&Bs, hen parties etc-it's too Blackpool-esque, which while that is fine for some people, it isn't my catchment).

IME people who are spending a fair amount of money for a luxury holiday tend to be pretty respectful of the no dogs upstairs rule - or at least that's what I've been told by a couple of holiday home owning pals and a couple of owners whose cottages I've stayed in. There will always be one or two who aren't but then there will be one or two who will pilfer the towels or whatever. I think it's just a case of not being able to make any guarantees about this sort of thing but just to make a kind of risk assessment based on the behaviour of the majority IYSWIM.

AdverseCamber - please don't tell her that! We all want to book at £650

Ha! If I was going away I wouldn't take them with me, they'd drive me insane if I'm honest! I'm not really one for UK holidays, never been...however have a 1 year old and 1 due in 16 weeks, so should really be preparing myself for some UK dog holidays.

Have a look at Premier Cottages

How much does one charge for a deposit? What do you take into account? Towel theft?! Lifting a book from the shelf? Stealing the cork screw? Or just things like, set the sofa on fire by accident?

I find it soooooo much easier (and much cheaper) to take the dog on holiday with us (assuming UK) than find boarding for her.

king size bed too if you've got the room and a good shower (i realise i am suggesting you furnish your property with just me in mind! ).

My DP and i have a kingsize bed, a large roll top bath and a double walk in shower at home, fluffy enormous towels etc (not showing off well maybe just a bit) we always joke that even when we stay in the plushest cottages/hotels they are never as well equipped; always only a double bed- and we roll into each other (we are both big 'uns), small dry towels, dribbly weak shower or a tiny bath with limited hot water.

Oh yes washing up liquid is good idea too.