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)?

I've always found that in the UK you pay the rent up front but don't hand over a returnable "breakages" fee on arrival. In France you tend to pay rent up front plus a 200-300 euro returnable breakages deposit on arrival. Have a search through a few sites.

Yes Spuddy my dh is rather tall, we've just bought a super king size bed to fit his long legs and my huge bump in!

I do hate the 2 single beds pushed together (as in the Hilton). They're fooling no one, you can feel the divide!

Quite often a credit card number is taken for booking (not charged) that way if guests damage anything it can be deducted.

Would the dog hair not get walked upstairs though? And travel up on bums if people sat on sofas dogs had been on then sat on the beds. I think it would be difficult to prove if you are wanting to deduct money from deposits for it.

Op, there's definitely a market for dog friendly accommodation. We book at Little Dumpledale and they are often booked up a year in advance. They are not cheap, but have worked hard to establish themselves in a niche. Us doggy folk are more than happy to pay IF it really is dog friendly. By that I mean that the garden is properly and securely fenced, flooring is tiles down stairs, you can bring more than one dog of any size ( I think the record is 19) - the accommodation provides a doggy creche service, and they give advice on where's good to take dogs in the area. The cottages are also great for humans, with dishwashers, power showers, king size beds and good standards of decor/furnishings.

Washing line is handy for things like swimming costumes that you wouldn't want to tumble.

Speaking as someone without children, we deliberately holiday outside school holidays, and would be deeply depressed by a noisy brood of children staying elsewhere in the accommodation complex - if you don't have them yourself then you don't want them on your holidays. Also, child friendly accommodation requires particular standards of safety/ equipment such as cots, high chairs, fenced off pools etc - nothing wrong with being adult only. Given this is Mumsnet, you'll probably get loads of parents discussing bookings, but if you talk to other providers they'll confirm it's non parents and empty nesters who are providing your year round business, and they will appreciate comfort. Why not advertise somewhere like the RSPB magazine? Or other wildlife magazines? Wildlife/bird watchers tend to be quiet, responsible types who will appreciate good accommodation at a time of year that fits with their requirements e.g. overwintering waders, seabirds in spring, rare butterflies in summer. Given your Pembs location, you could do very well in this niche.

I'd say people's expectations of holiday cottages have risen considerably in the past few years, and what would have been OK a few years back (no TV reception, dodgy old furniture, grotty bathroom) just won't cut it any more.

Welcome pack with plum jam and home made bread - fab!

Lots of places that take dogs also have rule about not leaving dogs their alone.
so you could offer dog sitting if they wanted a day out shopping.
There was a cottage I saw that advertised dog sitting but the dogs were not allowed in the cottage ...
and if you going to allow children you offer babysitting as well
so if you want to do babysitting get the crb check thing going

Actually, just remembered that we have paid £100 breakages here, poor website but very nice accommodation

Any chance of wifi? Even as a paid extra.

Oh yes, just remebered.....................PLEASE INSTALLL WIFI

Cottage we rent is 3 bedrooms with a king, and 2 queen beds, plus a fold out couch in the living room. 2 bathrooms. A fireplace and a pellet stove. A beautiful American Heritage stove for cooking. Large screen tv, stereo, internet connection. Sea views from every room. Deck on 3 sides of house, with barbeque. Very nicely furnished, down duvets and feather bets.
Very scenic, lot's of artists live in the area. A 20 minutes drive to nearest town with stores and restaurants. It is 875.00 a week Canadian.
We would not have rented it if pets or smoking were allowed though.

I would do it the other way round and allow kids but not dogs.i would never stay anywhere that allowed dogs!

Two years ago we booked a luxury cottage and took our dog, only to be told after a couple of days (owners lived next door) that we were not allowed to leave our dog in the house when we went out! We argued that their cottage was advertised as 'a home away from home' that allowed dogs and that at home we didn't take our dog everywhere with us. I was pregnant at the time and it was lambing season so most of our planned activities were very dog unfriendly. (It was also in the middle of a heatwave and so leaving her in the car was out of the question!) They wouldn't budge and so we had to abandon our holiday with no refund - grrrrrr!. I will never, ever take my dog to another holiday property that does not allow pets to remain at the property whilst I go out. Our dog is very good and does not chew unfortunately others dogs can and do. Do you have an outside kennel for owners to leave their dog in whilst they go somewhere that is unsuitable for dogs? Leaving them in the car is not an option especially in summer as it is cruel and you can be reported to the RSPCA.

iscream - please provide link so that we can come to Canada.......seriously, please.........

nolembit - to be fair I've never found a dog friendly cottage that allows you to leave your dog in the cottage alone..........it's just something we factor into out holiday i.e. day time activities involve the dog.....???

Let the dogs stay. You can tell by the strident "I would NOT/NEVER stay anywhere that allowed dogs" that these guests are going to be harder work.
Good point about over 12's too in terms of less families with children of an age who still want to do the family holiday.

orienteerer we normally usually use the Holiday Property Bond and they have outside kennels for use by residents. We usually love outdoor activities too but I was very pregnant, it was lambing time (toxoplasmosis) and they did not advertise that dogs could not be left alone in the property. There was a heatwave and we would have been cruel leaving our dog in the car. All of this could have been avoided if the owners had clearly stated this in their terms and conditions - which they did not.

www.seascotia.com/properties/bluerockscottage.htm
The one king bed was not a king it seems. It seemed very spacious for a queen though.

I don't think I've ever been hard work anywhere I've stayed. I've never complained and I always leave places how I find them.
I think it could be hard work for the OP to keep the place fragrant for people to stay in without pets unless it's being solely marketed at dog owners.

Definitely consider opening up for Christmas / New Year breaks.

As for the dogs policy - I'm afraid if I saw that you entertained dogs I would presume that you couldn't possibly be 5 star. There is nothing worse than the smell of wet dog. It permeates everything, and I wouldn't want to sit on the sofas. Mind you, as I have a 2 year old, I wouldn't be welcome to sit on the sofa in the first place...

nolembit - never rent a cottage where the owners live on site , .

My partner is severely allergic to dogs and i have a very sensitive nose. we stay in cottages where dogs are allowed, and we have never seen a dog hair, or smelled dog, or had any allergy responses to the previous canine guests.

Our favorite times to travel is in the autumn. The glorious fall colours, a long walk, then coming back to a wood fire is so romantic, and just heaven as far as I am concerned. :)

I have no kids but two dogs, and would love to stay in a luxury cottage where I could bring them along - especially since it costs me £140+ to leave them with the sitter. I'd happily pay you extra to pop in and chat to them at lunchtime or take them for a walk, if that was available.

You might find that the retired/non-parent dog-owning market is niche enough - and more year-round than families tied to school holidays. Can't speak for all owners, but my dogs sleep in a travel crate when we're away, they're not allowed upstairs or on beds, or on other people's sofas, so apart from a very thorough clean at the end of the stay, the damage might not be as horrendous as you'd think.

orienteerer we didn't know until we got there! :(

My, my, aren't we all fussy buggers? £650 is an absolute giveaway price for all the extras you lot want! I have a static caravan (yes, a caravan) in Devon that rents out for up to £1000 a week in peak season - and you don't get so much as an inclusive loo roll! (it is on a Haven park though so is let out in accordance with their policies - i.e. it's not me doing the cleaning & restocking between lets).