Holiday cottage equipment....

[1hamwich4]

Just want a second opinion here. There is no drama, no outrage, no tragedy. We will not be complaining or anything. Yes, it is a first world issue.

We have just arrived at our holiday cottage. It is in the middle of a National Park, first week of the school hols, so not particularly cheap.

Which of these items would you expect to find in your cottage?

1. A few Tea bags
2. Pint of milk
3. Toilet roll
4. Guest soap
5. Washing up liquid/few dishwasher tablets
6. WiFi

If you can be bothered please tell me the order of likelihood that you might expect these in. I'm curious to know whether my reaction on arrival was reasonable or not...

That sounds quite basic IME.
At our last holiday cottage in West Cork, Ireland, we had all of those plus 6 free range eggs from the owners chickens, 4 fresh home made scones, pot of jam, small pot of cream in the fridge, an unopened bag of filter coffee with cafetière, tea bags and sugar in containers, washing powder, and dishwasher tablets, enough for a fortnights stay. Plus, matches, logs and peat briquettes for the log burner. It was April and a bit chilly in the evenings.
Must admit, it was probably the nicest cottage we've stayed in. The owners lived nearby and there was even a lovely wooden swing in the garden for my DS to play on.
There was a selection of books, DVDs and children's games. (Snakes & ladders type stuff)
The only thing missing was Sky tv. The satellite tv channels they had were a bit limited. Obviously, that wasn't really an issue.

Please don't get me started on French gites where you pay extra per set of bed sheets and towels (and have to take tea towel). Having said all of that we stayed in the most amazing chalet apartment in the Dolomites last year where the rental include a full hotel standard clean each day .

The last time I stayed in a holiday cottage was two years ago. We had everything on your list although the wifi was a bit patchy. We also got a lovely bottle of red wine, a packet of chocolate biscuits, a carton of orange juice and a small toastie loaf. There was also foil, cling film and kitchen roll for guest use and a small cupboard of playing cards, games and jigsaws. The owner came to do the clean on the last day and checked that everything was satisfactory with our welcome.

I run a holiday let and provide milk, bakewell tarts, chocs, coffee for the cafetiere, nespresso capsules for the coffee machine, teabags and sugar, full set of cleaning materials including dishwasher tablets, hand soap and lots of loo roll, dog water bowl and welcome dog biscuits, full log basket and log burner ready to go, BBQ pack, wifi and sky package. No complaints so far!

Our thinking is that people have come for a holiday not an endurance test, and little things go a long way in creating a welcome. We've put together somewhere we'd like to go and stay.

When I said basic, I was referencing the OP, not the poster above mine. :-/

My pet peeve, which happens in about 7/10 holiday rentals is that the salt and rinse aid lights are always on for the dishwasher. It's not something you particularly want to fork out for on a week long visit and it means that the dishwasher can be a bit ineffective.

We rented a holiday house for a week, it wasn't cheap almost £2k. The only thing I expected was wifi but we ended up with everything on your list.

rookiemere - most dishwasher tabs these days include salt and rinse aid....just ignore the lights

Sounds lovely ohmrdarcy

We stay in a great place that has all essentilas plus a daily service/ laundry service which is fab.

Our first time there our DS had brought his marble runs but had forgotten marbles so we cheekily asked for some and the caretaker had some - every time since then that we've gone back there has been a bag of marbles left for us - no matter which of 3 cottages we've booked.

Did it state there was a "welcome pack" in the blurb?

If so, complain. If not, anything is a bonus and varies drastically. A loo roll is always a bonus. But I arrive expecting nothing. Sometimes that's just what I find. Other times, there are all of the above

Unless they mentioned a welcome pack, I'd hope for a toilet roll and no more. Can you say why you are asking?

We have a holiday let and provide all of these items plus logs etc for the woodburner. And cake

Loo roll though tbh i always pack some anyway. Maybe it is because I always look for the cheaper places but I find soap, washing up stuff etc is usually whatever has bee left by previous guests so it may be nearly new or it may just be the dregs same as kitchen cupboards, they may or may not have an assortment of half bottles of cooking oil and salt. I always pack a box with loo roll, dishwasher tabs, laundry detergent, washing up liquid, herbs and spices and a couple of our good kitchen knives.

Toilet roll, half a roll is fine but should be in every toilet. It's only to do you before you get to the shops

WiFi if it was supposed to have it

I'd expect a loo roll or two, only wifi if mentioned in ad.

Ooh cake. We did once stay at a lovely place wher we arrived to find tea, coffee, milk and a use home made cake waiting for us. The owner was a darling and when we accidentally left all the dc's swimming things on the washing line she posted it for us.

Toilet roll and wifi

I have a cottage and we leave lots of loo rolls, washing up liquid/ dishwasher tabs enough to last your stay. Wouldn't generally leave tea/ coffee/ milk unless requested as it's a bit of a minefield trying to get it right.

Washing up liquid and soap. Wifi only if it was in the agreement.

Well, in the beautiful holiday cottage we stayed in two weeks ago, we had:

Toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, dishwasher tabs, washing powder and fabric conditioner.
Body wash, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner.
Bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes - enough for two people for three days. Butter, milk, jam and marmalade.
Home made bread, Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle cake.
Two bottles of champagne and two bottles of wine.
Huge bowl of fruit including kiwi fruit and a whole pineapple.
Box of Thorntons chocolates.
And wi-fi too!
I'm not saying where it is as everyone will want to go. 😈

We are in a holiday cottage now and we have all on your list plus a huge fruit bowl, different breads, 2 types of cheese, eggs, jam, biscuits, wine, cordial, crackers, hummus, butter. There's so much stuff I was really amazed as I only expected the basics.

In fact, I took a pic of some of it.

rookiemere beat me to it, it's not so much the dishwasher tablets, taking a few with me is ok, but if there's a dishwasher they need to make sure there's rinse aid & salt provided. It's not up to me to maintain their machine. Have found dishwashers with warning lights on more than once ( and complained / mentioned it in feedback).
Likewise if they ask for the property to be left " as you found it" then leave a few basic cleaning products and something other than a cast off asthmatic Henry that is in no danger of picking up any sand ever!

Sounds lovely Merino. Such a great welcome.

I'd expect at least one roll of loo roll and hand soap.

I'd be disappointed not to have wifi but would know about that in advance as the details would say whether it was available or not.

Washing up liquid would be nice. Wouldn't expect tea bags and milk unless I'd requested a welcome pack. Especially milk. We only drink skimmed so a pint of full fat or semi isn't especially helpful. I expect to buy loo roll (beyond initial roll) soap, tea bags, milk when we go self catering.

But you say you had a welcome pack?? That's different.