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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a Beko fridge might put people off a luxury holiday let

186 replies

questionsandquestions · 02/07/2017 21:40

AIBU? New business for us - combination of newby and nerves. Is 4 bedrooms in Lakes. Kitting it out with excellent mattresses, luxury 500 tc Egyptian cotton bedlinen, great towels, blackout curtains, furniture from Laura Ashley etc. Rest of kitchen is nice. Had read holiday lets should give people stuff they don't have at home where possible, so twin slimline Bosch dishwashers (is a thing in the US apparently), really good stove, steam oven/microwave combo. Was going to get American style fridge/freezer but actually prefer this Beko which has fridge at top (big, well lit, water in door but no plumbing needed/no ice), then a drawer which is a flex-zone (can be fridge or freezer), then a freezer at bottom. I would like this in a holiday let as I could have more freezer or more fridge. And these massive American ones put me off I hate scrabbling at the very bottom of them for veggies. But I can't find Samsung or LG or Kenwood version of one I want, only Beko. Other half says Beko gaff. Is 750 quid, vs. about 1100 for American but for me it's not the money. So AIBU to put Beko in luxury holiday let?

OP posts:
user1493059174 · 02/07/2017 22:31

What type of people would really judge this? (Shudder)! As long as the fridge/freezer is fully functional i am sure this is sufficient. Top priorities are of course, top quality beds, bedding and cleanliness

KatherinaMinola · 02/07/2017 22:31

It's not the snob value that would put me off, but the history of catching fire and, more importantly, the way Beko dealt with it (failing to recall products, so that more lives were lost). A pertinent issue at the moment.

I wouldn't buy Beko again, and as a landlord or letting agent I couldn't buy a brand that had a poor fire safety record.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 02/07/2017 22:32

In a holiday let I wouldn't notice. Wouldn't buy a Beko though as I don't trust them. They have an unfortunate tendency to catch fire.

2014newme · 02/07/2017 22:32

We stay in luxury lets there are normally two dishwashers but not slimline ones.
Also I like miele washers and dryers
Boiling water tap
If you have an aga please have a normal cooker and oven too
Hot tub

Madcats · 02/07/2017 22:33

I am a huge fan of KISS (Keep it simple, stupid).

My biggest gripes are fancy multi/cooker/microwaves where you have to HOPE you might be setting them off to cook something.

Laminated instructions are lovely (possibly put them in a wallet "just in case..."). i hate grubby leaflets.

Give me

  • a couple of induction rings (so you don't need to plan your evening wondering when they might heat up/cool down)
  • oven
  • toaster
  • kettle

I don't give a stuff about the dishwasher. The fridge might be annoying, but probably not.

I suspect most people care more about bed size/comfort/ shower pressure/wifi or phone signal.

SemiNormal · 02/07/2017 22:33

I'm sorry, being completely honest here but yes, it would put me off. I couldn't possibly be in the same room as a Beko fridge let alone eat from one! I'd feel insulted that you would dare claim it to be a luxury holiday let with such a lower class fridge brand! Wink

Largebucket · 02/07/2017 22:34

I'm renting a holiday let in a couple of weeks time with another family. I'd be bemused by two dishwashers (and irritated that twice as many washing tablets would be needed for one full load of washing but am tight like that). It's two separate families going but we'll generally eat together and even if we didn't, as long as the kitchen is well stocked then it wouldn't be a disaster. But then my main consideration is whether the house is within walking distance to a good pub which serves nice food.

WheresTheCoffee · 02/07/2017 22:36

I'm happy to come and test this for you. Smile
Sounds lovely!

gillybeanz · 02/07/2017 22:37

I wouldn't mind about the fridge and probably wouldn't notice the brands, I don't usually.
However, if you are all posh and have feathery bedding, as some people are allergic and need alternatives.
A pp mentioned feathers.Grin

Largebucket · 02/07/2017 22:37

Also, holiday lets used to generally have a default position when the renter brought their own sheets but sheets could be provided on request. Is that no longer the done thing?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/07/2017 22:38

Please make sure the dishwasher has a fast wash. We stayed in a holiday let last year and used the dishwasher - it only had one setting and 3 hours later the bloody thing was still going! We washed up after that.

Glad you're not going to have feathers. I'm not allergic but I hate them - horrible prickly things and then there's the cruelty side.

To be honest, a normal fridge freezer would do me - I'm more interested in it being a decent size than whether it has ice or water! The only time I've noticed the brand was when we were looking for a new fridge freezer and liked the one in the cottage so much we bought one. (Bosch and 12 years later it's still going!)

fullofhope03 · 02/07/2017 22:39

Could you put the link for your place on here OP? It sounds fab!
And good luck xx

PurpleDaisies · 02/07/2017 22:39

Also, holiday lets used to generally have a default position when the renter brought their own sheets but sheets could be provided on request. Is that no longer the done thing?

It really isn't! Everywhere we've stayed has linen provided.

Trills · 02/07/2017 22:41

holiday lets used to generally have a default position when the renter brought their own sheets but sheets could be provided on request. Is that no longer the done thing?

Nope. Definitely not. Only if you're in a static caravan.

Original poster
questionsandquestions · 02/07/2017 22:41

Oh BoomsBoomscousin, Our messages crossed. Yes, this twin slimline was raved about on a couple of the holiday let owners lists I have been reading. But it didn't seem to get the mums net steam of approval until your post!

Hey mumsnet approved, are you listening mumsnet admin? This could be huge - bigger than VisitEngland (which they charge so much for!) Although could we have mumsnet debated rather than approved because approved implies everyone agrees....

OP posts:
2014newme · 02/07/2017 22:41

@puredaisies
Iexpect high quality bedding and spares available.

Ditto towels
Bring your own sheets is camping, even youth hostels supply sheets!

Sara107 · 02/07/2017 22:43

One full sized dishwasher. I have a slimline, and it's ok for plates but a pain for everything else. For two adults and a child I need to run it 2 to 3 times a day depending on whether it's a work or home day. For a 4 bed let that must be 6 to 8 people!e occupancy? A single slimline won't even deal with the breakfast things and who wants to load 2 dishwashers!

Etymology23 · 02/07/2017 22:43

Decent sharp knives sounds great - but please provide a really decent steel and ask the cleaner to sharper them maybe? People seem to treat holiday cottage knives terribly and I always take my own now. Even if there's a steel, it's often such a rough milled on (eg like an actual file) that I can't get them razor sharp like I'd like.

Birdsbeesandtrees · 02/07/2017 22:44

I don't even know what kind of freezer I have in my house

Shoppingwithmother · 02/07/2017 22:45

I stay in "luxury" cottages in this country for literally all of my holidays - about 4 -5 per year, so I have plenty of experience!

I do not think that the fridge you mention is a good idea - but not because of the brand. It is too complicated for a holiday let.

People do not want to be learning how to operate a fridge when they are on holiday. They will not read the instructions. They will assume it's one thing when it may be set on the other setting.

They will thaw or freeze their good by mistake and be really pissed off - especially as there will be probably few shops around to replace things.
The previous week's guests will have buggered about with the settings, etc etc.

Just get a good sized fridge freezer - American style is perfect - that people can turn up and put their food in. Needs plenty of space for milk etc if not near shops. Nobody will be scrabbling around at the bottom for veggies - they will not have a freezer full of stuff if they're there for a week. And it's more likely to be a pizza or ready made lasagne people will want to cook on holiday.

I have stayed in places with no shops for miles around who have provided no cafetière, but a Nespresso machine and 2 pods of coffee when to buy more would be a 40 mile round trip!

Personally I just want good quality simple stuff - I don't want to learn how to operate a highly unusual hob or fridge or oven or heating system.

Here are some of my top tips if you would like them:

  • Don't make it look like someone's home - no fussy ornaments or knick-knacks for people to worry about their toddlers breaking.
  • Do have nice simple plain good-sized crockery and plenty of it, including big mugs, cereal bowls, and the (much-valued by me but rare as hens' teeth in holiday cottages) pasta bowls! And pint glasses!

-Must have a large cafetière.

-Nobody will be excited about two dishwashers that are too small - get a proper sized one and leave enough dishwasher tablets for the stay.

-Plain white bedding and towels.

-Have the heating on/off as appropriate to the season on arrival!

-Do have a real fire or woodburner if poss as they are one thing that's nice to have that you may not at home and on holiday you have more time to spend preparing a fire etc.

That's just a few things off the top of my head! Hope that's helpful (but maybe not!)

GabsAlot · 02/07/2017 22:45

last place i wnt to just had one normal dishwasher i dont even remember the fridge

dont be stingy on towels either

Shoppingwithmother · 02/07/2017 22:46

Food not good 😬

AnnieAnoniMouse · 02/07/2017 22:47

TBH I think the laminated cards sound really naff. I'd be Hmm to find them hanging up in a 'luxury let'. I'd just put a page in your 'Welcome Guide' - picture of the appliance and how to do the BASIC settings. Then put a photocopy of the instruction manual behind it for anyone who really wants to do more.

I go through a LOT of ice, but I buy it in bags. I can't stand the taste of it from the dispensers or ice trays. I'd just get the cleaner to put a new bag in for each set of guests.

Back to the fridge/freezer. I would put in the Beko. I'd either put in a big American FF or something cool like the Smeg.

For me it's about the fire risk, I couldn't settle with a Beko in there.

dubmumof2 · 02/07/2017 22:50

The 2 dishwasher thing is to remove the need to empty the dishwasher when on hols. For clean dishes you work out of the most recently washed (i.e. the one filled with clean dishes) and you fill the other with dirty dishes until you have swapped the crockery/ cutlery over and then wash the 2nd and use it's clean dishes as you need them filling the first with the dirties as you go.....it is very much a thing nowadays I understand....

sparechange · 02/07/2017 22:50

The make of the fridge wouldn't bother me as a guest, but I've only ever known Beko to be hopelessly unreliable, so I wouldn't want to live in constant fear of a call from guests to say the fridge has broken