Dishwasher or washing machine in holiday let?

[dontdillydallytoolong]

Hi. We are in the process of converting our annexe into a holiday let. There is one double bedroom and a smaller bedroom with bunk beds. There is space in the kitchen for either a washing machine or a dishwasher. Which would you prefer if you were staying? My husband is saying washing machine, but I am thinking dishwasher. Would like help to decide. Thanks.

YABU - washing machine
YANBU - dishwasher

@LimaFoxtrotCharlie

And typically on holiday I’d eat out once or twice, couldn’t afford to eat out every night with children

this, we go self catering because we can't afford to eat out every night. And when kids were little, we put them to bed and had an evening. No fun eating out early enough for toddlers

How do folk manage if they go to a hotel? Or stay in a caravan?
Ideally I wouldn't stay in either for longer than a long weekend.
We have done both though not really through choice, I've paid for laundry to be done and in one case had to buy new clothes for the children.

Dishwasher by a country mile.

I’ve rarely needed to do a wash while on holiday, who on earth needs to wash clothes or towels?!

I’ve literally never been to a holiday rental here or abroad WITH a washing machine.

I also think as this is an annexe to your own home, should the people staying have young children you could offer the use of your washing machine for emergencies. Admittedly it would have been nice when I took weaning twins to Haven and had a lot of clothes to try and dry in the dampest July ever

@Tankflybosswalkjam

Dishwasher! Who the hell does washing on holiday??

Agreed! Unless you're going on holiday for weeks and weeks, wouldn't you just bring the appropriate amount of clothes?

Washing machine for me. My husband and I love to take long holidays and travel around and I'm not taking 3 weeks worth of clothes with me or spending time on my holidays sitting in a laundrette.
I prefer a place with a dishwasher but can live without it. Can you look at slimline dishwashers or a table top one? Or would a washing machine fit in the bathroom or a cupboard?

How does that once a day thing work then if you only have one meals worth of crockery?

It doesn't! Hence advising OP up-thread to ensure she supplies a day's worth of crockery.

Needed whether hand-washing or using a dishwasher, so as not to spend what feels like half your holiday washing dishes (or waiting, bored, while a grown-up does it, before you can go out to do your anticipated activity). But it would especially nuts to provide a dishwasher, then not enough crockery to make it useful. (Yet this is what happens, all the bloody time).

Another thought against a washing machine. You'll then need to provide somewhere to dry e.g. a washing line/pegs/airer. If people dry indoors a lot then that could create mould etc. Is there a laundrette nearby in case of emergencies that you could flag up to people?

I guess a benefit of a washing machine is that you could use it to clean stuff that might be part of the service like towels and sheets...

I'm neither lazy nor have I lost the ability to use my hands. Dishwashers are both more economical in terms of water use and clean at higher temperatures than it is possible to by hand so are more hygienic. But if you've never had a dishwasher you won't know that. I bet you have re-washed something someone else has allegedly cleaned though! I also prefer putting dirty pots and cutlery out of sight instead of piled up beside - or worse - in the sink.

I do usually use the washing machine if there is one when we go away if we're away for more than a week. We often travel around staying in several places and it's good not to have to have lots of luggage or having to keep dirty stuff separate from clean. Also great not to have to loads of laundry when you get home. I have no objection to paying to use washers and dryers and have done so in the US when they are provided on site at motels and hotels. I've even been to launderettes when there was one nearby. This is not particularly time-consuming btw as industrial machines tend to have quicker cycles and the dryers have a large capacity and are fast.

I’d chose the cottage with both over your cottage but I would not stay somewhere without a dishwasher - we wash everything before we even use it when we arrive - lots of people are rubbish at washing up

Definitely a washing machine, although do you have an outhouse that you could put the washing machine in? Then you could have both!

I would definitely go for both if you can. If there is a cupboard under the stairs use that. They would prefer a washing machine rather than more cupboard space. If people have a baby and a toddler there can be a few changes of clothes per day. I'm sure you can put a small clothes line near the annexe.
You'd have a better chance of getting winter rentals as well if it is a home from home.

Having read the amount of sick, shit, mud and dog detritus that MNers put in a holiday let washing machine, I won't be using one anyway!

I only book holiday rentals the a washing machine as it’s a nightmare if some clothing gets wet or muddy and needs washing. Also I prefer to pack lighter and chuck a load through the wash midweek.
We eat out often or get take away or buy easy food like oven cooked pizza on holiday so washing up isn’t an issue. It’s rarely more than some mugs, bowls and spoons.

Having both will open up your potential market enormously, especially as you are targeting families with small children (given bunk bed set up).

You are doing the conversion now so presumably have builders in already- I would look at whether you can get permission to add something like a small porch where you can fit a washer dryer. Or lose a cupboard from the kitchen area.

Me too rainingbats ! I may just need an outside tap from now on oh and a bucket in a field somewhere or a shovel.

Not in the remote Scottish Highlands there isn’t...lol. We need a machine.

You could set up a new business then.

Set up a new business? What do you mean?

Dishwasher!

Cheeky so and so's will bring half their wardrobe otherwise!

My mum has a holiday let and people have rocked up and IMMEDIATELY started doing washing. So they bring dirty clothes, wash them throughout their stay and then again before they leave. All because the water and electricity is free (to them anyway!).

Another thought against a washing machine. You'll then need to provide somewhere to dry e.g. a washing line/pegs/airer.

Washer dryer means you wouldn't have to and only takes up the same space as a washing machine. But if there's space for an outside line then great.

@Lottle

Another thought against a washing machine. You'll then need to provide somewhere to dry e.g. a washing line/pegs/airer. If people dry indoors a lot then that could create mould etc. Is there a laundrette nearby in case of emergencies that you could flag up to people?

I guess a benefit of a washing machine is that you could use it to clean stuff that might be part of the service like towels and sheets...

For a lot of holiday lets it's preferred to outsource washing, drying and ironing bed linen and towels as it means it's taken off site and there's no hanging around waiting for things to be dried. They have at least three sets of bedding per bed anyway to facilitate quick changeovers.

who on earth needs to wash clothes or towels?!

Me, and lots of other posters on this thread.

@VLAL

Dishwasher!

Cheeky so and so's will bring half their wardrobe otherwise!

My mum has a holiday let and people have rocked up and IMMEDIATELY started doing washing. So they bring dirty clothes, wash them throughout their stay and then again before they leave. All because the water and electricity is free (to them anyway!).

The holiday let's I stay in charge for gas and electricity used during the week you stay

@TangerineGenie

Put washing in shut door switch on. Huge huge effort but so worth it.

The effort is getting it dry again. In a small holiday let I don't want to have damp clothes hanging around.

Generally it's a washer dryer.

An airer in a holiday apartment is useful whether you have a washing machine or not really.

Dishwasher....generally not fussed about doing laundry when I get home....but if not camping will not book somewhere without a Dishwasher if possible..