Random question if you stay in cottages/airbnb

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

If you were staying in a small fairly rural Airbnb- one large lounge kitchen, bedroom, bathroom - and the kitchen had a double hob and air fryer but no oven would you think that was okay?
it would be clear in the description.

I think this is only acceptable if its made clear before people book

I feel a microwave would be good addition - sometimes you might just want to zap an m&s ready meal when you arrive, and start the holiday in the morning (I often do!)

I wouldn’t book tbh , I love a fry up done in the oven, yes oxymoron . Just make it clear in the detail.

I wouldn't care about there being no oven but I would want a microwave. I wouldn't use the air fryer because I wouldn't know how and couldn't be arsed to work it out for the sake of a short stay.

Wouldn't bother me as I never cook when we stay in a cottage.
I book them for the space and the ability to accommodate family but the kitchen isn't used apart from drinks and (uncooked) breakfast. It's restaurant or takeaways I don't go on holiday to cook.

As long as it was in the description it’s fine, up to people whether they want to book or not.
I probably wouldn’t book a whole week there as we like being able to stick pizzas in the oven when self catering but a night or two is fine

You are correct!

I travel solo and often book into cottages/AirBnB type places, in a rental with one bedroom the no oven thing wouldn't be an issue for me (and is quite common in a lot of the smaller places I stay in) but when travelling with friends/family and staying in a 2+ bedroom place it would put me off.

We stayed in a Airbnb with this set up, we ended up frying pizzas we'd bought for a quick meal , I would not book a place without an oven again .

Also, as a Coeliac, I wouldn't be able to use the air fryer as it won't necessarily be gluten free and Coeliacs are advised not to use air fryers that have had gluten in them because of the way they fling the air around and aren't easily cleaned out.
Same here. DH is coeliac but I'm not so I sometimes need a way to cook the same meal twice. For example, a simple spag bol is three saucepans (three rings of the hob) for normal pasta, GF pasta and the sauce.
Eating out as a coeliac is better than it was but it's still not easy. Therefore we are more likely (than the average person) to eat in than dine out. We need a functioning kitchen! I assume that it's similar for people with other allergies.

Has anybody ever turned down a cottage because it has an oven or a 4-ring hob? Surely it's better to have too many appliances rather than too few!

If the air fryer was of a decent size, but as a one bedroom there’s going to be max two people? Or if it’s advertised as sleeping four with sofabed then it better be able to handle dinner for four.

I'd be alright with it if there were very clear instructions left. I've never used an air fryer, I have no idea where to begin, even in terms of what cookware you should use with them.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker if everything else about the cottage was prefect but I wouldn't be happy about it. The easiest holiday meals are ones you can chuck in the oven. I wouldn't consider an airfryer an adequate replacement because I don't use one and I wouldn't want to have to figure out how to use it while on holidays.

@Twoshoesnewshoes We are a couple and I’d think it was odd to have no oven. We go out sometimes on holiday but we also like relaxing over supper at the property. It’s also limiting if there’s no restaurants open on a Monday! Fairly usual in rural areas. I would not book as it’s too limiting.

I frequently stay in hotels in my region with similar setups. They are described as “kitchenettes”.

the one I was at last week we could go to the front desk and check out an air fryer or a countertop oven. There were also bbqs in the courtyard. I never do more than heat up leftovers on the microwave so I really just want the refrigerator, microwave, and a few dishes.

Because I want a big oven!

I wouldn't use the air fryer as I don't think I'm meant to with my allergies.

If it was a small airbnb and you said 'kitchenette' I wouldn't expect an oven, but if you're geared towards families or are quite rural it would put me off booking. Totally fine for a city 1-bed flat though if you're clear in the booking.

For me the small hob is a bigger problem.

Also it depends. on the rest of the cottage and your target renters. A family may want a proper oven and need a full hob. A couple may not be bothered.

I would get a good mid-range unit and you have everyone catered for.

Lots of good advice, thanks all.
yes, would be aimed at couples, no sofabed just a double bedroom.
so a single oven and four induction hobs? And a microwave. But not an air fryer needed as well presumably?

@Twoshoesnewshoes precisely.

Also a proper fridge/freezer. If it's a remote property people may avoid you if you only have a freezer-box or a small fridge - they won't want to be going to the shops every two days! Doesn't need to be expensive, but a tiny fridge and a freezer-box just won't cut it for a lot of people.

Also if you're going to be dog friendly, not having a big fridge/freezer will put off doggy people given the rise in 'fresh food' and 'raw' feeding.

Good point! Okay big fridge freezer- im
making notes.

Looking at the size of your air bnb your market is really couples/ single travelers rather than families.

As long are you explicit in stating there is no oven then it wouldn't necessarily put me off if I was just travelling with DH. It would make me research the are and choosing you over another airbnb would depend entirely on if there were plenty of decent food options (not just 1 pub a short drive away) in the local area, what we were doing and how long we were staying. If it's just a weekend then we would probably mainly eat out for our main meal of the day and just have sandwiches/ salads and breakfast at the bnb so wouldn't be bothered about an oven. A weeks stay and I would want an oven so I could do things like pizza, nicer ready meals - I do not "cook" properly on holiday.

So it depends entirely on your audience and how long you want people to stay.

Does it have a microwave? No oven wouldn't bother me as we don't use ours a lot anyway but i would expect a microwave. Tbh if I'm on holiday I would expect eat out more often than not.

No oven isn't a huge issue but please consider buying a cheap microwave!! I have stayed in more than one AirBnB with no microwave and it has been a massive pain as difficult to heat up leftovers or ready meals.

Bear in mind an air fryer will get wrecked quickly as people won't clean it properly/they are really difficult to clean in general.

If you are taking notes. Please can I add appropriately sized pots and pans. If you are only hosting couples you do not need giant pans for the hob. I've stayed in too many 1 bed holiday cottages that seem to only have absolutely gigantic pans. I need a couple of decent size frying pans but I absolutely do not need 3 of the largest pan in a pan set.