how could we make self-catering holidays better for families?

[lapetiteanglaise]

Hello.

We moved to France from the UK about a year ago with our two small boys and are living on the Ile de Ré, an island linked to La Rochelle by a road bridge, whose raw natural beauty, picturesque cycle tracks and wide sandy beaches make it a popular family holiday destination as well as a great place for us to bring up our kids.

We are currently looking into the idea of setting up a holiday rental company to cater to the discerning UK traveller and particularly to families with young children.

The idea is to provide a hand-picked selection of upmarket properties of varying sizes well located on the island and to rent them out year round, whist also providing a service tailored to the family and designed to make life as comfortable and as easy as possible for those away from home with littlies.

So far, we have hit on ideas such as providing all child/baby equipment as standard for anyone arriving with children, organising babysitting evenings and lunchtimes, providing a welcome hamper, child age-appropriate, of useful goodies waiting which will include such things as milk, nappies, wipes, Ready Brek (cant be bought in France!), Hipp Organic baby foods and organic baby bath products, having toys, English kids' books and dvds in all the properties, providing the facility to borrow car seats, buggies, sun tents and more, calling French doctor on your behalf if necessary.

We would also like to try to provide a level of comfort which goes beyond the average self-catering holiday: fluffy robes in the bathroom (for all the family), regular cleaning, croissants or seafood platters delivered to your door, apéritifs on the house and local restaurants, massages and beauty treats in your home and more.

I would welcome any tips, comments or ideas from holidaying parents out there to help me work out how i could really make this work for people like you! thanks

I know this is a bit wild - but a dog you can borrow for walks. We had this at a hotel once when dd was 2 and she still talks about that dog 1 1/2 years later.

You would have to have an enormous supply of fluffy robes to provide for all the family and TBH I couldn't care less about them! With young children you don't get much lying about having just had a long pampering bath time. I would find it much more relaxing to know that the house was safe and secure for my toddler - stair gates, cupboard locks, not too many sharp edges or ornaments, no sharp or poisonous plants in the garden etc.

As to facilities, a toy box appropriate to each age group that was delivered in advance would be helpful - regularly checked for missing pieces, damage and stickiness. Cutlery and crockery suitable for toddlers/young children.

I would not be interested in organic baby toiletries as I would always stick to the brand I knew would not cause a rash etc. I personally would not be interested in Hipp baby food as we have never really used that sort of thing, though I am sure many people would.

For me the quality of the facilities rather than the range would be the clincher.

ProvincialLady is spot on - I'd rather have fewer things of excellent quality.

We selfcatered at the other end of the spectrum this summer in a Eurocamp chalet thing and tbh it had everything we needed.
If we were looking at upping our budget and going somewhere more expensive I wouldn't be looking for extra things (fluffy robes etc), just nicer things (more space, bigger freezer).
They offer welcome packs of food, nappies/milk/wipes etc as well so don;t start thinking it's a USP

safe fenced swimming pool with gate and alarm. Bikes would be amazing, or at least bike hire - ideally with trainer and/or baby seats.

wow. what a great response. Thank you all. I think I had thought of most things although I didn't list them all initially for fear of putting people to sleep reading the list....

I quite agree with the black out curtains bit - luckily however MOST properties here have wooden shutters which blocks out ALL light and some noise, not that there is much of that round here....

stair gates, night lights, plug covers, changing mats, potties, bath mats/seats, bath toys etc. also on the list. Properties would be checked and 'made over' by us to ensure they are attractive but child friendly.

It goes without saying that basics from washing up liquid, soap, sponges, bin bags to olive oil and salt would be provided on the basis that it is annoying to have to buy a bottle of oil and only use half of it if your stay is short. As you say there is nothing worse than HAVING to find a supermarket as soon as you arrive especially if you arrive.

I had also thought of basic espresso machines in each house as I myself am a coffee addict and cannot get going at 7am without one.

Silverfrog has a good point about special dietry requirements and I shall look into this in more detail but do know at least one local health food shop.

Welcome packs with essentials for the evening and following breakfast is also on the list already and I shall further investigate the possibiity of providing home cooked food. I CAN cook but worry about the responsibility in a business capacity! I already have seafood and deli-type cold platters covered though for delivery to the door. What more do you need after a good lunch than a cheese and ham platter, some ripe tomatoes, a baguette and a good bottle of wine?

BABYSITTERS are a priority. I have people who can sit during lunchtime naps as well as in the evening so you can stroll down to a local restaurant and leave your little ones to slumber in the comfort of their own beds.

I was interested that you all seem much keener on the practical aspects of things and less on the luxury and pampering.... I have to say I like to indulge in a bit of luxury if ever I get the chance - which is rare.

I guess the million euro question is would you pay a bit more to rent a house which came with all these additional bonuses or, in these testing economic times, would you go for the cheaper stripped down option and just risk paying Ryanair for excess baggage and putting yourself through more hassle before and during the holiday??

For me luxury is something I do when DS isn't around - ie not on a self catering holiday.

I would pay more for luxury -but depends how much obv.

btw - I think dressing gowns is a great idea. Means one of you can get up with kids and other can have a lie in. Also makes it FEEL like a luxury holiday.

PS. I wasnt suggesting you would want the cheese and ham platter until the evening after the good lunch!

I have just checked out the website supplied by PortandLemon for Toddler Holidays and, yes, this is indeed the kind of thing I have in mind . Quite keen to go there myself having looked at the place! it seems to me that places like this are few and far between in France and there are certainly none on our island or nearby on the mainland.

Another question: how likely would you be to come off season (in half term hols for those whose children are at school of course) or at Xmas and/or NYE?

April, May, September and October can be beautiful here. I had lunch on the terrace on Wednesday as it happens albeit wearing a jumper with my sunglasses.....

We would consider it in Spring but thereafter will be restricted to school hols.
We wouldn't go away at x-mas - but I'm sure plenty of people do as the prices go up.

Well at the end of the day, it is much more important to me that we are in a location we can travle too and that has the right kind of activities on the doorstep.
I have never been into 'pampering' of any kind but least of all on a self catering holiday with two active children! For me, the best pampering would be the ability for us all to sleep well!
But yes, when times get tough it is holiday budgets that will be first in line for the chop, I would think.

witchandchips - I was going to suggest the same thing! A self catering holiday without the catering! We go to a villa in Portugal and the local restaurants do good take away services which means less catering for the adults once the lo's are in bed - bliss! If you cannot do the meals yourself then a file of local takeaway places etc would be good !

NB for any SC holiday, and esp the Vendee, my preference is not to fly at all but to drive, thus bypassing both Ryanair excess baggage charges and paying 'luxury' prices for well-equipped accomodation.
Get the fastcat or whatever it;s called from Portsmouth to Cherbourg.

However I suspect we are too skint to be your target market

(NB if you search there are oodles of threads on MN of recommendations and chat about SC/camping in the Vendee - you may find some of it useful consumer research!)

Good point MrsBadger and I'm trawling through the reviews. I do feel that the ile de Ré is a special and unique place though and great for families who want to RELAX and our clients would be coming here to enjoy what the island offers. This sets us apart from the competition at least in terms of our location.

Driving versus flying is always a tricky one... when in the UK we often only had a week off at a time so didn't want to spend 2 whole days driving/sailing. Ile de Ré is about 5 hours' drive from Caen or cherbourg. It does of course depend on where you live in the UK and how accessible the coast or nearest airport is. La Rochelle airport is only a 5 min drive from the bridge to the island so in we do tend to fly even with the kids.

Ah, we are an hour from Portsmouth, so it'd actually take us longer to get to Stansted, park, check in, and fly than it would to drive & fastcat. Point taken though.

Personally we thought the Ile de Re sounded a bit too relaxing, esp if the weather was bad...

A pre order shopping service would be great.
We had a lovely guy who came in and cooked breakfast, children's supper and dinner for us. It wasn't cheap but more economical than half board in a hotel. It made our holiday. He was also great with the children and so we actually got to eat the food too and then he had a quick wizz round tidying up. It meant we actually had time with the children and werent' always trying to do something else.

I caretake a uk holiday let- 'four star' level of luxury .We are aimed at all types of families but not solely directed at young families,I think its a great idea!

We are coming to the end of the the first year and have had some really great feedback from guests.

I think being friendly and flexible is a great start.We provide all the basics for a family (cotbed with bedding,a high quality hairchar,stairgates,nice cutlery etc) and this has all gone down well this season.

All the bedding,towels,crockery and furniture and appliances in the house are top notch quality and I think people like that the most- home from home I guess.

We also have a games room with full size pool table (which the adults use when the children are asleep ).

I leave the basics in regards to food (all local produce and organic) tea,coffee,sugar,butter,eggs and bread.Salt and pepper and oil are staples in the food cupboard.if people want me to do some specific shopping for them ,they get in contact before they arrive.I only clean with eco products and basic cleaning items are left aswell as washing powder,softner and ironing water etc

I really wouldn't bother with luxurious bathrobes-it's just more washing for you before changeover day (oh,and the ironing of bed linen is horrendous!).

Plenty of ideas for days out,restaurants etc are vital and so is a spotless property .

Good luck,its lots of hard work but worthwhile!

It sounds RIGHT UP MY ALLEY! I think that if you want to capture a broader market then you should offer a lot of your "Luxuries" on a menu where people can pick and choose.
A little boat would be good if the property was on the water (again offered as an optional extra)?
Please let me know when you open!

With things as they are I wouldn't want to have to pay extra for luxury, I would prefer more basic but with the essential things I needed for the children.

We went to Normandy this year to a lovely gite which was perfect for the children. It was £380 for the week and had really everything we needed. A barn at the back of the living room with loads of games for the children, dart board, snooker table etc and I noticed they had things like a buggy for little ones, bed guards, cot, high chairs, drying racks for washing, charcol for the BBQ, washing powder, washing up liquid, cling film, the list went on really, they had thought it through for all ages and it would have been fine for younger children (my youngest was 4). There were play things for the children in the garden plus animals. All you needed for cooking. Shutters for one room so dark and dark curtains in another so sorted out my black out blind problem.

There was a bottle of cider, bottle of apple juice, biscuits, chocolate & eggs waiting for us. We really only needed to take clothes and a few bits and pieces for the children. The only thing that for us they could have done was to have a facility to have some shopping arrived.

I'm guessing that what you are proposing is going to be a fair bit more than what we paid and I wouldn't personally be prepared to pay it but that is just me. I think the idea of not having too much as standard and being able to chose the extra bits you want is a good one.

Lots of good suggestions here.

Things I/we like are:

sea view
use of swimming pool (can be shared but long enough to swim in!)

Travelling main part of journey by train..transfers from the station good or a hire car arrangement with the property.

Agree with proper cots suggested earlier - my children hate travel cots.

Agree with black out blinds

One of the most important things for us are a safe garden (any drops fenced) with some play equipment and if there is a pool it is fenced not just alarmed.

Also a child friendly safe house with stairgates provided.Hate loads of fussy ornaments anyway as I like a holiday home to be clean and bright.Towels (beach and normal) provided as these are bulky to pack.Dressing gowns we have had provided in a couple of places but certainly not something that would influence me booking.

Basic childrens cutlery and highchair such as the £10 one from IKEA is fine as the most important thing with all childrens things provided is that they are very clean and well kept so better to have things easy to replace.Hate a toy box with bits of various broken toys in - also may be an idea to have age appropriate boxes depending on the family coming.

As it is difficult to go out very late with young children a nice place in the garden to sit out for a drink is great (with citronella candles)- ideally with a good view - could just be lit pool/garden.Decent cooking facilities and plenty of pans and knives as we do actually cook when self catering.Washing machine and washing line and plenty of pegs essential with young children. Fans and maybe bedroom air conditioning we do like if we travel in the height of summer.

I like a good selection of books also and decent reading lights in living and bedrooms.Although pre children we wouldn't have been fussed we really enjoyed having satellite TV in our gite this year as we could watch the olympic coverage or a film/series in the evenings and the childrens could watch cbeebies - much better than just DVDs.

Bath as well as a shower for young children.We like to have the food basics provided on arrival or a pre ordered and paid list of food provided and a clear help book with details of where to shop,eat (another special diet gluten free needed here also) and visit.Visitor ideas book also I like to read.A small meal baguette,cheese,ham,salad with some wine provided on arrival in the fridge is good.

Agree wouldn't use Hipp organic jars ( alot of people don't use jars) or organic baby bath products (child may have sensitive skin/excema) although I would pre order nappies and wipes but would want some choice in what was provided so best to provide this as an extra.Always worry that other eqipment provided is good quality so as for cot,car seat if you provide these I would be quite specific on what you provide and how new ,how things are cleaned and replaced.

Have stayed in a few properties similar to what you are proposing and the best ones were furnished with a mixture of some cheaper things such as IKEA sofas with a few wow features such as a modern,granite work topped kitchen,smart bathroom.The upkeep is the most important.We did stay in one where we had a meal cooked for us a few times and we enjoyed this rather than having to eat out although it has to not be too expensive.Massages and beauty treats not a USP to us at all but would appeal to couples maybe.

We did look at possibly going to Ile de Re last year although went for another area of France in the end as the 'luxury' properties all seemed very expensive compared to other areas of France and as alot were French owned they were not 'non smoking' which with young children is essential for us.

I think the key is very good website and marketing and I do think people will pay extra if you offer something a bit special which can just mean somewhere child friendly and slightly luxurious but not in the same way as I would have looked for pre children.It is a good idea to look at Eurocamp sort of places which have the child friendly aspects and work up from here in terms of quality of accommodation as Mrs Badger says.

I do definately think there is a market for luxury and family although it is important to not go too expensive by providing lots of unecessary things but just getting the basics such as a smart house and quality things provided.It you go luxury you may also want to bear in mind alot of people would like a pool unless walking distance to the beach.I'm very fussy by the way as may be your clients!

My Mum lives abroad and she has travel cot and high chair etc but I stayed at a friends chalet and the things that made a difference were sippy cups, toddler cups, buckets and spades, bath toys, videos and books and the extras to the expected kit.

chocolateteapot where did you find your gite? I guess through an internet site?

It is this one Elliot. I found it on the GitesdeFrance website.