HouseTrip review thread. Non-testers: Share your top tips on how to make the most of holidaying in an entire house, apartment or villa and you could win a £200 Boots voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

This thread is for the five lucky MN families who are going on a HouseTrip holiday this month.

HouseTrip say "HouseTrip is an online platform that allows visitors to choose from over 300,000 full homes from around the world to holiday in. From ivy-dappled country cottages to beach retreats and city-centre lofts, the service offers simplicity, value, flexibility and security for families looking for a hassle free and enjoyable holiday experience from start to finish."

Testers are visiting London, Edinburgh and Brussels – check back to this thread to find out how they are getting on.

We have asked testers to add feedback at least three times - before they go, when they are there and when they get back home.

Non testers: HouseTrip would love to know your top tips on how to make the most of holidaying in an entire house, apartment or villa. Everyone who adds a tip will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £200 Boots voucher, so that they can get stocked up for the holiday season.

Please note tips and comments may well be used by HouseTrip on their pages on Mumsnet, social media and elsewhere. Your MN name will not be used.

Testers – please share on this thread your overall opinion and experience plus your responses to the following questions.

Before you go

• Have you or anyone you know ever been on a HouseTrip holiday before, and if so where did they go?
  
• What are you looking forward to most? What are your DC looking forward to?
  
• How was the booking process?
  

On holiday

• How is it so far? What's the weather like?
  
• Describe your accommodation e.g. the amount of space, outdoor area, particular parts of the house etc.
  
• What else are you doing outside of the HouseTrip stay, in the local area?
  
• How does this compare to previous hotel holidays or previous home rental holidays you've experienced?
  
• What have you got up to at your HouseTrip property?
  
• Have you used the kitchen to cook at home? Where did you get cooking ingredients? If you haven’t been cooking much, how often did you choose to eat out?
  
• What have your DC enjoyed most about the HouseTrip experience? And what have you/your DH/DP enjoyed most?
  

When you are back

Overall opinions from you and others in the family:

How would you rate/ describe...

• Accommodation as a whole
  
• Kitchen facilities
  
• Bedrooms/Sleeping arrangements
  
• Local area
  
• How were the checking in and out experiences?
  
• Would you return/ try out another HouseTrip holiday?
  
• Would you recommend HouseTripping to a friend?
  
• What did you think about the value for money – especially compared to other family holidays? What did you think about the amount of space you get for the cost?
  
• Any other comments?
  

Please also do add a review on Mumsnet to the Self Catering pages.

Thanks
MNHQ

PS We've 'highlighted' the testers posts on this thread so we can see them!

[thesoupdragon44]

I like to have a holiday home away from home, I think that my top tip will be to tidy up as you go, so that you don't have to spend your last day cleaning.

[Bingbongbinglybunglyboo]

Non tester

Take everything for your childrens night time rituals. ( eg gro clock, music box black out blind etc) bed times are hard enough in a new place!

[NettleTea]

non tester - this sounds like a luxury for me. We work out who might have to share rooms, ensure that we have checked out the local area for supermarkets and petrol stations, and wwhat is on in a low key manner to keep us amused while we settle in

[lentilpot]

I have a little bag of stuff ready to take camping or self-catering with all the basics like salt, pepper, cooking oil, a tea towel, so that we always have those little things it's easy to forget in the supermarket.

[mammamic]

NON TESTER

I want our time to be as relaxed as possible.


BEFORE WE GO:

• Lots of research into the area, things to see and do, bad weather plans
  
• We ask our daughter (10yr old, and have always done this), to think of things she'd like to do if we have rainy days - we let her take a backpack with her things for rainy days.
  
• We each get to choose one thing we'd like to do based on our research so that everyone is involved in the planning and I don't end up having to second guess how to make it the best possile break for everyone!
  
  TAKE WITH US/WHEN WE'RE THERE:
  

• We take the meal for the first day of arrival - something that can be warmed in oven/microwave
  

- We take a hearty breakfast (full English, croissants etc) for morning so we can have a late brunch and do some basic planning for our time away

[AndHarry]

Non-tester.

Do your research and find a house with a garden that's appropriate for your children so you can relax in the evenings and eat outside while they run off and play. A relaxing evening meal with less formality than at home is a great way to end the day on holiday before you put the kids to bed.

[kateandme]

a first meal we find helpful.when you get to where your ataying you either just want to flop or dont know your bearings yet.so having packed a first meal even if its just a bag of pasta and jar of sauce is useful.
before you go i think genereal knowledge of the area is a good idea.i couldnt ever think of going somehwrre i hadnt looked up on the internet first!!having a little plan of ideas of whats around.where are the nearest shops.or at least somewhere to get a few supplys.we always take tea bags.
a towel and loo roll too.
if your going somewhere you dont know of those travel books a good for tips.
pack of cards and pictionary.
paper and pens.
ask friends who know the place.or ask the owner of local interests,shops,restuaratns.
batteries.
a book.

[Bubbles85]

We always take enough to be self sufficient so we don't have to break up our holiday to go shopping.

[ataraxia]

Surprised the amount of people that would want groceries delivered - I like to take the basics for first night then get to know the area (and new and different local products) by shopping the next day

Agree with taking small quantities of things you wouldn't want to buy new packets of, such as tin foil, cling film , tupperware, seasoning - actually, it would be great if you knew from the property listing that these things were provided!

[Allthequeenshorses]

Non tester
By the time we get to holiday, I am usually on my knees and more often than not, being collected from office and heading straight there. So I bring out the "holiday box" really a large crate, about 6 weeks before we go. It sits in the spare room to begin with and I start getting a few extra treats in the weekly shop which get added in. I also put things like DVD's which have not yet been watched or games. Nearer the time I move it to the Dining room and add stuff as it pops into my head. Like others have said, small amounts of seasoning, dishwasher tablets, washing powder.
By the time I actually get round to packing, most of it has been done bit by bit. I'm awful for things popping into my head and if I don't write it down or do it then I forget clean about it. The holiday box has become abit of a family institution, but means none of the important things get forgotten.

[telsa]

Non tester

Do your research - find out where the nearest amenities are, when the rubbish is collected, what bus routes are nearby. if you are lucky, the resident will have put all this in a manual. if not use the web.

Take a pint of milk and some bread with you....just in case.
Take photos of the place of things in the house when you arrive, so you have a crib for putting things right at the end.

[Petal7]

Agree with supermarket delivery. Also worth adding bulky items to it like wine and nappies to save room in car (i have 3 in nappy pants at night!) but do take some of both in case of substitutions!
I often take a portable stair gate and always take a "rainy day" box - crayons, paper, stickers etc.
And i often take my cafetiere, just in case! I need good coffee wherever i am.
Night light always comes too.

[tinypumpkin]

Another one who says supermarket delivery here too. Definitely familiar bedtime stuff for children. A corkscrew for adults (just in case!)

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Bring toilet roll! Often it's not stocked and if you have little ones in a long journey usually they need the toilet ASAP.

I've been known to take a few photos of the property upon arrival to have proof we have left it in the same state when leaving.

[CheeryCherry]

I plan the meals ahead of the holiday, including a take away night, and do an online delivery to be delivered a couple of hours after we check in.
I often cook a chilli in advance, freeze it, and bring it with us with garlic bread so it makes a hassle free evening meal.
I always do a Google search of the area so we have a few options for visits or trips out. I may even book tickets in advance if it works out cheaper.
Get the children to each pack their own bag of favourite things including books, puzzle books, magazines, chargers!!
I always pack a few candles, boxes of tissues and extra loo roll just in case!

[madeofkent]

Don't skimp on space, no matter how much cheaper it is. Book somewhere with an extra bed if necessary, even if you only use it to dump empty suitcases on. In the UK and northern Europe you really cannot guarantee good weather, and it's awful to have a rainy cold day when no-one wants to go out because they are tired, and there isn't enough room for the kids to spread their Lego all over the floor and nowhere to put wellies and raincoats to dry. And if someone falls ill, a cramped space is doubly miserable.

Ovengloves. What is it with holiday cottages. Even the NT forgets oven gloves. Or they provide just one small potholder. Not all of us live on ready meals.

A dressing table with proper lighting. Of three houses I stayed in last year, only one had a decently-lit dressing table. The same went for the four hotels I stayed on over the past year as well. Sticking it vaguely near a window is not enough, IT GETS DARK.

[hunhun007]

Non tester:
Be sure to check what is and what is NOT included in your villa / apartment, so there is no surprises once you arrive.
and then...
Make it feel like home. Bring your own pillow or maybe a small picture frame or a teddy... something which will make it more familiar.
It is different if you stay in the hotel, as it is a hotel and it looks like one, but if you are in a villa and have the whole house all to yourself, the young one might get a bit "out of place"
Other than this just enjoy yourself and take one day at the time!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

Get a Kuhn Rikon knife with a cover to take with you, they are really sharp and stay sharp so you don't have to curse the blunt holiday-cottage knife all the time, and they are also brilliant for taking on picnics to cut the bread/cheese/whatever but without the risk of cutting yourself when you get it out of the bag.

[nerysw]

Non-tester
I've done thorough research into days out before now when we go away and see what I can spend my Tesco Clubcard vouchers on days out-wise. We take some basics so we won't starve if we can't find a shop straight away and a couple of favourite toys and things to do (sticker books etc).

[Wjjkl]

We always take emergency snacks with us so we always have something to eat if everything is closed or difficult to get to.

[deels]

non tester-

picnic essentials re a must, plenty of research beforehand. pick out the local beauty spots. take with you food essentials. this would be, cucumbers and ketchup for my household. lol. and most of all just relax!

[DifferentNow]

Non tester

We always take a basic food pack to cover breakfast items, drinks and snacks and to include loo and kitchen rolls, bin bags, washing up liquid, sponge etc. We make sure we take a backpack type bag for day trips out and water bottles.

The kids will all get a pack of stuff to keep them entertained too as they miss their toys and there's not often much for them to do when indoors. This might include a comic or sticker book and something like play doh - cheap, new and disposable.

[asuwere]

Non-tester. Either book an online shop to be delivered when you arrive or if there is a click and collect nearby, arrange that and then you don't need to be at the property for a specific time! Remember household stuff such as toilet rolls, bin bags etc. If you have a young toddler, also useful to remember a sippy type cup/sports bottle so you don't risk having juice spilt.

[johnworf]

Tester

On holiday

How is it so far? What's the weather like?

Having a fantastic time! We're in London and the weather couldn't be better


Describe your accommodation e.g. the amount of space, outdoor area, particular parts of the house etc.

We're in a 2 bedroom apartment. Spacious enough for 4 of us. Tbh we use it as a base as we are out most of the time. Very modern and well kitted out. Beds comfortable; one double and one twin. Kitchen well equipped. Balconies for outside space.

What else are you doing outside of the HouseTrip stay, in the local area?

What haven't we done?! We did a rough itinerary before we left home of places we'd like to see and bought a flexi ticket for the Thames cruises. Local tube was walkable in 10 minutes and from here we saw the Science Museum, Nat History Museum, a sightseeing cruise of the Thames up to Greenwich where we enjoyed the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory and the Maritime Museum.


How does this compare to previous hotel holidays or previous home rental holidays you've experienced?

We normally go to Centre Parcs so it's about as different as you can possibly get! Loads of places to see, eat and explore. Many of the museums are free to get in.


What have you got up to at your HouseTrip property?

The first night we flopped after our journey. Next day we all had breakfast, watched tv and after we returned home we ordered a takeaway. Today we've all had showers/baths and lolled before we went out exploring and then for a lovely lunch.


Have you used the kitchen to cook at home? Where did you get cooking ingredients? If you haven’t been cooking much, how often did you choose to eat out?

Yes, we used the kitchen to make dinner for the children last night whilst we had a takeaway. We brought most of the ingredients with us but there were plenty of local shops to buy basic such as bread and milk. We have had breakfast everyday in the property.


What have your DC enjoyed most about the HouseTrip experience? And what have you/your DH/DP enjoyed most?

The children have so far enjoyed "everything!" DH loves it as a central base for exploring. Also everything is very close to hand e.g. shops, takeaways. Although we are central we are slightly off the beaten track and so we had no noise to disturb.

[NK5BM3]

Oh can't wait!! We are heading to London too, next Friday! Your plans sound v similar to ours too! Let's hope the weather holds up. Will report whilst there next week.