Anyone own a holiday rental? Linens question!

[MtnBikeChick]

I am in the process of purchasing a 4 bed holiday home. It is a newbuild and therefore need to furnish and kit it out. Am trying to work out exactly how many sets of linen and towels I need! I am thinking 2 sets of everything plus a few spares? Does this sound right? There will be weekly linen changes and mid week towel changes too. We will use it sometimes and sometimes it will be holiday renters. If anyone knows of anywhere good to bulk buy high quality linens and towels would be v grateful for tips! 400 tc + for beds etc. Also is it best to have down duvets or synthetic?
Thank you!

Have you been to the laymyhat forum? www.laymyhat.com/forum/

Loads of info (including the answer to your questions) on there. But I'd like this thread to continue as have just bought a local holiday let myself so be good to hear from other Mumsnetters who do similar. I am planning two sets of everything (we won't be using it ourselves). The more sets you get, the less wear each set will get, so will last longer , i.e. five sets will last five times as long as one set.

Think we will go for synthetic duvets (apparently you can get ones that 'drape' like down) purely because down-lovers will put up with synthetic, but allergy sufferers must have synthetic.

We were advised to have 3 sets per bed, and make sure they all match. One on, one ready to go on, and one at the laundry. Same for towels.

Also for crockery and cutlery, buy two lots of each. So, if you're putting a set of 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 bowls for example, buy 8 of each so you can replace piece by piece if any get broken (which they will)

Please have enough of everything so that you can have a supply of spare linen in the holiday let so that guests can do a bed change themselves should they want/need to.
Also supply plenty of spare blankets and pillows.

And enough crockery that they don't have to immediately wash up one meal so as to have a mug/glass/plate for a snack!

Some spare linen during the week would be good, especially single sheets for a bed-wetting child (having to use washer and dryer daily for one sheet is tedious). I'd prefer a change of towels to be available in the property rather than have anyone disturb us mid-week. And some brightly-coloured beach towels are good if near a beach, to avoid your nice white ones going there.

And generously-sized synthetic duvets.

You'll need 3 sets of linen, definitely. One on the beds, one being washed and a spare, make your life MUCH less stressful

If you are booking more than 16 weeks of the year, then get at least 4 sets per bed - just in case. Towels... 3 spare sets at least and get lots of extra hand towels. There's a company called 'All white linens' where I buy everything, they're very very good. I buy 400tc envelope fold duvets to put through my industrial ironers so no buttons to snap and no fitted sheets as flat sheets easier to iron in our launderette. Most of the lets we manage book 50 weeks of the year and we find suncream and blood the biggest culprits when it comes to ruined items, and we boil wash every second wash with soda crystals to keep everything white.

Oh and mattress protectors, waterproof quilted mattress protectors are crucial - 2 for each bed!

No, don't leave spares in there. I have had a few bedwetters, and other things, families then go through all the spares and you're stuck for next changeover.

I also wouldn't change towels midway, if it is a hot country they are easy to dry in the sun/pop on a quick wash. People don't expect more. I've been doing this, very successfully, for 10 years.

blackout blinds and a highchair!

agree on matress and pillow protectors.

Is wifi essential? Our visitors will be professionals and retirees. Would prefer not to install a phone line/wifi, but feel it might pay for itself in terms of extra bookings? (apols for the hijack!)

Yes wifi is now essential

Agree with three sets of everything and pillow and mattress protectors - IKEA do great waterproof ones - and then ordinary quilted ones on top. If possible split/link beds - makes the house more lettable to different types of groups. King of cotton does good duvet covers with envelope closing - no buttons or poppers for laundry to trash. Consider habing towels with embroidered house name on - means they don't get lost at laundry and saves having to name each one - I worked out the time I took to sew each name label on a towel was more than the cost of the embroidery - and less painful! You can also get bed valences that Velcro on - which means if they need changing at change over you don't need to take the mattress off - saves time. Don't skimp on beds, bed linen or towels - they are appreciated and get good comments - you need to try and provide a high end hotel feel. Also agree wi-fi critical, we are about to refurb and I'm going to have a dedicated office area - with a nice view - as many people can't/don't want to be totally away from work now. I'd also ban fake tan users - but that's probably not very customer friendly.

As a customer I've never expected more than one set of towels or linens.

I hate thin duvets with no blanket available. I hate it if the sheets are bobbly. I also really dislike it if there's barely enough crockery and cutlery. I love it when there's a tea pot and a cafetière. When there's plenty of fridge space and a freezer. When there's oil, salt and pepper etc in the cupboards.

Remember people Will treat non stick like crap. I still don't understand why.

No wifi means no booking for me.

Wouldn't entertain staying somewhere without wifi.

Oh crikey, yes you need wifi!

Must have wifi, and a small radio is nice, and at least one shelf in the shower for glasses and shower gel to sit on.

No need for midweel towel changes
yy to wifi

if you rent it out to family, for cheap or free, do so without linens. They can bring their own sheets and towels, and take them away with them if they are getting a cheap/free week.

Is wifi essential?

Absol-fucking-lutly.

Major grip of holiday rentals for me is no where to put your towel in the bathroom. No where to put your wash bag in the bathroom.

You HAVE to have black out curtains.

Do not get a bed with a foot board. Tall people won't book.

No need to do a mid week towel change IMO.

Must have wifi. It's a basic necessity these days. I wouldn't rent anywhere without it generally.

If I was renting somewhere for a week, I would not want the owners or anyone coming in mid week for a linen and towel change. Just leave a spare set so that people can change themselves if they wish.

Also a TV that receives wifi so guests can log into their own netflix/amazon prime.

Thanks all this is very helpful. It's in France and all windows have electric shutters so no problem on the blackout front! We are getting a smart tv too and wifi of course. Does anywhere not have wifi now?! All tips v helpful thanks!

t's in France and all windows have electric shutters so no problem on the blackout front

OMG those are my absolute favourite! Love going on holiday to France and Spain.

Why don't we have them here?

@MtnBikeChick are you planning on renting to Fench people? Because they have v different expectations on holiday let's - it is typical for them to take all their own linen and towels and to do a proper clean of the apartment at the end.

If they are staying for one week or less, one set of bedding should be enough.