What makes the perfect cottage holiday rental for you?

[SunshineChatter]

I am new in the holiday rental market, with this summer being my first proper season letting my cottage in Somerset.

I am trying to make it as well appointed as possible. Soft cotton sheets, fluffy white towels, complimentary mini toiletries, champagne flutes, kitchen scales, baking stuff, wi-fi, Netflix, beautiful garden furniture, BBQ, welcome hamper, dog treats, etc.

But I'm sure we all look for different things when we rent a luxury holiday cottage. Could you please share what you feel would make a cottage stand out were you to rent it for a week's away with your OH, family, friends, etc? It sleeps four in two bedrooms. TIA.

[SunshineChatter]

The back is firm but it's still a very comfy sofa. It's the one we use the most out of the two because it faces the log fire.

[pinkbalconyrailing]

absolutely no pets and allergy friendly bedding.
minimal ornaments.
no harsh cleaning products used.
no wood burner or other open fire.

[SunshineChatter]

@pinkbalconyrailing in accommodation places you need to ensure everything is clean to a certain standard. Our cleaners wouldn't use unnecessarily harsh chemicals but they do use stuff that will kill bacteria in between guests.

May I ask what the issue is with a log burner? For many guests that's a huge bonus.

[pinkbalconyrailing]

May I ask what the issue is with a log burner? For many guests that's a huge bonus.

pollution with small particles and voc. which can cause issues for people who are asthmatic or have other lung or allergy issues.

[SunshineChatter]

Thank you. I had no idea.

[CaptainMonkey]

@SunshineChatter that sounds perfect for me - I don't like squashy backed sofas. Thanks!

[33goingon64]

Over and above the basics (clean, relatively soundproofed, enough crockery and cutlery, etc) the things that impress me are:

Welcome pack of tea, coffee, milk, bread and bottle of wine at very least, but ace when you get extras like local produce or the option of a prepared meal for the first night;

Lived-in, homely feel e.g. books, pictures that mean something (not the ubiquitous French cafe or English cottage prints), atmospheric lighting (not just one overhead light);

HOOKS and lots of them, please, in every room;

Information about the area that isn't just a bunch of leaflets. The best place I stayed had laminated walking maps you could borrow and a booklet with lists e.g. our top recommendations if you only have a weekend/week, nearest playground, nearest shop open on a Sunday etc;

Environmentally friendly touches e.g. would notice and appreciate refill toiletries rather than mini ones, helpful instructions on recycling etc.

[shieldedsally]

Have a lot of appliances that work. I would only consider places with a dishwasher, oven, washing machine, fridge and freezer. And if you can provide a dryer, that is a definite bonus. So many people fill lets with shitty cheap appliances, and it makes the holiday a misery.

A bath tub.

A welcoming basket of food goes a long way and costs relatively little - we don't care if you add it to the bill, it's just a nice thing to have, especially if you've driven a long way or are arriving late.

[AssamorEarlGrey]

I second the hooks! Hooks for outdoor clothing and bags, and for hanging up bathrobe and towels in the bathroom, and on the bedroom door.

And I also agree with a ledge or shelf for toilet bag. Often everything has to go on the floor.

Apart from soap I wouldn't expect toiletries though.

[SunshineChatter]

I am quite surprised at some of the 'items' listed here. Why would any holiday let owner NOT provide a shelf or somewhere to store toiletries for their guests? Where are you supposed to put them?

We had a unit built around the basin for that reason. We also added two shelves. And we were lucky because the bathroom already had a built in cupboard with shelves that we keep empty for guests.

Also, there must be enough space for everyone's toiletries. If you have two couples, you have four washbags plus at least two makeup bags, hair brushes, etc. One shelf wouldn't cut it IMO.

[AdelaidePlace]

Love the sofas sunshine ..which reminds me, I have an issue with brown sofas. I never book a let with a brown sofa!

Bizarre ..maybe? I think it just says 'dated' ( tho only got rid of mine two days ago😂) and makes me worry about what else is 'old'.😳

[woodhill]

I've still got mine and it's dated but I won't replace unless we move

[Pennantcottage]

We are in a popular coastal / seaside area in North Wales and I think our guests really appreciate our shed for wetsuits and bikes etc. Lots of useful comments on here, we gradually improve something every few months thinking carefully about changes. Yours looks lovely OP.

[SunshineChatter]

@AdelaidePlace It's not really brown. It's the mustard that's now everywhere coupled with teal. This picture shows the colour better.

@Pennantcottage I'd love to have the outside space for a shed to give to guests to use. Unfortunately with the dining area, the patio, the lawn and other bits, there really isn't a good spot for anything besides our shed, where we keep spare stuff, garden items, etc. It's really an ongoing project, having a holiday rental, isn't it?

[Jemenfouscompletement]

@SunshineChatter those sofa look lovely, but is it completely washable (i.e. removable covers for all of it?) I wouldn't dare put anything which didn't have removable covers in my holiday lets, especially after the charming family who let their toddler eat all their meals (and a lot of yogurt) whilst sitting on my sofas.

[SunshineChatter]

@Jemenfouscompletement the mustard one is, the blue one isn't. We have covers for guests with dogs.

And why do parents let kids eat on the sofas if they are messy, when they're not at home????

[SilenceOfThePrams]

An empty cupboard for food.

Empty sockets, especially in the bedrooms and reachable from the bed. Not just phone chargers but lots of people on cpap or similar overnight.

Dishwasher and washing machine. Hand soap in every bathroom and at least a little washing up liquid in the kitchen.

Bedding And towels.

Inessential but useful and appreciated in the place where we stay most often:

Tinfoil and cling film in a drawer.
Salt pepper and cooking oil
Recommendations for local pubs and eateries and opening hours of local shop.

Gardener in the afternoon would be a mild irritation but not massive inconvenience. Wouldn’t want lawn mower in the morning though. Definitely wouldn’t want window cleaner at any point! And whilst having contact details is important, and a single “hope everything is ok, please let us know if we can help you with anything” is appreciated, peaceful enjoyment of the place is more important after that. Don’t be like one cottage owner we had who “popped in” every day to just adjust the dresser or polish the brasses or check the squeaky door, and then turned up an hour before we had to be out and just sat in the middle of the cottage, I assume to make sure we left with everything of hers and nothing of ours!

Oh - I recognise bin day is bin day and can’t be changed. But if your previous week’s guests have filled the recycling to overflowing with glass bottles, maybe pay your cleaners to take some away so I have space for mine?

Definitely need warning if no mobile signal in house.

[AdelaidePlace]

Sorry sunshine brown wasn't a reference to your sofas, yours are gorgeous.

[Blossomgate]

Great taste Sunshine, this is a photo from a local interiors shop...

www.facebook.com/thecastlehome/photos/a.1793395367617132/2444836765806319/?type=3&theater

[Namechangr9000]

Sharp knives, a potato peeler, a full length mirror (hopefully in all bedrooms)
Self explanatory items so that there isnt an endless list of instructions!!

[SunshineChatter]

@Blossomgate CHeck me out! Interior designer too now ;-)

@Namechangr9000 We have the lot. Because it's an old cottage we didn't want to drill unnecessarily into the walls (lath and plaster) so each room has a cheval mirror as in the picture.