Calling parents and self catering fans: your must haves please!

[Dexy007]

Hi

We plan to invest in a second home / holiday let on the beach (3 hours south of Sydney in Huskisson) this year.

We are big fans of air b n b holidays (just us two or with friends) so have a fair idea of what appeals, amenities and decor wise, but some outside perspectives would be great. Especially from parents as we don't have kids but are hoping to invest in a 3/4 bed place, so likely to appeal to families with kids.

What are your must haves? What are your bugbears? What would make you recommend to friends or rebook for next year?

We are planning that it will be dog friendly too (fenced yard).

Please assume the finances and logistics (agent / bookings) are in hand - just grateful to hear about facilities and practical tips.

Thank you in advance 🙂

We go self-catering in Spain every year and then spend the rest of the time eating out in the evening and sometimes at lunch time.
We tend to do a tomato, onion, olive oil and crusty bread breakfast

Things I bring myself, a sharp knife for aforementioned tomatoes and onions.

Extra roll of toilet paper.

A plastic Chinese container with a handful of dishwasher tablets in it, ditto washing powder. This isn't about penny pinching but I firmly believe that when you go into a foreign supermarket you should be looking at all the different foodstuffs and not have to visit the aisle of drudgery.

What I would expect

Rubber gloves
Crockery sets that look like they are related.
Robust glasses for taking outdoors, no IKEA Belgian lace shite that breaks if you look at it.

Bin liners on a roll, not just one or two.

Washing up liquid not just some scraps at the bottom of a bottle.

Towels lots of towels, our last hire had lovely towels to start with and a note that said if you wanted to break into the back up towels you were welcome but they were older than the ones on offer.

More than one corkscrew.

Will come back to this.

Small library of books.

Agree oven glove and most definitely hair dryer.

Two sets of keys, so people can go off and do their own things.

If you make it wheelchair/ impaired mobility friendly (and please do! disabled people need holidays too!), it would be good to measure the width of all doorways and passageways, and put the smallest clearance and where it goes to on your web page. That way people can see whether it's a place that's accessible for their particular mobility aid. Yes to what a PP said about pushing a large box around to check for unnoticed steps or bumps, just the other day I went to a tourist attraction advertised as "wheelchair friendly" which was actually full of small steps.

I wouldn't stay in a dog friendly place as they always end up with a whiff of dog! Also people have allergies.

A dishwasher and washing machine is great to have, also somewhere to hang the washing. When you have kids it is great to get stuff washed.

Tennis balls can be toys for all ages

I love a good folder with info about the house, nearest shops, attractions, picnic places etc... As well as information about the house and operating manuals for electric goods. It saves so much hassle when you can just grab a leaflet and go out for the day (and these need to be the most recent ones).

Separate curtains and blackout blinds, I hate it when it's just blackout curtains and the only options are blacked out or open, I like thinner curtains that let light in gradually.

Highchairs, stairgates etc all stashed away for lets to families with older children but not taking up all the available storage space.

Storage space for outdoor gear.

Table and chairs for outside eating, some shade.

Washing machine and drying facility.

Not bunk beds in case 2 adults share that room or an adult & child!

No feathers in pillows or duvets. I know people consider them a luxury but on behalf of all allergy sufferers i beg you not to subject us to a week of wheezing and sneezing!!

Zip and link beds so each bedroom can be a king size or two twins gives you the most flexibility. Would also offer folding extra beds so that extra kids can be squeezed into rooms as well (just make sure you are clear they arent proper beds and likely wouldnt be completely comfortable for an adult)

White linens - means you know they are clean
Somewhere in the bathroom to put your toiletries
Somewhere in the bathroom that extra towels are kept so they dont all have to be on a towel rail all the time

No mould in shower grout

Light bright rooms

Not gravel as the main surface in the garden (tough on paws and knees).

Washing machine, dishwasher, tumble drier is useful with small DC if there’s space. The kitchen needs at least double the number of plates, glasses, cutlery etc as there are beds so you’re not constantly bloody washing up. I hate it when you go to a 6 person house and there’s 6 plates, 6 mugs etc.

A spare loo is good.

Zip and link beds are brilliant and will stop you losing business from people who don’t want 2 twin bedrooms.

Factor in leaving the basics like hand soap, dishwasher tablets, some washing powder, spare loo rolls, kitchen roll, a new kitchen cloth etc (have stayed in places that leave the last one )for each set of guests. It’s good to have oil, S&P, foil too.

Agree I wouldn't go somewhere specifically listed as dog friendly. Smell, potential poop not picked up etc. It may be wiser to leave that off the listing but allow it if people specifically asked.

Oh and proper mugs not the rubbish you get with Easter eggs or ‘best gran’ type tat you’ve clearly just checked out of your own house.

Outdoor furniture, nothing worse than it being a lovely day and you can't sit out in the garden!
Hooks or rails for towels and a shaving mirror in the bathrooms.

Cheap poly cotton bedding.

Somewhere next to each bed to have a light for reading and to put glasses - the number of holiday places we've rejected that either don't have this or have 'arty' photos so you can't tell!

Decent lighting in bathroom - and somewhere to plug in shaver and electric toothbrush.

Pics of any stairs etc and availability of stair gates.

Good pics of bedrooms eg we needed kid room to have a bed against a wall and brought a bed rail for the other side but so hard to tell from pics!

Dishwasher

Fenced outside space with somewhere to hang washing. And maintain it - our last holiday cottage before Covid had a lovely enclosed garden but the lawn was full of thistles so couldn't let DD play there!

My wish list - I love a self-catering holiday!
Agree with a supply of dishwasher and washing machine detergent. And dish soap and sponge AND dish brush.
Reasonable supply of toilet paper and bathroom soap
Plenty of tea towels and bath and swimming towels
Broom / dust pan and brush / mop and bucket
Decent BBQ tongs and a supply of charcoal and fire lighters
Plenty of serving dishes for salad, bbq etc
Good cooker and oven (with clear instructions!)
Best quality you can afford mattresses and pillows (with spare pillows of varying thickness/ softness, and blankets in a cupboard)
If you’re near the beach - an outdoor shower is good, as is somewhere to hang wet beach things
Agree with comfy outdoor furniture
And a shelf of books and games

It's a lovely place to go on holiday!! I feel I should be there now!!

Other than what I'd look for as an adult anyway & you seem to have that 'in hand' I'd say sofa covers (especially if you're going for a light colour). No matter how careful you are, it's a night mare as a guest with kids/dogs if the sofa is white.

A ver basic, not fussy, high chair (or 2) (look at the dirt cheap ikea one online, even if you can't get it there)

Decent cot (or2), not just a travel cot as most toddlers settle better in a proper cot (if they don't regularly use a travel cot). I'd buy mattresses/linen for them, but also provide the measurements should they wish to bring their own.

Child seat for the toilet & a step. (Seat can just be a cheap unfixed one - no need to be an expensive fixed one)

Plastic/melamine bowls/plates etc

Lots of things can be brought IF they're driving, but places that have 'stuff'
Are more appealing so you don't need to pack the whole house up!!

Paddling pool for the days they want to stay 'home' & relax.

Then just add bits as people suggest/ask for really.

Decent WiFi covering the whole house.

Wouldn't stay anywhere without a dishwasher.

Decent sofas!

Champagne flutes please. I don't want to drink my fizz out of a wine glass.

Thank you everyone this is so helpful!

I know dogs are divisive but this is Australia so dogs are more welcome than kids 🤣.

I will research zip / link. Not sure I've ever had this other than in a hotel so not sure how economical it is.

Easily moved kid's bed, so you can have toddler in with mum and dad or three kids in the twin room
Dishwasher
Somewhere to dry swimwear etc
Safe garden to play in
Somewhere indoors to play if weather bad
Bath
Kids plates, cups etc
Bed rails to borrow
More than one tea towel
No breakable ornaments
Accept food deliveries and put them in the fridge etc for when I arrive
Parking that I can get kids safely to and from
Privacy- no overfriendly owners popping round or sitting in the garden staring into the neighbours kitchen

Blackout blinds.

Plenty of glasses - there are never enough. Kids drink a lot.

Hooks for coats
Make sure any blinds are child-safe e.g. any chain is a break-easy one and fixed to the wall
Glasses large enough for a decent drink of water i.e. at least half a pint
A few buckets and spades
Shade sail, awning or decent sized umbrella
Footbath by beach-side door for rinsing sandy feet
Binoculars (and book of local wildlife to spot)
Smart speaker
Plastic food boxes with lids for storing leftovers
Enough cupboard space for storing food for the week i.e. not just for crockery etc.
Spare bulbs, batteries for remotes and screwdriver to get into battery compartments
A decent sized, sturdy table that will cope with teenagers leaning on it to play competitive board games as well as being used for family dining

A life belt/ring is provided at the beach house we rent each year as the highest tides come close to the house.

If it’s 4 bedroom and you’re advertising it for 8 people, make sure you have 8 dining chairs and 8 comfy spots not just one squashy settee.

Ditto pots and pans enough to cook for 8 and at least 8 place settings.

We only holiday in places with dishwasher and washing machine. Don’t care what size or anything fancy but need to be able to wash clothes and do t want to spend hours at the sink.

Fenced garden good. If catering for children something like swing ball, skittles, or other garden games handy. Also stand for disposable bbq.

A bit of freezer space.

Our favourite SC place has a link to a local fancy ready meals place and you can pre order cooked meals which will be waiting in the freezer for you. That’s proper luxury! Can also preorder basic groceries. Inflated prices but entirely optional and I like it.

Stack of tea towels definitely. And a washing line or clothes horse.

Twin beds not bunks here. And consider having a rollaway bed or z bed type thing. Not to cram extras in but so that people can for eg bring a child into their bedroom or put three children in one room and give the single adult a room without children.

And a list of local attractions, local takeaways and restaurants, local grocery/chemist/emergency dr type thing. Up to date not seven years old and curry stained!

Actually I really like a decent guest book, one where past guests have been encouraged to recommend various local things

Coat hooks. Some places I've stayed we end up hanging wet coats over chairs to dry. Likewise for the back of the bathroom and bedroom doors for towels and bathrobes.

List of takeaway restaurants that deliver.
Mugs. I hate tiddly little teacups.

circulate the inventory of kitchen stuff on booking. - Much easier if people know what extra stuff they need to pack
supermarket delivery slot booked so guests can simply add the stuff they need
moveable bedding as said up thread
hotel style dressing gowns and slippers