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 🙂

Second decent knives and a decent garlic press! We've started taking our own knives and garlic presses away with us.

Don't put the heating to 22 degrees and then lock it off so it can't be changed. Last place we were at did this and it was unbearably hot at night. I understand why the heating is locked off, but put it at a normal temperature or even a bit chilly and provide blankets.

Agree re oven gloves.

If you are going to provide a wood burner or a BBQ then please leave a starter kit of wood or charcoal and appropriate tools. Stayed in one recently and they provided a wood burner but no tool or fireproof glove to open the door and top up the wood, ended up having to use a metal spatula from the kitchen to sort of wiggle the door open.

Soft quilt covers that don't crinkle and crackle like a crisp packet with every movement.

Best place we stayed in had a heated towel rail in the little laundry room with a shoe rack attached for drying out walking boots after a wet walk.

Decent knives and cutlery, non glass chopping boards, tea towels

High speed internet that covers the whole property is a must these days. Far too many holiday homes are still trying to get away with slow broadband that only covers the main living areas.

If you're going to provide a gaming console, ensure that you provide some games and check they don't go missing. Nothing worse for children to get excited at seeing a PS2 or Wii only to find the games cases are empty!

Instead of double beds or bunk beds, use zip & link, to provide choice for your guests as to whether they want a double bed or two singles in each bedroom. That gives maximum flexibility.

@LadyFlumpalot

Don't put the heating to 22 degrees and then lock it off so it can't be changed. Last place we were at did this and it was unbearably hot at night. I understand why the heating is locked off, but put it at a normal temperature or even a bit chilly and provide blankets.

We've stayed in a couple of homes where they had a locked plastic box over the control panel to stop people turning it on or off or messing with the timer, but it had a slot where you could put your finger in just far enough to turn the dial for temperature. They're a brilliant invention to provide flexibility re temperature without fouling up the settings.

Adult beds without bed ends on them. Many seem to go for lovely bed heads and ends which is great unless you're over 6 foot, in which case it's hideously annoying to wake yourself up every 20 minutes by kicking the end or unable to stretch out fully when in bed. Additionally, if you're a clutz like me, you kick them in the night and break toes.

@Kite22

I agree with the Inventory being visible.

People will always disagree on these threads about what is / isn't important, but I think the key when you are self catering is knowing what is, or isn't there, and then you can either bring it with you or, if that important, not go.
So many things always get suggested that are WAY beyond my expectations, or even that I really wouldn't want, but presumably all the more and more demands people make, add to the cost, and there are a lot of people - particularly young families wanting a beach holiday - that would genuinely prefer a slightly lower price for the week, than any fancy extras you might offer.

Fully agree. I'm happy to take some things of my own but I'd like to know exactly what is provided and what isn't, so I don't have to second guess and end up packing loads of things I don't need.

A full inventory is pretty essential really, as are lots of pictures showing what's in each room in the way of furniture, F&F, TVs, etc.

We were once caught out at one place that didn't have any baking trays at all, not even a grill pan. What's the point in providing an oven if there's nothing to cook your food on. Since then, I've started taking my own pizza tray which can double up for other things.

@KiloWhat

Re travelcots: as parents do you expect to bring the mattress and bedding or just the latter (or neither!) I expect to bring bedding and there be a mattress and sheet there but I always check. So I'd just make clear in the listing what is provided and the size of the mattress. I usually bring my own sheets.

Agreed - I'd expect there to be a mattress. Fine to get people to bring their own bedding but useful to know what size the mattress is as they are very much not all the same! Changing mat and high chair are also good things not or have to bring.

Baby proofed! Furniture without lethal sharp edges. No low down cupboards full of breakable stuff. No exposed wires that they can pull out and break something important.

Proper curtains/blinds to keep out the sun at nap time.

Fenced garden with no water features.

Bedrooms away from kitchen/living room. No bunk beds (or at least a removable ladder).

Some sort of way to make proper coffee ie not instant coffee. So a cafetiere or a filter machine or a pod machine if you're feeling fancy. I wouldn't really mind which as long as there was one option!

Instructions for how to work the heating

WiFi is a must these days.

Be up front if the mobile signal is awful on any of the major networks. At least then people know.

Adult beds without bed ends on them. Many seem to go for lovely bed heads and ends which is great unless you're over 6 foot, in which case it's hideously annoying to wake yourself up every 20 minutes by kicking the end or unable to stretch out fully when in bed

I can’t believe I forgot this one! DH is tall, our bed at home is 220cm long, and anywhere that doesn’t have a king sized bed without a footboard of any kind is an instant no.

Other thing is hot water needs to be enough and for it to be clear what people need to do to ensure that everyone can shower

@ISaidDontLickTheBin

Some sort of way to make proper coffee ie not instant coffee. So a cafetiere or a filter machine or a pod machine if you're feeling fancy. I wouldn't really mind which as long as there was one option!

Instructions for how to work the heating

WiFi is a must these days.

Be up front if the mobile signal is awful on any of the major networks. At least then people know.

By the same token, a "proper" kettle so that you can make instant coffee or tea. We've stayed in some with all singing-all dancing coffee makers with pods etc., but no way of actually producing any boiling drinking water to make something simpler. Had to resort to boiling a pan of water on the hob!

Wow this is terrific.

There is a property we have our eye on and the key way in which it doesn't fit the brief people are looking for is dressing room type facilities per room. But bathrooms in Aus have plugs (not just shaver pins) and I'll make sure there's at least a full length mirror in each bedroom near a plug for hair styling.

A proper laundry room is also a must in Aussie homes (even one bed apartments!) so I think we will limit the excess bedding and towels a bit - one spare set is great or accidents, spilt coffee or juice, but if people want to launder or have a mid week refresh there will be a WM tumbler and whirly gig there!

We go away with our dog, so our must haves are safe enclosed yard and preferably somewhere we can step straight outside into a lovely walk eg surrounded by fields, woodland. We live surrounded by fields so we are used to this lifestyle. Quiet area, preferably with beautiful scenery and few neighbours.
For the property itself, I like it to be as nice, or nicer than our own home. Nothing fancy but homely and comfy. Good comfy mattress. DH would insist on decent WiFi, though I don’t care. I like to cook, albeit simply while away so decent variety of kitchen stuff eg sharp knives, oven dishes, pans etc. Nothing worse than going to make a meal and finding that I can’t because they haven’t provided a sieve/ knife to chop veg/ oven dish etc. Definitely a toaster and decent kettle.
Wooden floors, if poss for dog, or at least no white/ cream carpets etc. So often I’ve seen beautiful dog friendly cottages with pristine white carpets and I look elsewhere because I’m scared of dirtying them! And I agree with PP that dogs must be allowed in bedroom. Our old boy is deaf and very anxious if left alone in unfamiliar places. Several times we have only been told they have to stay downstairs, once we’ve already arrived. To me a place with lots of rules for dogs isn’t particularly dog-friendly, though we wouldn’t let him up onto the furniture as I think that’s basic manners (though he does at home).
Nice extras include a log burner and firewood, bookcase filled with an assortment of books and maybe a few games to play (not just for kids, but adult games too).

Hate it when cots don't have bedding - if every other bed in the place has sheets, why can't the baby have one?!

Drying rack for laundry if no dryer

Bath toys for kids is a really nice touch as we never pack them but the kids enjoy having them

Sand toys if you're on the beach

Water proof cover for mattress on kids bed

I don’t know if you have them in Aus but here we’ve got washable duvets that don’t need covers. Great for kids beds.

An enclosed outdoor space
Bedside lamps