Want to rent a holiday apartment summer 2013- where to begin?!?

[milk]

I know I want to rent a holiday home in the UK in Summer 2013, but I don't know how to arrange this.

Can anyone recommend any good websites?

TIA :)

and where should we go?

I think first you need to work out where you want to go as there are specialist regional websites as well as general websites. As a landlord of a holiday flat the details will start to be put together in August, but marketing for 2013 won't really start until September and October. So you have a little time to think about where you want to go.
Maybe if you post some details of what you would like from a holiday we can make some suggestions of where might fill your requirements.

My requirements (thank you Lizcat :) ):

• Not too far away from London
• Sandy Beach
• Fun attractions for 2.5yo and a 1yo, such as Aquarium

Try www.airbnb.co.uk - used this to book a studio flat in NYC but there's lots cropping up over the UK and they can be really reasonably priced. We booked a gite in France via www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk - seem good too.

Isle of Wight easily satisfies requirements (though I am biased). No Aquarium though lots of other lovely attractions.

We've used blue chip before. Very very nice apartments / cottages to a high spec. We stayed in Newquay and Dawlish and enjoyed every minute.

blue chip

we have used awaywiththekids visitcornwall and lastminute-cottages. agree that first you need to decide which exact area you want. if you want to be near London then you wont be near the sea generally!

I would definately recommend looking on owners direct - you get to book direct with the owners and they tend to be people that really care out their house / apartment etc., there are hundreds of agencies out there, who book out owners cottages and charge a premium ... in my experience they are not so well looked after as those managed by actual owners.

Hmmmm, Eastbourne is close to London and has plenty of things to do and local attractions with beaches. There are two aquariums, BUT... both are in towns either side, ie Hastings and Brighton, which may make a nice day trip, as Eastbourne will likely be cheaper than Brighton as far as accommodation goes.

There is a miniature steam railway in Eastbourne which your kids would love. Id decide where you're going first, then check out websites for holiday apartment accommodation afterwards. Maybe check out the things to do in Eastbourne section on www.eastbourneguide.com - PS, the beaches are award winning, but not sandy, rather pebbled. Brighton and Hastings are the same, but all three are more or less directly south of london!