Holiday homes - tell me about your loves & hates

[gizmo]

Hello all!

So I'm in the middle of refurbishing my parent's old house for holiday lettings and I've just come across a slightly old thread (2009?) with mumsnetter's thoughts on the perfect holiday cottage. Which is incredibly helpful but I wondered if times might have moved on since then.

We're looking at an old (1760) house which should sleep 10 (6 beds, 3 baths). If you were looking for a family holiday in North Yorkshire, what would sell a house to you?

So far I've got on my list:

• good equipment for babies/toddlers (proper cot, highchair, stairgates, some toys)
• good beds! Nice linens. And enough sofas/dining room furniture for all
• a well equipped kitchen (not just the appliances but all the right glassware, cookware etc)
• Fireplaces/log burners with fuel and guards
• Wifi - as fast as we can make it given it's rural North Yorkshire
• MUST BE CLEAN. Properly clean.

Things I'm not so sure about:

• the house in the middle of a Capability Brown park. I could let visitors in there but there is a stream (about 100 meters from the house). How do people feel about open water and children?
• dogs. There is a secure garden and it would be a good place for a doggy holiday. But would it put you off if you're not a dog lover and you know there have been dogs there?
• spares. Yes, to foil, bulbs, firelighters, washing machine detergent, dishwasher etc. Anything else?
• bathrooms. Two upstairs and one (shower room) downstairs. I have the option to put an extra WC in downstairs? What do people think?

So what's your best and worst experiences in self catering? And how can I do better? I'd be so grateful for any ideas....

Agree with cooking basics tho have never used balsamic in my life so not that! I just think don't throw away the salt, pepper, oil, unopened packet of pasta that each person leaves behind. It's really frustrating to do a supermarket shop on day one and to have to buy salt and pepper for the two or three meals you might make.

Also agree with thick curtains - I do not want to wake at sunrise.

Nice big dining table and enough chairs to accommodate the number of people you have beds for. Have had to supplement with garden chairs many times which is not great.

I don't care about cooking basics. If we rent in the UK, we take our own or buy stuff.

I would assume that a decent rental would have window dressings that block out light.

Last year, we rented an apartment on the beach in Bigbury, Devon. It was lovely and the owners left us flowers, chocs, wine and biscuits. It was a lovely touch but we used none of it - the cleanliness and high standard of facilities were more than enough. I think if you rent somewhere gorgeous you make an effort to leave it gleaming.

I'd much prefer little bars of soap to
liquid which I can't use because of my eczema.

Yes to salt, pepper, cooking oil and malt vinegar, but not olive or balsamic. Also a pint of milk in the fridge on arrival and a few teabags/small amount of coffee is much appreciated.

One lovely house we stayed at in Florida had a little request on the cupboard, along the lines of "if one of the household essentials is running low, please buy a new pack, and in return make use of all the other things provided". So we bought a large box of dishwasher tablets to leave there, but used the washing powder, salt, pepper, herbs, etc that were there. It seemed a nice system and worked well. Better suited to international travellers though.

I like to have a couple of board games and books to choose from. (Plus allowing a book swap if you havent finished the one you chose) Wouldnt bother with DVDs though, they'll walk.

Avoid things like art supplies as you'll have to replenish each week, and similarly avoid board games that wont function without that one essential counter that was lost under the sofa.

Agree that plain english instructions for everything are really helpful.

Keep the local recommendations up to date, and accurate! Ive found leaflets for things that closed three years earlier.

With regards dogs, suggest a bit of market research. What is available in the area? Is it good dog walking country? Do all the other cottages locally allow dogs? Do the dog free ones book up quicker?

Although i dont tend to watch tv on holiday, dont be tempted to go wifi free - it is essential to download local maps, check opening times of attractions etc etc.

Re cot bedding PLEASE supply fitted sheets, a large flat sheet won't do, neither will a towel which we've had for a travel cot sheet!
Were you thinking a proper cot? We generally cope with a travel cot. You're right that most people would bring grobags. But I think a few still use blankets for real tinies that can't roll over.

Right then, fitted cot sheets it will be. I'd rather provide a proper cot than a travel cot - it looks nicer and will take a cot top changer. And we've got room to store it if needed.

Wildfire, good point re the local details - I have been on holiday in a house that had details of an aquarium that had closed 3 years before. Let me tell you a day out on the west coast of Ireland in the pissing rain to see vacant fish tanks is not a holiday highlight.

You're right about the dog research. Thing is, it's a fabulous dog walking location - miles of great footpaths on the doorstep, secure garden, local pubs are dog friendly etc. I shall have to see how the competition does, I think.

Fabulous footpaths from the house will also appeal to walkers without dogs, particularly if there is a pub along the way.

Can I suggest that if your cottage sleeps 10 then your target market is going to be a couple of families or an extended family or a large group of friends wanting to stay, and the chances are that some of the party might have a dog?

Obviously I'm completely biased but I have 2 dogs and spend a lot of time trying to find cottages for us and friends, which take dogs and it is not easy, so I'm sure there must be enough places for dog avoiders! It may be purely anecdotal but larger self catering places seem less likely to take dogs. I agree about the 'dogs welcome' being much more likely to win me over than '1 small dog only, lots of extra money to take it etc'. I love tiled or wooden utility areas or porches so that I can keep the dogs in there when they're dirty (and my dogs stick to any rules of the house!).

Personally, I like homely holiday houses with lots of books and games, and not too bland and perfect. And things which just show a bit of generosity of spirit (eg; enough dishwasher tablets and loo roll, heating included etc)...

Keep us posted, if you go the doggy route, I'll be very interested in visiting!

Sounds a lovely location.

We've stayed in lots of houses over the years and the best include:

• really good mattresses
• good bedding and pillows, with extra blankets and throws
• washer and dryer
• shaving/toothbrush point in one bathroom
• hairdryer(s)
• clear instructions for all appliances
• Wifi
• proper sized pans and dishes
• dishwasher

For me, being able to wash and dry things on either a walking or a beach holiday is essential.

Dog friendly but I would expect dogs to be limited to certain areas.
I am disappointed if there are no books and games. One of the best we stayed in had a couple of nice cookery books- just for browsing.

Bathrooms are very important for me.

Bright clean and modern. No shower curtains - they are a horrible creation. They stick to you and will have done to everyone else that has used the shower.

Bedding as discussed before. I have stayed in supposedly luxury villas and had to sleep in nobbley sheets. (I always take a new pillow and case with me that I dispose of when I leave - I can't bear to sleep on communal pillows.)

A hamper of local produce would be nice.

- shaving/toothbrush point in one bathroom

Oh yes, we had to buy an adaptor plug to charge up our electric toothbrushes in our last cottage.

Why don't you take a look at your nearby competitors and see what their dogs policy is? it seems to me based on the comments here that it's split about 50/50 suggesting dog friendly vs dog free, so if you are not that bothered either way, offer what there is currently less of in your area. (Does that make sense? It's been a looooong day...!)

A powerful hairdryer with a socket near to a mirror, so you can see what you are doing when you are drying your hair
Proper fluffy bath sheets - not towels you can barely wrap around yourself
Heated towel rails that work independently of the central heating, so that towels can dry after use - I often end up putting them in the tumble dryer (if there is one) after I've had my shower, I hate using an already damp towel to dry myself
A good powerful shower and plenty of hot water
Sharp knives - though I always bring my own
Decent plump pillows - though I always bring these too
Spare light bulbs, toilet paper, dishwasher tablets etc
Wi fi is good for finding local restaurants, opening times of attractions, ferry times etc

I'd suggest the extra WC would be good.

We stayed in a lovely cottage where the owners left all the alcohol people had left there, so whisky, brandy etc.

Also self pepper etc was all available and left by people. But it was all clean and looked nice and useable. Stayed in another one that had done the same thing but hadn't cleaned them up..,,

A drying room for outdoor gear and boots.

I stayed in a holiday cottage last week. For us the missing things were -

• instructions! How does the heating work/the microwave/the washing machine. Yes I can google but I am on holiday! I never did find the bin cupboard key so had to leave a pile of rubbish for the cleaner (would have emptied bins otherwise). The heating also remained a bit of a mystery - always hot or cold.... This was a brand new flat with underfloor heating....
• I would like you to have stayed in it for one night. Then you would know the light comes through the inadequate blinds on to my side of the bed. And that the well stocked kitchen is full of useless stuff but no pot I can put in the oven. And that ALL the kitchen cupboard doors open the wrong way.
• I would also like the courtesy of some kind of satisfaction survey so I can tell you this so no one else has to put up with it.

Well we can run to the drying room/boot room area and also the shaver powerpoint so that's good. And the bathrooms (although not huge) are being refitted to avoid the dreaded shower curtain scenario.

Having looked at some of the local larger houses, there isn't much actually for the dog owners who want to visit the area. I also take the point that with a larger family group there may often be dogs in the extended family. On the subject of being welcoming to dogs - I'd like there to be some boundaries (dogs downstairs only, no dogs on furniture, dogs not to be left on their own unless in the kitchen). Do rules like that strike you as grudging or just sensible?

Over the years I have thought a lot about this, having stayed in many cottages! Right:

Bed must be at least as big as my king sized one at home.

Windows in bedrooms must have decent blinds / curtains. Amazing how many have flimsy ones which let in light. Disaster with young children in summer, but also not good for adults.

Coat hooks or a coat cupboard vaguely near the front door! Again, amazing how many don't have this!

Somewhere to put your wash bag in the bathroom. Eg a couple of little shelves. Absence of this annoys me! And somewhere to put your toothbrush / toothpaste.

Yy to enough cutlery and crockery that you don't have to wash up after each meal. Dishwasher pretty essential too.

Not that bothered about a tumble drier. Don't have one at home.

Wifi.

Some toys/ games for children is always brill for the novelty factor and to make them feel welcome. Don't supply art stuff. It will just get messed up after one stay.

ALL light bulbs working. Or at least some spares (but I would resent changing them).

Bedside lights! Please! So annoying when there aren't any. And a bedside table for my alarm clock/ lipsalve/ glasses. Again, really really annoying when you have to leave your glasses in the floor by the bed.

Stay in the place for a night and you'll quickly realise what's missing.

Clear instructions about what to do about the rubbish/ recycling.

Not too bothered by the dog thing, although would prefer no dogs.

Pint of milk in fridge.

No need to supply bedding for the cot. I wouldn't expect an actual cot - can't think of anywhere we've stayed that had an actual one, just a travel one.

Re sharp knives - why don't you supply a knife sharpener? Then people can sharpen their own knives. Blunt knives also a pet hate of ours.

List of local pubs and restaurants you recommend.

Tea towels. Annoying when there aren't any. Or there's just one for a week's stay.

The problem with your proposed dog rules is: what if the visiting dog has been used to going upstairs/ on furniture? Very hard to stop I imagine, and also impossible for you to police.

no dogs on furniture,

Dream on! Like I said, last 2 cottages we stayed in had smelly doggy sofas. If you allow dogs, get sofas and arm chairs with loose covers + spares and wash regularly. That may also help if you have (mild) dog allergy guests, as you'll have clean sets.

I think if you set rules, you should expect them to be broken. Many people don't think that rules apply to them...

It always amazes me when places sleep 10, to find that the bedrooms are twins rather than doubles. I get that you might want to be flexible, but surely if 10 people are booking it's probably two families, so you'd want at least two double rooms? So flexibility re zipping beds together would be a really good thing.

A washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher and microwave are essentials in the kitchen. And if you don't have wifi, I wouldn't book.

I hate, hate, hate it when people clean out what previous guests have left behind, so you have to start all over again. Dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, washing powder/tabs/fabric conditioner, flour, salt and pepper etc - no-one uses all of that during a week/fortnight's stay - so please don't tidy it all away.

I'd hate to stay in a place that accepts dogs. I'm sorry for all you dog owners, but dogs smell, and they tend to have fleas.

And if you're not near a shop, please make sure that the bare necessities are in place when your guests arrive - tea/coffee, milk, bread at the very least.

You could leave a loaf of sliced bread in the freezer with a note on the welcome letter telling guests its there & asking them to replace it if they use it.

I stay in houses regularly with 10. All of the a above plus fridge space. A standard domestic is not enough for a house that size.

Buy mases of sparechina cutlery etc at start of the year. In the bust bit you barely have time to clean never mind chase restocks. People will leave late regardless of checkout time, and often arrive early.

I'm deathly allergic to cats I would end up at a hospital if they had been in a holiday home. In fact, this happened in a B&B. The owner had never considered someone might have allergies. There was no mention of a house cat in the listing. I had to make a trip to the ER and then change to a different B&B. Very scary!
Dogs aren't as bad, but I'm still allergic.