What would you expect in a luxury holiday cottage in Cornwall?

[Alamindah]

We are building an environmentally friendly holiday cottage on the north coast of Cornwall and deciding what equipment should go in there, and wondered what you would expect to see if you were visiting. It will have 4 double bedrooms (with zip and link beds, so that they can be doubles or singles), 3 bathrooms, a large kitchen/diner, a large living room, utility room, patio, roof terrace and small garden. We will provide a washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, double oven, 5 ring hob, microwave, kettle, toaster, smart TV, soundbar, American style fridge freezer, wine fridge, DVD player, PS4, wireless speakers, barbecue, garden games, outside shower, books, games, DVDs.

Is there anything which you would expect? We have decided not to have a hot tub, for environmental reasons! Would you expect there to be two dishwashers? Would you want a Nespresso machine? Or would a cafetière suffice? Would you expect the fridge to dispense cold water and ice. Would you want the PS4 in the living room or a separate room (ie one of the bedrooms)? Would you expect a PS4, or do you think this is not necessary on holiday?

I had a very well equipped holiday cottage. I was accused (in the comments book) of it having too many gadgets!

You can’t please everyone all of the time.

Think about why people are going to rent from you. For the walks and scenery? Then no PS4! Think classy. Board games and books for rainy days. WiFi is a must these days. I supplied art materials and they went down well. Be prepared for consumable stuff to go missing though.

Outdoor warm shower area for wetsuits if its walking distance to the beach.

Check out the Cornish gems website
Some great properties on there which will give you an idea of the kind of standard required

Nespresso pods can be recycled, they’re not environmentally unfriendly.

I just assumed you’d have WIFI that’s an absolute MUST as is non smoking.

Plus as someone else said torches. Candles, matches, spare light bulbs etc

When are you taking bookings....?🤣

A really lovely "nook" in the garden with a comfy place to read so a swing chair, hammock, or similar with cushions and somewhere for your glass. Something really sumptuous and squishy comfy, sun or shade to choose, easy access to cold drinks (fridge in nearby shed? Something eco with a hole and a pulley to pull chilling drinks up?).

Why the anti PS4 snobbery? Its not compulsory to use it . Many families with teens would be very grateful on a wet weekend. Must have good WiFi and preferably a decent smart TV (which again would not be compulsory to watch )

Decent Wifi!

Really nice toiletries in the bathrooms think cowshed type things.

Welcome hamper nice idea too.

Also things for young kids so plastic cutlery, bottle steriliser, travel cot, high chair etc. You have so much crap to take with young kids things like that are ideal.

Also a really good guidebook with local places to eat etc

Decent fluffy towels
Separate beach towels that can be used outside
No pod espresso machine (don’t like them) and 1 dishwasher is good.
No PS4 for me. I would like DVD’s and books though. And an iPod docking station or prob better - a bluetooth speaker so it’s not iPod specific.
I’d want a bbq
Some means to dry clothes outside (yes I know there’s a tumble drier but that’s my preference and if you’re selling this as an eco place then think eco)
Assorted duvets or those ones that clip together - OH and I usually swelter under what’s provided but get too cold if we try to sleep without it.
Cleaning stuff - mop, sweeping brushes, enough cloths to use one for wiping dirty stuff (like bird poo from an outside table- often you’re only provided with one cloth and it’s a pain)
If providing a cot then provide a separate mattress, mattress protectors and sheets (plural in case of accidents!)
Then a luxury box of stuff on arrival. Milk, tea bags, coffee for the cafetière. If you want to impress me buy organic milk. As it’s cornwall then scones / cream / jam would be nice. Leave enough dishwasher tablets, rinse aid and salt - the amount of places I’ve been to that don’t buy rinse aid and salt and the dishwashers don’t work properly then I have to buy it to sort it out. Washing powder and conditioner would be nice.
I don’t expect toiletries (though they’re always appreciated) but do expect soap at the sinks.

OP I think you need someone to try this place out for you and give detailed feedback. I’ll volunteer out of the goodness of my heart.

Oh yes if it’s a smart tv then ignore the dvd request

When we rent cottages the most important things to us are WIFI (kids) but I would not want PS4 etc, and having little extras provided - soaps, shower gel, shampoo, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, cleaning products and ours normally give tea, coffee, hot choc, milk, a big box of chocolate and / or wine - we prefer chocolates with the kids. I've seen ones abroad where they provide first day breakfast in the fridge - either English breakfast ingredients or you could do a fruit bowl / continental. I also love that ours over Christmas had Christmas decorations.

Only one dishwasher, would use toaster, hairdryer, lots of plates and cutlery, might use BBQ, microwave, towels though best to say before people arrive what's there.

Oh and just to add I love an ice dispenser!

And good WiFi...

Decent glasses! Have spent many summers at holiday cottages and they always lack decent sturdy large wine glasses and separate glasses for fizz. I don’t want to drink fizz out of a tiny wine glass! Also - decent sharp knives.

For me one of the most important things is a well stocked kitchen in terms of cooking equipment, crockery, cutlery etc. I hat.e it when you only get 4 of everything (plates, bowls etc) so have to wash up immediately after every meal or put the dishwasher on half empty.

Plenty of pans of different sizes, baking trays, a blender etc

Go to a charity shop and buy a bunch of books to start a swap shelf, always love those.

Board games and garden games

Plenty of baby stuff - high chair, stair gates, travel cot, plastic plates, cups etc (or stainless steel / bamboo to be more environmentally friendly)

Gas BBQ with nice outdoor seating area

And yes definitely good glasses. Not those horrid little wine ones you only get a thimble of wine in

Not a cafetière or a Nespresso, but a proper coffee machine that takes grounds, like a DeLonghi one. Cafetières are a pain to clean and awkward if you only want one cup.

I’d skip the DVD player as everyone is digital. And the wine fridge too.

You need to replace towels and bedding frequently. I dont care if it was a luxury brand when it was bought if its been boiled washed 100 times.

I'm sure it's environmentally unfriendly but we stayed in an amazing place in Cornwall with an Aga. I spent the whole week cooking on it. I loved it so much!

Otherwise, agree a PS4 hidden in a cupboard (in case of terrible weather!) would be awesome, board games, ditto decent wifi and maybe Netflix.

Definitely a lovely welcome hamper - with cafetiere coffee if that's what you're leaving them to use, and a big farm shop home made style cake.

Enough plates / spoons etc for the number of people (so if you've got eight people potentially staying in the rooms plus a cot or two then ten sets of everything).

We're just back from a cottage where it was ok but not luxury like one of our favourites. The things that made a difference in the ones we really love are the light and decor (prefer neutral and non chintzy, and spotlessly clean furniture too), good WiFi (good enough for streaming, so min 5meg, no download limit), plenty of nice matching crockery and cutlery, enough pans for a fry up, perhaps a BBQ, definitely a dishwasher (a must, I don't want to be washing up if I don't have to) and consumables in the kitchen so we don't have to buy them (I'm not bothered about salt and pepper etc, but being provided dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, tin foil, cling film, bin liners is lovely). Also a bathroom with a bath and a shower is lovely, and plenty of space in the cottage to hang up coats and outdoor clothes when wet is always good.

Some places we've been have had a communal outbuilding with beach equipment, books and DVDs to borrow and a freezer with local ice-cream to buy and occasionally local curry too. Games room and field for our kids to run around is always brilliant too. We prefer places with a communal pool too (but I'm assuming you've not got a pool).

Finally, in the cottage we've rented and loved we've been given a welcome cream tea, a bottle of wine and pint of milk in the fridge, and tea bags, so that we can have a brew whilst we wait for the online food shop to arrive (it's essential to me that supermarkets deliver to any cottage we rent, I'm not traipsing round Tesco either).

A decent mattress, good quality bed linen, duvets and pillows. One cottage provided us with towelling bath robes which was nice. A cafetiere would be fine. A generous welcome pack impresses me.
Oh and a decent vacuum cleaner, I hate trying to get dog hair or sand up with a frigging Henry!!
However for us a good location is the most important thing, we would rather stay in a decent place in a lovely beachside position than a more luxurious place with a drive to get anywhere.

Bean to cup rather than pod coffee
Lots of kitchen equipment grater corkscrew bottle stopper big casserole/serving dishes lots of crockery/cutlery/serving spoons and utensils
Welcome pack with lovely local produce
Kitchen basics herbs seasonings oil vinegar etc
Dishwasher tablets
Lots of towels dish cloths tea towels oven gloves
Basics for cleaning
Spotlessly clean and nothing chipped or damaged
Good Wi-Fi and internet telly for wet days I wouldn't mind a console
Will probably think of lots more later

Whatever you decide on, try to make sure that it's all detailed to customers before arrival - it's annoying and to take lots of extras 'just in case', only to find that you needn't have bothered.

Good blinds/blackout curtains are essential. The light on the north coast is amazing but not at 4am.....

Bottle warmer, travel cot, high chair. A little hamper like the previous poster wrote with tea coffee sugar milk, whilst waiting for the online shopping to come I love a brew.
I always think roll top baths and walk in showers feel luxurious to me as well as big fluffy white dressing gowns