What do you like about a holiday cottage?

[Karwomannghia]

My mum has asked me to help her update her holiday cottage as she’s not letting it this season. The main thing is to get a bigger tv with freeview but does anyone have experience of what makes a good tv? Is it possible for people to login to their own Netflix accounts for example?
Also what else do you really like about a cottage? I’ve mentioned having good blinds/curtains to block out the light. It’s a house with a double in one room and bunk beds in another.
I’m staying in it and will point out things to improve but anything to look out for appreciated!

I've recently been looking at booking a holiday cottage. Chintzy decor was the first thing that put me off! I wouldn't want anywhere with a dated kitchen or bathroom either.

Can you improve the bedrooms? A king or zip and link would be better than a double and twin beds would be better than bunks.

I assume there WiFi? As for for the TV, you just need a Smart TV, then ppl can use their own Netflix accounts.

We're in a holiday cottage at the minute!
So good wifi with a teen is a must, cafetiere,nice bedding. If there is an outdoor space , a table and comfy outdoor chairs.

Enough dining chairs and comfy chairs for all those staying.

More than one cup/bowl/plate per person - ideally enough to fill the dishwasher.

Dishwasher and washing machine.

Comfy beds - ideally zip and link as above.

Clothes airer.

Easy to use cooker - I had to phone one owner to explain how to turn the oven on.

Ok great. Yes I agree re beds and my mum will be staying in the double (in bed a lot) so she’ll experience the comfort levels. The second bedroom is small but I’ll be in there with dd and would rather not do bunks myself so I’ll see if twin would fit somehow.
It’s a cottage down a footpath but maybe we could get flat pack ikea furntiture delivered.
Will check out the crockery and cutlery situation as I hate flimsy knives and chopping boards and pans etc.
The decor is plain light paint with nice paintings by a family artist (a good one!)
Thanks for the info about the TV. and yes there is WiFi which will be pushed to its limits when the older kids and dh arrive later!

Either choice of duvet or summer weight (4.5 tog) plus blankets

Variable lighting (including low bedside lamp so I can read whilst DH sleeps)

Lots of info and recommendations about things to do and places to eat

Info provided beforehand about what is provided so know whether to bring (eg kitchen rates roll, washing up liquid, soap)

What I would see as basic kitchen equipment such as chopping boards, cheese grater, decent knives, scissors, plenty of oven trays - have stayed in places without these but with electric mixer or rice cooker or fish kettle

WiFi, dishwasher, toaster, microwave, freezer, fan oven, washing machine

Preferably outside clothes line and pegs but as minimum airer and basket

Heated towel rail or lots of towels

Spare bedding in case of accidents

Games, DVDs, selection of books - we always bring our own but good to have something new to try or if run out

Ideally clean outdoor seating and table (not one that looks like been there 20 years and used as bird toilet)

Not lots of tat ornaments

Clean

A teapot. I’ve lost count of the amount of places without one. You can keep your fancy cafetière- I like my tea

Nice soft towels, bath sheets. I've stayed in more than one where the towels are small and look like they've been washed a million times!

Agree about dishwasher, washing machine and airer.

Proper sized mugs, not tiny little things that take about two mouthfuls.

Depending on if you want to let to kids, we've stayed in one with kids tableware and cutlery which was appreciated. It was all ikea stuff that we had at home.

Really comfortable beds and pillows. Ziplock twins are ideal. I can't believe how many holiday cottages I have to discount because all beds are doubles and DC obviously don't want to share a bed.
Daylight - too many are real damp and dingy inside. (I'm looking at you, Wales and Dorset)
No dusty twee clutter
Private outside space
DISHWASHER - why would I want to pay to go on holiday to do more skivvying than I do at home?
A welcome pack. It's amazing how this tiny extra makes such a difference. If you've been driving all day, not having to find a local shop for milk etc is so nice. Just bread, milk, butter, tea, coffee and juice is fine. But I love it when you walk in to an unexpected mini hamper.

This is really useful thank you.
Tiny back yard and aired etc but bench out front and sea views. It’s got a washer/dryer and dishwasher.

I second proper sized mugs
Bedside lights
Blackout curtains
Decent kitchen equipment
Plenty of t towels (one place I stayed in had brand new towels which weren’t absorbent as they hadn’t been washed)

Just generally not the cheapest of everything

My dh is tall - 6'3". When looking for accommodation, we automatically discount any where the bedstead of the main bed has an upstand at the end. So do lots of my friends who have tall DHS. This means we rule out lots and lots of lovely houses. I'm always amazed that people who rent out houses don't seem to think about such an obvious thing.

Somewhere to hang wet coats.
Shoe rack.
A hook on the back of the bedroom door for a bathrobe/dressing gown.
A decent sized waste bin.

Decent quality pillows.

Good beds
Parking
Welcome tray
Couldn't give two hoots about the TV
But yes to excellent Wi-Fi and also USB charging points

I filter by:
Dishwasher
Bed size. Would only book a double bed if there is another bed spare..at least a king for 2 adults. Bunk beds ok, but twins much better.
Tv
Wi fi

And yes to spare sheets. Some owners are so tight. Duvets usually too hot, I've started taking my own..

The sofa is always the clincher for me. I do not want to rest my rear on the owner's old black/red leather sofa covered in blankets because it is worn, nor an upright armchair suited to a residential home.

I always filter by DW and washing machine then discard the chintzy/red/black leather living rooms.

Yes to an arrival pack. Last cottage we stayed in had brown and white bread, butter, preserves, milk and cereal plus they gave us a bottle of wine when we picked up the key.

And yes to decent sized towels.

Looking at the pictures the double bed doesn’t have an end.
In the small bedroom there’s an old feature fireplace which looks nice but I guess could be removed and plastered over to have twin beds against either wall with a gap between but i think it might leave no room for drawers etc. Will check that out.

It has a parking space which is hugely expensive in the car park at the end of the lane. So I know that’s a winner and can’t wait to have it!

Good mattress. Good sofa

If there is a fire. Fuel and instructions

Good Coffee making facilities

Nice bedding and towels.

WiFi

Clean (mist important). I do t care much about decor but clean is a must!!

Good safe order. I've stayed in two that were shocking. Rusty shit in garden Filthy kitchens etc.

A lot depends on the price and location. You do get what you pay for.

Really good beds, pillows, etc, space, quality furniture and equipment cost both to maintain and replace.

Regrettably holiday let's are not as well cared for by renters as long term lets. Anything extra, ie, spare pillows and sheets, move. Do not speak to me about sand in the washing machine/tumble dryer.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned op is a good shower.

Wifi
Good pillows (Dunlopillo type!)
Bedside lights
Easy to use cooker
Kitchen to have a jug, bowl, tongs, large pint sized glasses and cheese grater.
Decent size telly

Blackout blinds/curtains are a must. We've stayed in some amazing places, but completely spoilt by flimsy curtains so woken up at sunrise every day.

A beach cottage had a cupboard full of buckets and spades, body boards, deckchairs, balls etc that was a really welcomed extra and saved us a fortune.

Some daft things really - a bucket. (DD had travel sickness and the first night often needed the reassurance of a bucket - we took one with us in later holidays because we knew there would not always be one there)

and a dustpan and brush - when you are at the beach all day a bit of sand gets brought in, nice to be able to clear it up.

Decent pillows with pillow protectors under the pillowcase. Not feather for me.

Good WiFi, a Washing machine - we don’t need a dishwasher for two people but that’s usually what’s on offer. A good set of cooking utensils and some baking trays. We usually go for two weeks and have started asking for clean sheets and towels in the middle of the holiday. DVD player is nice too. Plastic storage boxes - cheap ones will do and a couple of bowls suitable for salads as well as a fruit bowl. A cafetière is much appreciated. An iron and an ironing board. And I thought I wasn’t fussy!