Holiday Cottage owners and users

[81Byerley]

My husband and I are going to a holiday cottage in a few weeks, that we booked last December. I'm quite anxious about it and wondered what holiday cottage owners are doing re cleaning, that is extra to what they would normally do? I'm thinking that I will take our own pillows and towels and tea towels, is there anything else people can recommend I do? My husband has cancer and heart failure, so obviously I have to be very careful, and we have been self isolating up until now. If you've been to a holiday cottage recently, have you any comments or advice?

We were in a cottage last week - check in time was later than usual to enable extra time for cleaning then the following

• we had to strip all beds ourselves and towels and put them designated bags for washing

• things like reusable table cloths etc were all changed to disposable ones

• any books / toys etc where lots of people would touch them were removed

We felt very safe

@ivfdreaming thank you. I must remember to take cards and games!

Ours have been spotless. However, def bring your own pillows - two places we’ve been too had disposable pillow protectors underneath the case, but one didn’t (which I’m not happy about).

They are only as clean as the cottage cleaners are compliant. And not all will be. Human nature, right?

If you are v worried, go in armed with a mask, wipes and toilet cleaner. Clean all the toilets (flushing with the lid down), all switches, handles, surfaces including fridge doors, bin lids etc. Open every window and door to air the place thoroughly. Then let your husband come inside. Put cutlery and plates through a hot cycle in the dishwasher.

Contact the owner/company and ask them what their policy is.

All cottages have new covid cleaning regimes - ask and they will be able to tell you what it is.

I would be more concerned though, if the area you were holidaying in has higher level of infections than where you live, rather than likelihood of catching covid from the holiday cottage.

I own 2 cottages.

I am accredited by Visit England 'Good To Go' for cleaning which is enhanced now. There are protocols you have to follow and we have a risk assessment in place. Check in time is 2 hours later than usual.

We wash all bedding protectors every time, steam mattresses and spray every surface with anti viral spray. We use Edge Protect spray and use a manual mister.

You should ask the owner what their cleaning regime is. They should really have something on their website.

Make sure you wash all cutlery and crockery when you arrive, wash your hands frequently and as long as they have cleaned properly and used anti viral spray you should be fine. Have a lovely holiday.

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate your advice and replies.