Help needed to find a holiday for Christmas!

[LastMinMinnie]

I'm really struggling to find a suitable, affordable and very, very much-needed holiday for this Christmas and New Year. It's getting late in the day and I'm starting to think that I won't find anywhere. Any help very much appreciated.

These are absolutely essential, (for reasons I won't bore you with!):

• Detached
• Private parking, (one medium/large vehicle)
• Bath
• Washing machine
• At least a loo on the same floor as the bedrooms, (not a downstairs bathroom only with all the bedrooms upstairs)
• Sleeps at least 3 adults, (minimum of 2 bedrooms; if only 2 bedrooms not going through one bedroom to get to the other; not one of the 3 having to sleep on a sofa bed in the lounge). Larger/much larger property very welcome/absolutely fine if affordable.
• Pet welcome, (one small well-behaved pet)
• Non-smoking
• Quiet seaside or rural location, (not right next to a pub, shop or party house etc)
• A walk or shortish drive to a beach

These are not essential but* *desirable:

• Log burner or open fire
• Bedding and towels included

These would be the icing on the Christmas cake

• Sea view or nice view
• Decorated for Christmas, (but I could buy and put a tree up if needed)

Areas I've been looking at ideally are the coasts of Norfolk, North and East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Also wondering about the coasts of Suffolk, Northumberland and into south east Scotland. Open to other suggestions except for Wales, the Lake District, Ireland and NI on this occasion.

We can arrive from 18th December - slightly after ok - and want to depart not before 3rd January - slightly after ok. Duration of 14+ days. Budget is about £1500; less is much better, slightly more possible.

TIA if you have the time and kind inclination to help!

Is it £1500 in total or per week?

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/24033280/amenities?adults=3&categorytag=Tag%3A8524&enableem3privateeroom=true&pets=1&photoid=469469119&checkkin=2023-12-18&checkout=2024-01-03&sourceeimpressionid=p3317023037141yOZjDjsghDvw2Nt&previousspagesectionnname=1000&federatedsearchhid=76064e1a-077f-44ad-ab66-9155da57fe98

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/39697496?adults=3&categorytag=Tag%3A8102&enableem3privateeroom=true&pets=1&photoid=898738174&checkkin=2023-12-18&checkout=2024-01-03&sourceeimpressionid=p331702303908EbShPNp%2B8RuWNDYc&previousspagesectionnname=1000&federatedsearchhid=8abea56f-36d2-4f7b-8a9a-b9ec4ddec7d1

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/no-3-uk38626?adult=3&child=0&infant=0&pets=1&range=0&nights=14&accommodationType=cottages&regionName=Norfolk&regionId=21911&start=20-12-2023&index=search&accommodationTypes=&features=&siteFeatures=&page=2&sort=priceasc

It is in total @jingleandslay with a little bit of flexibility.

I tried to book with airbnb in the summer and I couldn't get their website to accept my ID. I've no idea why. It was a huge faff and waste of time so I've written airbnb off now. Thanks for the links @WilmaJean - apologies as I didn't think to say 'no airbnb' in my OP.

Thank you but this one is a semi unfortunately, not detached. It's frustrating and time-consuming as a lot of the listings make it very difficult to tell, with artfully angled photos or even no external photos, and not included in the description.

Any good?

https://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/cottages/south/borders/hb5-shepherds-rest?fbclid=IwAR1kzdJMnFu7zIfc-NTJSbPT6QgnZ9kPGcfpYwrl_GFRxxzfSyndNG19qk0

this one is booked for half the time OP wants it??

@LastMinMinnie I'm actually sitting here astonished that you've left it till a week before you want to travel to find a holiday place over the Christmas break!!

Also over Christmas that's probably a very tight budget.

What led you to leave this so last minute??

Thanks but that one is not available for 2 weeks to include Christmas and New Year unfortunately @IdealisticCynic.

Cherry Tree Cottage, Thornton – Updated 2023 Prices (booking.com)

Found this one near Blackpool. Not detached but only thing I could find even close to your budget.

This isn't my first day of looking @OlderandwiserMaybe , but I agree it's not ideal. Life sometimes throws you a curve ball, or indeed a number of them, and you have to just do the best you can.

I have seen that prices can be very high at Christmas and New Year. There is hope that not everything will be out of reach, or there might be late availability and/or low residency discounts on some, especially at this stage.

Or this one near Bude - has your log burner ;)
The Hayloft, Bude – Updated 2023 Prices (booking.com)

Thanks @OlderandwiserMaybe but it has to be detached.

https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/North-York-Moors-Coast-Richmond/Appletree-Cottage-1117841.html
would this work? I think the requirements for detached, small, cheap and available are working against you!

Oh mine's probably not detached actually, looking closer at the photo...

www.booking.com/Share-HSVDUcx

Can you try another verification method with Airbnb?

Ok, what about this one https://www.cottages.com/cottages/haweswater-cottage-uk35471

slightly over budget but a detached bungalow

Thanks but the Richmond Appletree one is not detached and it doesn't allow pets @Crabacus

Suspect you may be priced out of detached cottages if that's your budget for a school holiday period. Would you consider a caravan? Meets your criteria for number of bedrooms etc and would be within budget

That is a small budget for your requirements when booking this late over a peak period

I wouldn't immediately write off properties that say No Pets. I've had a few agree to let my dogs, a cute photo and promise of a good clean was all it took.

I feel your pain with the detached thing. We only use detached cottages, but so many don’t say whether it’s detached & try to hide the fact it isn’t in the photos. On the Sykes Cottages website you can filter detached properties in the search which is helpful.

Thanks @LikeRobbieSays but that one is terraced and very overlooked.