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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Help needed to find a holiday for Christmas!

74 replies

LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 13:52

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!

OP posts:
TheSuggestedAmendment · 11/12/2023 15:29

Would you consider going to one place for one week and another for the next?

I am also gobsmacked that you’ve left it this late, given all your constraints.

boozeclues · 11/12/2023 15:36

Sorry it was an apartment! Thought it was too much of a bargain..

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 15:37

Would you consider going to one place for one week and another for the next?
Really good idea for some people but not for us. I tried that once before and it was too much work for me in the middle of the holiday and too unsettling for one of us. Thanks for the suggestion though @TheSuggestedAmendment

OP posts:
IdealisticCynic · 11/12/2023 15:39

Why is the property being detached so vital? Perhaps if you explain it might help people provide an alternative solution and that could widen what’s available.

Sundaefraise · 11/12/2023 15:44

I’m intrigued as to why it has to be detached.

Anyway, given the lateness/budget/requirements - would you consider a one week stay to get the other things on your list?

Crabacus · 11/12/2023 15:45

LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 15:17

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

Edited

its very annoying when they angle the photos so carefully!
Did you see the second one I linked? That one is detached and allows pets.

tdino · 11/12/2023 15:46

I've done one up I'm marketing from January.

Took nine months for licence so lost enthusiasm for Christmas launch.

Not detached but huge corner plot.

Massive enclosed garden.

Think it ticks everything else.

Beach forty minute drive.

Pm me if you want more details and photos.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 11/12/2023 15:51

Not detached, but ticks a lot of other boxes including pets. I know the owner, their Christmas booking cancelled last week, so she was taking offers but needs to cover power and cleaning costs Firefly Cottage Filey

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 15:59

Thanks but the Bickley one only has a shower @boozeclues

OP posts:
Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 16:02

Thanks very much but it has to be detached @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads @tdino - best of luck with your new venture tdino.

OP posts:
Thatfeatherthere · 11/12/2023 16:06

Have you looked on Sawdays? https://www.sawdays.co.uk/britain/

The other thing I'd do is join all the relevant FB groups. There's one for Scotland called 'last minute holiday cottages in Scotland'. You can put in what you're after and owners will come back to you.

Special places to stay in Britain | Sawday's

Looking for special places to stay in Britain? Choose from our collection of holiday cottages, hotels, B&Bs & inns, all inspected & selected by Sawday's.

https://www.sawdays.co.uk/britain

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 16:06

Thanks for your second one @Crabacus - the area isn't one I know or had thought of but will take a look and work out how far it is from the sea.

OP posts:
tdino · 11/12/2023 16:57

Really like that @JustWhatWeDontNeed and thought you had struck gold but the second review might put op off.

what is the reason for detached. Because as this one shows detached can be closer than semi detached depending on plans.

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 16:57

Thanks @Owlcat42 but with that one we'd have to check out on New Year's Eve and we're not looking at Wales this time.

OP posts:
Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 17:23

I also thought @JustWhatWeDontNeed had struck gold. We'd miss a wood burner or open fire but we could live without that if we had to and everything else was right. We could put a tree up too. You're correct though, @tdino, unfortunately having a neighbour/the owner that close for 2 weeks does put me off.

Like a pp we only ever book detached now - with a bit of space round it - after several bad experiences where a real damper was put on the holiday by noisy or intrusive neighbours. When going to a lot of effort and cost, and a holiday being much-needed, being certain of a peaceful time is really important, especially for one of us. We don't want to be disturbed by anyone and we don't want to be made to feel we're disturbing anyone either. Building work close by would be another no-no.

OP posts:
Galiana · 11/12/2023 18:09

. Essex?

Detached, Woodburner, walking distance to beach...

Slightly over budget though.

Galiana · 11/12/2023 18:21

Devon?

Detached, allows pets.

Galiana · 11/12/2023 18:38

. Whitby

Pets allowed, detached, parking, no bath though!

alwaysthinkingaboutfood31 · 11/12/2023 18:40

This bungalow is available. It’s £250 over your budget but it has a wood burner and is in a gorgeous part of North Norfolk, which will be utterly delightful at Christmastime (and I’m not just saying that because it’s where I’m from!) https://www.cottages.com/cottages/little-dab-uk43811?adult=3&child=0&infant=0&pets=1&range=3&nights=14&accommodationType=cottages&start=18-12-2023&regionId=21911&regionName=Norfolk&destinationURL=%2Fengland%2Fnorfolk&index=search&accommodationTypes=&features=9244%2C10091&siteFeatures=&page=2&sort=priceasc

Galiana · 11/12/2023 18:48

Wensleydale?

Not quite detached, but parking, woodburner, decorated, charming! I'm not sure you'd have any trouble with noisy neighbours!