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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:
Galiana · 11/12/2023 18:55

Northumberland

Detached, electric gates! Dogs, bath, parking, views.

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 11/12/2023 22:52

We're already huge fans of North Norfolk @alwaysthinkingaboutfood31 and I do like the one you linked to, thank you. Not the old cottage we usually go for and no views, but everything else seems to be there. The main problem is that the price shoots up by about £1000 over the budget to stay beyond New Year's Day morning. I don't fancy packing and tidying up on New Year's Eve and leaving early on New Year's Day! That's still 'Christmas' for us. I might ring the cottage company tomorrow to see if there is any flexibility.

OP posts:
medianewbie · 12/12/2023 00:08

The one @Galiana has linked to is in THE most beautiful part of the country. Close to Alnwick with Castle, gardens & famous bookshop. Stunning empty bea ches all along that coast too.

LikeRobbieSays · 12/12/2023 10:14

I'm guessing you are going to have to be more flexible with your budget and/or long list of musts or resign yourself to an Xmas at home!

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 12/12/2023 20:16

Thanks everyone. I am still looking! I've had to discount most of the options kindly posted unfortunately, mainly because they haven't got the essentials, or are too far to drive at the moment, especially in the winter, or just too expensive beyond 'a bit more'. One or two I'm looking further into, although nothing definite yet. The devil really is in the detail with the deliberately vague descriptions and photos, and some of the off-putting reviews! I want to get it right, even at this late stage. I'm not being picky folks, honestly! It's a lot of money and effort, it's more important than usual, and I have to be mindful to meet the needs of one of us.

OP posts:
snottymcsnotface · 12/12/2023 20:30

Put a post on holiday cottages uk page on Facebook with your list of requirements.

NotFastButFurious · 12/12/2023 20:35

I wouldn’t necessarily say you’re being picky but that’s a very long list of must haves at very short notice on a pretty low budget!! £1500 for a 2 bed property for 2 weeks is low at any time of year these days.

Imtoooldforallthis · 12/12/2023 20:40

What about this.

Check out this place in Harlech I found on Vrbo: t.vrbo.io/6h966agJtFb

Imtoooldforallthis · 12/12/2023 20:45

Sorry missed the detached bit, but still nice.

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 12/12/2023 22:19

I have been looking at lovely Northumberland as an option, @medianewbie - the downside with that particular one is that, when I looked at it closely, it is right on the A1, with traffic speeding along next to it. Not really the peaceful vibe we're needing. It looks like the owners are just across the shared drive too.

OP posts:
Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 12/12/2023 22:27

They are there, @NotFastButFurious but just not quite right for us so far in one way or another. The essentials list is pretty basic stuff really. It's not like I'm insisting on a private swimming pool with penguins dressed as elves. Xmas Smile

I forgot to add Wi-Fi btw...

OP posts:
Bettyscakes · 12/12/2023 22:40

https://abnb.me/VpRdSzPRtFb - also available via cottages .com

CarlaH · 13/12/2023 13:27

If you do manage to find something please come back and let us know. It seems a very tall order unless you are lucky enough to get a last minute cancellation.

It would be lovely if you were able to get a property.

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 13/12/2023 23:25

I love that one @jingleandslay , thank you. Too far for us just now unfortunately and one of us would object to no TV and no streaming at all for the whole 2 weeks of Christmas! I'm going to keep the details for the future though.

OP posts:
Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 13/12/2023 23:31

Thanks @CarlaH - I appreciate the good wishes.

I will keep updating, of course. Any links posted that I can't use now might come in useful at a later date or for other people if they find the thread.

Unfortunately I haven't had the time to look at all today, but hope to be back on it tomorrow. I'm finding it more than a little stressful trying to find somewhere suitable this close to the wire. I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it...hopefully.

OP posts:
LikeRobbieSays · 14/12/2023 15:52

www.booking.com/Share-f1NiZ5VY

tdino · 14/12/2023 19:48

Also invested! Any update @LastMinMinnie

I sent you a PM

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 14/12/2023 22:21

LikeRobbieSays · 14/12/2023 15:52

This one seems to have everything you've asked for @LastMinMinnie

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 15/12/2023 23:54

Hi everyone. I know I have been sounding A Bit Goldilocks: 'This holiday cottage is too... and That holiday cottage is too...' etc! Thanks for understanding that it might be for good reason, for sticking with me, and for trying to help - and for investing in my shenanigans.

I really don't want to count my chickens, but I am sincerely hoping that I might have found somewhere. At the moment I'm waiting for confirmation about whether - or not - the owner will accept the booking. Prayers, fingers crossed or whatever else you can do very welcome. I'll let you know.

OP posts:
alwaysthinkingaboutfood31 · 28/12/2023 21:31

Did you end up finding somewhere in time OP?

OlderandwiserMaybe · 29/12/2023 08:45

We all wanna know what you found @LastMinMinnie !!

Original poster
LastMinMinnie · 19/01/2024 22:51

Just reporting back to say we made it, and with everything on the list except it wasn't decorated for Christmas so we had to do that ourselves. It was a little over the set budget so we are having a bit of a meagre January and February!

This thread was actually very helpful - thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to find me some very good options.

The weather was seriously awful though!!!

Happy New Year everyone - I hope you all had a good Christmas.

OP posts:
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