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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

looking for a holiday cottage - why do they all seem to be so hideous?!!!

44 replies

MakemineaGandT · 09/03/2010 22:33

surely it is possible to rent a comfortable, clean cottage with the usual mod cons? I have spent hours this evening trawling the net for a holiday cottage for August (Devon/Dorset preferably) - I have been treated to a display of the most hideous properties. Horrid looking pink sitting rooms with flowery sofas and a set of brass fire tools in the corner, horrible frilly valanced bedrooms, yuk yuk yuk. Anyone know any decent cottage rental websites? I'd rather stay home than stay in most of these places.....

OP posts:
Blu · 09/03/2010 22:36

LOL
Have you tried LymeBay Holidays?

And

You'll be out most of the time, ignore the decor and concentrate on the mechanics of what you need!

cyb · 09/03/2010 22:37

OOh you could hire Kirstie Allsops place in Devon, thats only about £3 grand a week

cyb · 09/03/2010 22:38

just a random one from HELPFUL HOLIDAYS who we have booked thru before

JollyPirate · 09/03/2010 22:39

this is nice. Used to live there several years ago but now a holiday home. Small though.......

verytellytubby · 09/03/2010 22:39

Have you looked at cottages4you? I've booked a few through them and been pretty simple with mod cons.

cyb · 09/03/2010 22:41

It does make you realise there are gaps in the market for tastefully furnishes stylish cottages. If I don't see a gingham cushion in my holiday let I'm out of sorts all week

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 09/03/2010 22:44

This place is fabulous but it's the other end of the country.

LeQueen · 09/03/2010 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CornishKK · 09/03/2010 23:41

I know what you mean, there are many overpriced chintz hell holes out there. Helpful Holidays are good, Cottages For You have a lot of the chintz hell holes! I've just booked somewhere in Yorkshire for the summer through English Country Cottages which is just Cottages 4 You but with posher branding, same company. It took a lot of searching through properties to get one I liked.

I can recommend a very tastefully furnished, five star place in Cornwall if you fancy it. But it's mine so that might not be allowed and I am a bit biased

CornishKK · 09/03/2010 23:42

And we provide free WiFi so you can Mumsnet whilst admiring the Cath Kidston tea towels.

said · 10/03/2010 00:05

Cottages4you is one of the worst offenders I find. Do these places actually get booked up? They don't have to be done up expensively to just look better. How hard is it to buy some white emulsion and make a trip IKEA.

doodledrawers · 10/03/2010 06:00

Have you tried www.premiercottages.co.uk? I've had a couple of great places through them.

lurkingsnurker · 10/03/2010 06:10

There are lots of nice ones on this site for South Devon. Also, we book often through owners direct and haven't had a bad one yet - with the added bonus of no overhead for a letting agent

Also try Sweetcombe for East Devon - we had a great break in Sidmouth last year with these guys.

I agree though, there is a hell of a lot of chintz out there, and it can be a lot of work to cut through the rubbish and find the gems!

lurkingsnurker · 10/03/2010 06:15

And Cyb... Helpful holidays has my favorite ever holiday 'cottage' here... unfortunately it's a little out of our price range. But I can dream.....

Rockbird · 10/03/2010 06:52

We stay in a particular place in Cornwall but there are different apartments within it. They are hideously chintzy but I'd love to live in one and fantasise about what I would do to it. One has come up for rental this year and it's gorgeous! But it's too gorgeous, all glass tables and atmospheric lighting. Beautiful but I couldn't risk dd there . Might sneak off on my own this year!

Adair · 10/03/2010 07:30

WE have stayed in a few lovely places (booked by our friends - she is fab at choosing luxurious hotel-style cottages. Usually in the middle of nowhere though - don't know if that is a factor)

Just stayed here - it was stunning.

orienteerer · 10/03/2010 07:33

www.premiercottages.co.uk/

Adair · 10/03/2010 07:35

Oh, and dh and I stayed here with dd before ds was born.

musicposy · 10/03/2010 07:39

Have you tried owners direct? All very individual and usually cheaper. We've been to some lovely, modern-decorated places that aren't chintzy at all.

uggmum · 10/03/2010 07:49

We have booked Nautilus at westward ho, it is stunning
www.holiday-rentals.co.uk prop ref 402154 .
they have two properties, amazing sea views, lovely furniture and parking.

cyb · 10/03/2010 07:59

India Knight always has some lovely poncey aspirational cottages on her blog

Saltire · 10/03/2010 08:11

We styaed here on 3 occasions (in various cottages) and they are fab.
here is one of them

Original poster
MakemineaGandT · 10/03/2010 16:04

ooh ooh - thanks everyone - first time I've logged on since last night so just seen all these suggestions. I shall have a good browse once the children are in bed later...

know what you mean about a gap in the market for decent hotel-style holiday lets. Maybe I shall exploit that one day in the future and set up a website of fab places to stay - only owners of gorgeous places need apply to be on there......

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 10/03/2010 16:10

We have stayed here a couple of times, and are going back again. Def not chintzy

said · 10/03/2010 17:47

I've found it's best to search under teh name of the village(s) you want to stay in and 'holiday cottage'. Just look on the map of teh area you like and try random villages - you'll get teh privately rented ones then which are usually much nicer (and cheaper)