What Would Make You Feel Welcome in a Holiday Cottage?

Shelldean

we stayed in one place where the owners ahd gone to a lot of trouble making up an A4 folder. In the folder was details of everything we could possibly need. This included several brochures for local attactions and some had money off vouchers on them ( there was a note at begining of file to help ourselves to these as the owner would replace them) menus from takeaways plus direction to get there if they didn't deliver, lists and directions to shops, banks, nearest hospital etc. Plus doctor and dentist numbers. All instructions for all appliances were also in there. There was other stuff in there too, which i can't recall off the top of my head as it was a while ago. The owners had also included their numbers so we could contact them should the need arise.

We was told about the file in an email when booking so knew to to look out for it, rather than the owners just hoping we'd find it.

I'm personally not bothered by having tea coffee etc would rather have the tariff being slightly cheaper. I ususally take my own stuff as a matter of course.

As we have kids knowing there was board games and a football, meant we knew we could afford bring that with us.

So think the key is what ever you supply make sure teh renters know, so they don't bring stuff they don't need to.

goggle

I don't need "bells & whistles" but I do want CLEAN and I'd really, really appreciate a list before I go of what's in the inventory so I know what I need to bring/can leave at home. I think some sachets of tea/coffee would be appreciated by most people (Personally I don't drink them but the people I travel with do) but lots of stuff that the people may not use (not everyone drinks wine etc) will make some people resent that they've paid for this & won't use it.
Matches or a "clicker" if the gas cooker doesn't have auto-ignition is ESSENTIAL!!!

I think the file of takeaway menus, money off coupons is great (if they are up to date) and I LOVE the idea of the bookshelf with a variety of books & a note to say "feel free to take the book home if you haven't finished it, or leave one you have finished" is a great idea though I'm another who wouldn't really trust foodstuffs left by previous occupants unless they are sachets etc and I'd realy not appreciate cupboards cluttered with such items.

It depends on your market really - families will appreciate completely different things to a romantic 2-person retreat ...

paulwf

1jim wrote: »

On the otherhand if you are not going to do the above a nice welcome tray would be good, milk, tea, coffee, loaf of bread, milk, cheese, biscuits, etc. If you lived locally and were so inclined you could offer a list of extras you could provide at cost? or what about offering a fruit/veg box to be delivered (rivernene type people?)[/QUOTE}

That could well be the best way forward...include the basics but then offer packages for the rest. That will give you more flexibility to cater for more more types of customers and will keep your prices competitive.

If you have the time/inclination then a few special occasion packages (wine/chocolates/balloons) would allow you to make a bit of extra money and also please the customer.

sooz

As others have said, provide an inventory, which guests can refer to before they pack to come to your cottage.

Unless I've been there before, I end up packing good knife, cafetiere etc, as I have no idea what will actually be in the nice looking kitchen drawers when I arrive.

And coathangers. Proper coathangers, not tesco value ones that will only hold a 4 year old's t -shirt. They don't have to be wood, just big enough to hold an adult shirt, & more than 4 for 2 adults & 2 kids would be helpful

busiscoming2

I would prefer not to be greeted by the owner, but to know where they are or how to contact them if necessary.

Milk, teabags, sugar and some coffee is a winner in my book, especialy the milk (we tend to take our own tea bags and coffee etc).

Information folder on local attractions, menus and directions to supermarket, petrol station etc.

Washing up liquid, a bottle of spray multi purpose cleaner and a couple of disposable cloths. I would expect towels, tea towels etc to be included in the price.
1

mogadon

busiscoming2 wrote: »

I would prefer not to be greeted by the owner, but to know where they are or how to contact them if necessary.

Me too. TBH I find there is nothing worse than arriving tired/hungry/thirsty after a long journey and the owner standing waiting for you wanting to explain how the heating works or how to get to the local village. All I want to do is kick my shoes off and curl up on the sofa with a coffee. I can't take the information in when I am tired anyway.

In addition to what has already been said about a reasonably well stocked kitchen, I also appreciate decent towels and bedding. Nothing worse than thin scratchy towels and polyester sheets!

Starrystarrynight

I think someone may have already mentioned it, a bottle of squash would be great with the usual tea, coffee, milk etc. I'm sure I'm not the only adult who doesn't drink tea or coffee, so I'd be chuffed to find squash in any welcome pack.

Owain_Moneysaver

paulwf wrote: »

That could well be the best way forward...include the basics but then offer packages for the rest. That will give you more flexibility to cater for more more types of customers and will keep your prices competitive.

If you have the time/inclination then a few special occasion packages (wine/chocolates/balloons) would allow you to make a bit of extra money and also please the customer.

Supplying wine as an extra cost item would probably require a liquor licence.

I would like to see tea/coffee/milk, but apart from a pint of milk there's no money lost if the guest doesn't use it.

Families might want to order an online grocery shop so letting guests know if you can accept deliveries on their behalf before arrival would be useful.

Buffy_the_Vampire_Bat

There are two cottages in Devon and Cornwall that OH and I stay in on a regular basis. One of the reasons we keep going back to both is all the little extra touches.

In the Devon cottage the owners provide:

A homemade cream tea on arrival
A plate in the fridge with the ingredients for a cooked breakfast for two the next morning
A vase of fresh flowers
Milk in the fridge plus tea/coffee/sugar/salt/pepper
Complimentary toiletries
A Where We Went book - which guests are invited to fill in with places they visited and ate at, and what was good and bad - this cottage has been run since 1999 and there are now three books stuffed full of helpful info
Lots of local info including maps, books, newspapers, plus details of local doctors/vets/fish and chips/hospitals/supermarkets/local shops/tide times etc
A good stack of leaflets featuring local places
Stuff for washing up and cleaning, including dishwasher tablets and laundry tablets
BBQ and table and chairs outside
Loo roll
Coat hangers
Games/books/DVDs

Both always have excellent quality furniture and household goods, along with good kitchen stuff and crockery. Both also have a good supply of towels, tea towls and cloths.

But most of all, both sets of owners are lovely, helpful and kind, without being in your face

Plus at Christmas the cottage is always decorated beautifully with a tree, candles and general Christmas decs, plus mince pies and wine

At the cottage in Cornwall the owner provides:

A bottle of wine on arrival
A huge bowl of fresh fruit
Milk in the fridge plus tea/coffee/sugar
Stuff for washing up and cleaning, including dishwasher tablets and laundry tablets
Lots of local literature (leaflets/mags/newspapers etc)
Complimentary toiletries
BBQ and table and chairs outside
Loo roll
Coat hangers
Games/books/DVDs

blabberwort

I definently agree about the tea/coffee, we always pack a small jar of coffee and a few tea bags plus coffeee whitener to beable to have a drink when we arrive. It would be so nice if we didnt have to do this because we knew there would be tea/coffee available when we arrived (obviously just enough needed for a couple of cuppas).

Some small activities for kids such as a few books/dvd's/games are usually welcome. They have this in a caravan we stay at and although we have never used them it's great to know it's there should we want it.

Definently enough toilet roll and cleaning items such as black bags and washing up liquid. Theres nothing worse than having to go to the shops and spend a fortune on these items knowing you wont even use a quarter of it when your there.

Salt and pepper would be nice as standard.

Im not worried about luxury items but the basics would be such a relief to have, these are the things that can put your shopping bill to ridiculous prices unless your bringing it from home which for someone like me would be hard as I dont drive so I need to be practical as to what im packing and carrying.

As others have said, mention when someone books whats included as people wont want to bring tea/coffee etc if it's provided when you arrive until you can shop.