What Would Make You Feel Welcome in a Holiday Cottage?

sunshinetours

An iPod dock would be a nice touch so people can take their own ipods. I assume you didn't mean supplying actual iPods? Think that would be too much for breakages / losses etc

Most memorable stays we have had in past have had very nice mattresses / hottubs / real fire / very well equipped kitchen / fun stuff for kids if applicable to your cottage

If in Wales complimentary umbrellas by the doors for instance may be appreciated

TBagpuss

- Tea, coffee, sugar and milk & spare loo-rolls. I wouldn't expect toiletries, but soap for hand washing should be available in all sinks and bathrooms - if you have hand-pumps you can top them up before each set of visitors arrive, and not have any waste.

- Offer of a 'basics' basket as an optional extra - this could include things such as fresh bread, eggs, butter, bacon, fruit, yogurt so that people have the option of having breakfast available the first morning without having to rush out, but without adding to the cost for those who prefer to bring their own.

- Local Info - he best I've come across was in a cottage we rented in Derbyshire - there was a ring-binder which had different sections, each containing info & leaflets in plastic pockets - one section had details of the local shops, supermarket, dentist & doctor, all with maps, addresses and opening times / phone numbers, another had menus for local take aways and pubs, another section had details of local attractions (including two-for-one entry vouchers for a couple) and there was a section with clear instructions for the heating, appliances etc & how the owners could be contacted, and a final section had details of several walks in the immediate area, complete with map & directions and approx. time scale. Becasue eveything was in a plactic pockey you could take any one part out if you needed it with you, and everything had cealrly been kept up to date, and without duplications.
- Guide books and maps of the local area are always helpful
- a selection of books / DVDs (I always find it a bit irritating when you walk in to find a dvd player but nothing to watch on it) If you rent to families with childnre then a selction of children's books and films would be particulalry useful, as it adds some variety.
- playing cards, and a couple of board games / jigsaws may also be appreciated, and are fairly low-maintenance

In the kitchen - sharp knives! And enough of eveything (crockery & cutlery) to do two full meals, or one full dishwasher.

Another big consideration is weather - I've more than once rented a cottage in autumn or winter - the heating is turned on just as you arrive, but if the place has been unoccupied the previous week or so it can take ages to warm it through - so do turn on the hearting a day or two before people are due to arrive.

Finally - check which (if any) supermarkets in your area deliver to your property and make that inforamtion available. The last twice I've rented a holiday cottage, we have booked a food delivery to arrive the evening we get there . It saves wasting time in a supermarket when you are on holiday, and you can book it from home to be delivered to your holiday let - if you chekc in adance which supermarkets cover your address, you can flag this up for visitors before they arrive :-)

apexblue

Thank you for all replies.

lagoslife

Finally - check which (if any) supermarkets in your area deliver to your property and make that inforamtion available. The last twice I've rented a holiday cottage, we have booked a food delivery to arrive the evening we get there . It saves wasting time in a supermarket when you are on holiday, and you can book it from home to be delivered to your holiday let - if you chekc in adance which supermarkets cover your address, you can flag this up for visitors before they arrive :-)

This is a great tip and one I hadn't thought of. Thanks.

apexblue

When renting a holiday cottage would you prefer a 3pm arrival and 10am departure or 4pm arrival and 11am departure?

greenface

A late departure is better IMO . If your arriving at a place early you can normally find things to do (even if its just eat) but a 10 oclock departure often means you cannot enjoy the night before . Drinking and driving the next day // Tidying packing all to save doing the next day which you often can with a extra hour . We have a holiday let and ours in In after 2 out by 11

Torry_Quine

Always arrive at about 5pm and leave about 9am so no difference.

toozie_2

We rather arrive as early as we can, 2pm is good, so we've got time to unpack, stock the cupboards & then get out and expore the village/town as soon as possible. I feel it gives us an extra day there-which is all the mind!!!

Usually take a frozen block of chilli/curry or something with us for that night, so dinner is quick & simple after travelling.

We don't mind being out by 10am, as it gives us plenty of time to get home, unpack and see to stuff needed, and probably get ready for work the next day.

alisont

Good thread this!

I go on 2 self catering holidays a year with my parents (and our guinea pig!) and have stayed in plenty of cottages - many lower priced ones when we had our dog and more recently we seem to book the higher spec ones, all have been nice in their own ways.

Things we find useful are/would be:

Local paper
TV guide
Loo rolls (some places do not leave any and I always forget to take spares!)
Kitchen roll/cling film/foil
Salt/Pepper/Oil/Tea bags/Coffee can be useful
Fresh flowers - not expensive ones
Welcome folder - info on heating/recycling/local whats on leaflets
Nice towels
Comfy good quality mattress are essential!
Those split duvets - so you can choose warm or cooler - or 2 different tog ones.
Couple of brollies in case it rains
Simple instructions on how to set the heating/water
spare light bulbs in case one goes.
Good emergency contacts
Visitors book
One cottage left jute shopping bags which were so useful during the week.
A second set of keys
Free WIFI - I find this very useful
Maybe a parking pass for the local area carparks?
A good description of the property/map and a good selection of photos of all the rooms/gardens - find this so useful.

I'd not be worried over milk/cake/toilitries/cleaning products as I'm vegan so only use cruelty free - we take our own washing up liquid etc...

But I know my parents would enjoy a homemade cake/scones.

We always like the Keysafe option as more flexi and we hate the stress of having to get somewhere for a set time to collect a key, we tend to arrive 4-5pm and can always be out by 10am.

Another one for me personally is a 2nd tv - or the option to hire one for a small fee - this is only so I could watch dvd's in the evening without parents having to watch it too!

We find some property have too much in the kitchen cupboards - as if any spare/old crockery goes in the holiday home, and some have so much food in the cupboards - we would not use it! I agree with the comment about hangers - most cottages seem to have way too many!

I'd find an option to book welcome packs/wine/flowers useful - only as it's nice to set something up in advance for parents or if family/friends are staying nearby.

Just in the process of booking for Wales in July (Aberdovey) and found a cottage that seems to tick all the boxes:) Owners helpful and very prompt replies to emails have been great and loads of photos on the website (plus he is fine about the guinea pig going even though it says no pets)

Thriftybynature

I always take wash up liq, dishwash tablets, tea towels, bin bags, sponge scourer things, soap - and more I can't think of at the moment. All as a result of several badly equipped self catering places where I've had to go out and stock up. So for me, what would be great is if you would state what you DO provide alongside the list of equipment. You could kit out the cottage with basic wash up liquid and dishwash tablets for not v much if you hang around the Money Off Coupons thread on here!

And if you are very remote, confirmation that Tesco/Asda/Ocado whoever will deliver to you, not many people realise that you can do an internet shop and get it delivered to a holiday destination, even campsite receptions!

Finally, I would like good thick curtains that block out the light in bedrooms - the number of places I have stayed and the curtains have been sooo thin. I know it's a very personal thing, but if there are nice thick heavy curtains that cut out light then it will suit everyone - fussy folk like me will be happy but others who can sleep with lots of light can leave curtains ajar.