Uk cottage

bockster

Hi folks.
Woundered if any of you with experiance of cottage holidays could supply a a few recommendations?
Firstly, there are so many cottage websites so I would love to get a shortlist of your fav's
Secondly, any personal recomendations of individual cottages would be great.
We are family of four, non smokers, probably looking at southwest or maybe somewhere within easy reach of london for the odd day trip although not ruling out any part of the country.
Price won't be the main concern, will be looking for quality, probably hot tub and easy reach of a nice pub for meals.
Never done a cottage break before so would value your input, will be for a week in july/aug next year.
thanks in advance.
Bockster

daveyjp

For quality start with ruralretreats.co.uk, but you do pay for it. The bonus is they are all top class.

p00hsticks

I've used these sites in the past

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/search_easy.asp

if you're interested in the Lyme Regis / Dorset area
http://www.lymebayholidays.co.uk/?kw=lyme%20bay%20holidays&fl=272650&ci=2157825971&network=s&gclid=CPri3Na0v7ECFUVTfAod60kAzA

and Yorkshire
http://www.yorkshireholidaycottages.co.uk/

saving-mad

It depends if you want to go through an agency and have some security or book direct and get a good deal,
Owners direct and holiday lettings are 2 of the biggest to book direct, personally I would google an area you want to stay. And see what comes up.
On a personal note we advertise through last minute cottages and get bookings for ahead as well assay minute.
Rural retreats are defiantly 'waitrose' but you pay for it!
There is acottage simular to ours in size and quality just around the corner from ours and it's twice the price, and they have no central heating so check and double check all the details.
Best of luck finding somewhere.

OneYorkshireLass

My tried and tested ones are:

http://www.helpfulholidays.com/

http://www.classic.co.uk/

Both south-west

And

http://www.qualitycottages.co.uk/index.php

Wales

hcb42

I use owners direct, or at least refer to it if I find it elsewhere, as it is easier to negotiate direct, especially short lead.

Got a gorgeous 3 storey 1600s house in Dartmouth on the steps last year for £450, normally about £900, sleeps six, and this year, got a gorgeous apartment, sleeps 4 for £500 not £790, booked 2 weeks out.

It is also worth googling to see if they have their own website once you have found a property, esp if going out of holiday season. Not sure what commission the agencies take, but my best guess would be 10-15% based on what I know from hotel industry.

Used a fab site for Ireland last year too, not discounted, but was Imagine Ireland, I think they are actually based in Yorkshire, very good service.

saving-mad

Hcb, sadly we made a costly mistake of choosing cottages4you to let the cottage we own, they charge us 28% commission plus £30 a booking, they told us they could let 25 weeks so we agreed knowing the business would be there.
They let 7 weeks last year and 3 so far this year but only let me have 4 weeks for any custom I find. I cannot wait until November when we can leave them!
Whilst I can offer a better deal than them I cannot afford to sell all the dates for what we get from them.

SAMHP_2

If you want genuine guest-written recommendations there are three sites to recommend:
mycottageholiday.co.uk
rated-places.com
trip advisor (but ONLY the FlipKey reviews) - TA reviews are not confirmed as authentic, but RP and MCH are.
SAM

shaggy

bockster wrote: »

Hi folks.
Woundered if any of you with experiance of cottage holidays could supply a a few recommendations?
Firstly, there are so many cottage websites so I would love to get a shortlist of your fav's
Secondly, any personal recomendations of individual cottages would be great.
We are family of four, non smokers, probably looking at southwest or maybe somewhere within easy reach of london for the odd day trip although not ruling out any part of the country.
Price won't be the main concern, will be looking for quality, probably hot tub and easy reach of a nice pub for meals.
Never done a cottage break before so would value your input, will be for a week in july/aug next year.
thanks in advance.
Bockster

I'm going on a cottage holiday in Cornwall in 9 days time. When I come back I'll update the thread with full details. Dont want to give recommendations just yet without having been to the place