Cottage holidays have become increasingly popular type of holiday vacation or short break. They offer a distinct contrast to hotel breaks allowing people to have their own space and homely comforts and explore some beautiful part of the country.
In years gone by, the only way to purchase such holidays was to receive a glossy brochure and then wait for hours on the telephone to find out the one you wanted is no longer available. Obviously the internet has changed all of that but even in today’s high technology climate, things don’t always go as smoothly as you might wish. Here are a few tips to make your cottage holiday one to remember for the right reasons.
Firstly the most important question is where should I go? The obvious answer is to go somewhere beautiful which appeals to you. This is not always as straightforward as it may seem. You may decide to go to an area where there are beautiful mountains or hills which is quite a common choice for people looking for walking and other outdoor activities. Well one thing to check is that there are no active quarries or mines in the vicinity of the cottage you rent or other factories that might ruins your experience. Even National Parks like the Lake or Peak District in England were once the home of some industries. Similarly a picturesque chocolate box cottage won’t have the same appeal if it is right next to a motorway. One way to avoid some of these worries is to use an application like Google Maps and use the satellite setting to scan the immediate area.
Other things are also worth considering. Much as many of us love the idea of an exclusive isolated retreat, the day to day practicalities also have to be managed. Food and other essentials have to be purchased. Are there any shops nearby or places to eat out? Obviously in the age of the car this is usually something that can be worked around but may require some planning and organisation.
Other considerations include:- Is the Cottage all that it seems? Most cottage agencies now use lots of photographs which should give a very realistic picture of the cottage. However, even today they may use a photo of the countryside or view from the cottage as the lead photo. Similarly, if the photo looks like it is a big property but it only has a few rooms, it may be subdivided with other accommodation units very close. Certainly lots of cottages converted from farm buildings are converted that way. That may make features like swimming pools shared rather than completely private, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but something that you should know prior to booking.
Our last obvious tip is to read reviews. People do have different tastes and expectations and a lot of items like decoration, furniture etc are down to personal preference. What one customer may see as authentic or rustic, another customer may see as shabby or old fashioned. Modern furniture in an old property could be seen as stylish by one person and inappropriate or tacky by another. Without doubt old cottages can have small rooms which some people may find cramped and others cosy or quiant. What most people do tend to agree on is cleanliness, hygene and friendliness. Should the customer be in contact with the owner, politeness, friendliness and professionalism go a long way. Little extras can also help such as a free bottle of wine or chocolates to make the customer feel welcome.
Lastly we would ask customers to play their part in making cottage holidays a pleasant process. Although customers are paying to rent the cottage, it is quite probable that the property is someone’s cherished house that they need to let to pay for the upkeep etc. Customers should treat it respectfully and leave it as you would like to find it bar the obvious cleaning that will be undertaken. Having the right attitude can also avoid damages that may incur a loss of any deposit or additional bill.