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Dear Holidaymaker,
A cottage is a wonderfully flexible base to explore an area, and many people would never stay anywhere else. If you are new to the concept of cottage holidays here are our top tips.
- Cottages are usually owned by individuals, and let through agencies who handle the administration of bookings and brochures. This means the level of service / friendliness / cleanliness will never be wholly consistent. Your best bet is to deal with agencies who insist on high standards.
- Cottage hire usually runs from Saturday to Saturday. You will usually be asked to arrive in mid to late afternoon, and leave in the morning, to allow the owner or caretaker to clean the cottage.
- Price is not a good indication of what a cottage is like inside. Price is related much more to where a cottage is, and what time of year you are looking to rent it. Look for quality schemes from agencies to help you. It has been said that a dustbin on a beach in Cornwall in August would let many times over - often it is the cottages in the less-desired locations that put the work into the quality of fixtures and fittings.
- Many cottages book far in advance. Don't set your heart on one cottage for one particular summer week, unless you are willing to be disappointed. If your heart is set on one, ask when the booking calendar next opens, and whether you can put an advance deposit down against a particular week.
- There is no reward for delaying your booking. Unlike foreign holidays, there are virtually no discounts for late booking. Owners of cottages tend to not let them rather than offer them for less than the normal price.
- Check what is included in the price. This varies with different cottage agencies, with some seeming to make charges for everything. Items to check include booking fees, credit card charges, bed linen, fuel, electricity, and charges for pets.
- The best value holiday will always come from cottages in less popular areas at quieter times of the year. The more complicated the price structure an agency offers, the more likely you are to find a bargain.
- You will normally be asked for a deposit when you book, with the balance to be paid around two months before your holiday. After paying your deposit you will receive a letter of confirmation, with details of your cottage, price paid etc.
- Beware of low- or no-deposit offers. They look attractive, but if you have to cancel your holiday you usually lose quite a lot of money.
- You will normally be given detailed directions to find the cottage when you book. These are often written by people who know the area well, and spend all their days finding obscure properties. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive in comfort, and preferably in daylight. Cottages are not like hotels, and don't have big illuminated signs outside.
- Another benefit of arriving in good time is the chance to ask for guidance as to local shops, places to eat etc. No matter how helpful the owner / caretaker may be, they have probably just been working frantically to clean your cottage, and really want to go home and put their feet up. Ask any questions, and above all check contact arrangements for if you have a problem.
- If you do have a problem, ask the owner or caretaker to resolve it. If that doesn't work - call the agency straight away. They don't want you to suffer for a week then write a letter, because there is nothing they can do at that stage.
Above all, Don't forget to enjoy your holiday - that's what you're there for!
Best regards,
Jon
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