• Home » Travel » Choosing Cottage Holidays in the UK

Main Categories

Books and Mags
Business
Clothing and Footwear
Dating
Electrical
Experience Days
Finance
Food and Drink
Freebies and Competitions
Gadgets and Other Gifts
Gambling
General
Health and Beauty
Home and Garden
Jewellery
Lingerie
Mobile Phones
Motor
Music and Video
Romance
Software
Sport and Leisure
Toys and Games
Travel

Shop in UK News

Read all the latest news from the world of shopping in our new blog. You will find new products, discount codes and news from online retailers.

Choosing Cottage Holidays in the UK

Staying in a holiday cottage has become an increasingly popular way of spending a holiday in recent years. People are renting cottages for long weekends, for a week or two or even for the whole summer. Nowadays there is much more choice when it comes to the holiday cottages sector in the UK from the basic to the luxurious. Cottages also come in all shapes and sizes from small, cosy homes through to larger cottages for large families or parties. So, what is the best way to choose the right holiday cottage?

Location and things to do

The first thing that many people consider is location. There are holiday cottages all over the UK that could potentially work for any kind of holiday. Some people like to get away from it all and choose to find a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands, for example. Others like to go self-catering close to a beach resort or to find a cottage close to a town or city that they have not visited before.

It's important to choose a location that suits everyone that will be staying in the cottage. A group of girls on a hen weekend may not want to be out in the middle of nowhere with no night-life and young kids and teenagers may get bored if there is nothing much to do where the cottage is located. On the other hand, walkers and hikers may really enjoy a break away from it all. So, do check what people expect from their holiday before booking any cottage as that will make it easier to find the right one. And, if planning to take a pet along then do check that the cottage owners will allow pets in the first place.

Unless the people staying in the cottage really do want to get away from it all it's worth while checking out what there is to do locally from a sightseeing perspective. It is possible to find remote cottages that are still a quick drive away from major towns and cities. Look out on the web for local tourist boards or check with the owners of the cottage. If they have a website then they may list local attractions and things worth seeing/doing.

It's also wise to check out how close the cottage is to local amenities. A honeymooning couple may be happy with a cottage within walking distance of a small hamlet with one pub and a local shop but a young family staying in a cottage may need easier access to larger shops and supermarkets. Bear in mind that a 'get away from it all' holiday may sound like a great option to unwind from a busy year at work but the British weather may not go along with your plans for spending days out in the countryside. It's wise to have some options to fall back on such as museums, town visits, restaurants, cinemas and other attractions in case the weather is bad.

Cottage amenities

Most cottages nowadays will come set up with everything needed to make the stay easy although some will have better facilities than others. As a bare minimum most holiday cottages now will come with bed linen and towels although bear in mind that this isn't always the case especially with cottages on some holiday camps.

It's worth checking what the cottage has from an amenity point of view. Many cottages nowadays will come with TVs and VCRs/DVD players but not all will, so if this is an important factor then do check. The facilities on offer -- especially with privately owned cottages -- will vary according to the owner. Some will kit the cottage out completely down to an iron, hairdryer, washer/drier and even toiletries. Others will simply provide the basics.

If renting for a family then think about what the kids will need. Most cottages will include items such as travel cots as standard but some may charge to hire extra beds. Some cottage owners even include toys, games, videos and DVDs for the kids which can save further overloading an already overloaded car.

One useful service -- especially if arriving late -- that some owners offer is an initial grocery shop. Here, the owner will buy in basics for the arrival of their visitors inclouding bread, milk and so forth.

Health and safety

A lot of people forget that many cottages are actually old buildings so they may not get all the comforts they have at home and there may be more scope for potential accidents. There may be no central heating or the system may be older than the norm -- check that the system has been checked recently and passed as safe. If renting a cottage with an open fire check that it comes with the necessary fire-guards.

People that suffer from allergies or asthma may have problems here -- the ventilation in older properties may not be as good as they are used to at home and there may be issues with dust. If travelling with children think about the safety measures in place at home and try and replicate them.

Checking references

People looking to book holiday cottages through a travel agent/agency should check that the company is registered with a relevant trade body such as ABTA. If booking online from smaller companies then make sure that they have a mailing address and a contact number on the site and make a note of it.

If booking direct from the cottage's owner then it can be harder to check on the actual quality of the cottage. Look carefully at photos and ask as many questions as necessary to find out the ins and outs of staying in the cottage. Ask for references from people who have stayed there before -- a reputable owner should have no problem providing these. It's also worth while taking the time to read through any rental agreement/contract carefully before signing it or paying a deposit. Read the small print to check what the owner will provide and what the liabilities of the renter are. Finally, remember to search on the cottage on the Internet -- many people will rate the cottages they have stayed in on forums and review sites which could be useful.

Conclusion

Find the right holiday cottage and anybody can have a great holiday in the UK. Remember to think hard about where in the UK to stay and to consult all party members to find out what they want to do on holiday to make sure that the cottage and location really will suit everybody.