How to Avoid Holiday Cottage Disappointment

1. Set a Budget With the soaring cost of fuel and flights many people are choosing to stay in the UK. However, although on the face of it this seems a cheaper option it's easy to spend more than you intend. Decide on a budget per person for the property you plan to book and stick to it. And don't forget to factor in the fuel cost of getting to your destination. 2. Decide where to go There are cottages for rent all over the UK. The South West, comprising Devon, Cornwall and Dorset is one of the most popular areas closely followed by the Lake District and The Cotswolds. You need to decide whether you want to be in the countryside by the sea or near a city. Splendid isolation can seem ideal when you're booking but think about practicalities too, particularly if you are part of a large group or have children to entertain. You don't want to spend your holiday driving between where you're staying and the nearest supermarket or pub or restaurant. There are some great locations, particularly Devon cottages, where you can get the best of both worlds with a rural location that's close to the beach and the wide open spaces of Dartmoor. 3. Choose a property that's big enough If you're staying longer than a couple of nights sofa beds or having to sleep in the sitting room is not ideal. And check that there are enough bathrooms to go with the rooms, keeping in mind the ages of your group. For the very young and the very old more bathrooms per person are advisable. 4. Transport If you're travelling on a busy summer Saturday be prepared for traffic jams in peak season. Try and time your journey to avoid the worst of them. Get some decent directions to the cottage and consider investing in a Satnav. 5. Catering Most Cottage holidays are self-catering. And while some cottages have large, well equipped kitchens not all do. If you're planning to eat out most of the time it doesn't matter too much. But if you intend to do a lot of cooking do ask about the facilities before you book. Cottages should always provide enough pots, pans and other utensils for the maximum amount of people that can occupy the property. And comfortable dining seating for that number of people to eat together. Do take essential supplies with you. Check what is provided at the cottage and remember to take some basic supplies with you so you don't have to dash off to a supermarket as soon as you arrive. Increasingly cottages, particularly larger houses, also offer outside catering. This is great for a large party or a special occasion. 6. Facilities Are they all that they seem? If there's a swimming pool is it heated? Because an outside unheated pool in England will not be very warm even in mid-summer. If there's a TV is it flat screen and high-def or a sad old box-shaped cast off from the owner's house? Is there outside seating for everyone in your party? And if there is that outside space sunny with a view or shady without one? 7. Duration Many holiday cottages still stick rigidly to 7 day bookings during peak periods, usually Saturday to Saturday so you'll have to plan a break that's 7 or 14 nights. Similarly during peak periods, such as the summer holidays, weekend breaks are unlikely to be available. 8. Dates Think about the dates of your holiday. School holidays book up the quickest so be prepared to book up to a year or more in advance to get the accommodation and holiday you want. The best cottages are often snapped up by repeat booking holiday makers. Otherwise try to be flexible. If you don't have school age children in your party you'll get better deals, smaller crowds and weather that is just as warm just outside the school holidays. 9. Hidden Extras These can really push up the price of a holiday rental. They include things like: surcharges for paying by PayPal, cleaning charges, heating charges, charges for logs, for parking and sometimes even charges for electricity! 10. Booking direct Finally, booking direct with owners is appealing as you feel like you're cutting out the middleman and getting a bargain. However the downside is there is no guarantee that photos are up-to-date and the property still matches the flattering description on the website. You are also unlikely to be able to book online. That is where using a specialist holiday cottages agency can often pay dividends. You can book confident that each cottage has been selected and inspected and has a straightforward and clear description.. Ben Tisdall Journalist, marketer and director of West Country Lets Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6619002