Self Catering cottage holidays in the UK - click here now!

Short breaks could be one or 2 nights long and start on a Friday or Saturday, and end on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Any property you rent for a holiday should have a full description of services and facilities available. A virtual tour of a holiday cottage is a great way of finding cottages that meet all your needs, maybe with panoramic country views, or special kitchen facilities, a hot tub or a Jacuzzi bath. Although not every holiday cottage is equipped to the same standard, all holiday properties should have everything you need for an enjoyable holiday and many offer far more than most might expect. From modern minimalist furnishings and equipment with every convenience, to traditional farmhouses with slate flooring and a huge roaring AGA, there are thousands of variations to choose from. You will want the extra space, and a property sleeping 4 people will have a lot less room than properties sleeping up to 6 people. It's the cottage owners job to make payment as easy as possible, because holidaycottages are the best choice of break, whether a short break or a long let in the British Isles, and payment can be just as simple as visiting a travel agent.

What parking and access is provided with rental holiday cottages? If private off road parking is provided then this should be stated as one of the amenities, in the cottage description. There should be an indication whether there is plenty of room or space for only one car. If the parking facilities are on the street or in a nearby public car park then this should be clearly stated. Many properties are in unique rural settings and access may not be on a metalled road. If access to the property is particularly difficult then this should be made clear in the details that are given to you. Some rustic country tracks may be challenging or unsuitable for vehicles with low ground clearance such as sports cars, but passable by four wheel drive 4wd cars like Land Rovers. If you have a vehicle with little clearance or have any other concerns about parking then it is worth getting in touch with the cottage owners or the booking company just to make sure. When you are looking you should seriously consider booking a property that sleeps up to two more than you requested. It's the cottage owners job to make payment as easy as possible, because holidaycottages are the best choice of break, whether a short break or a long let in the British Isles, and payment can be just as simple as visiting a travel agent. If you are taking your car, motor home, cycles or MPV you need to make sure that parking arrangements are satisfactory. Maybe you need off street parking, and it is normal in the country side to find that off road parking is standard.

When you see the phrase 'Easy walking access' means that a visitor using a walking aid should have no difficulty in gaining access to the principal rooms and garden whereas 'wheelchair access' means that a visitor in a wheelchair should always be able to gain access to the principal rooms and garden. Your property should be regularly inspected and you need to be able to rest assured that only the best quality properties are on offer. When you have paid for you holiday in full, you will be given details of how to find your holidaycottage, and where to collect your keys on arrival. You might need to pay the full amount up front or pay a deposit with the balance when you leave. You need to check which insurance and cancellation scheme coverage is provided with your cottage, because you may or may not be covered for the cost of your rent and any additional booking fees if you have to come home early for some unexpected reason.

Some properties have internal stairs so if you really need a bungalow to take your holiday that has no steps and have at least one bedroom and one bathroom on the ground floor. Some properties participate in the Tourist Board National Accessible scheme which is great news for visitors with all forms of disability. If any accidents happen while you are staying at your rented holiday cottage then these will need to be paid for, unless you have specific insurance coverage in place. Before you arrive your cottage will have been cleaned and any missing items noted or replaced so if you find any deficiencies or damage on arrival that have not been noted it is in your own interest to notify the cottage owner or caretaker. How many bedrooms has the cottage got? Can it sleep a party of two, three, four or five, or groups of friends with children who have six, seven, eight, nine or ten people with babies and toddlers who need to have special sleeping arrangements. Changes to a holiday that you have booked might involve additional paper work and require the booking company to contact the owner of the holiday property so to cover these additional costs you might be asked to pay a small administration fee. The thing is though, it is better to have exactly the right holiday, so don’t worry about making changes.

You might need to pay the full amount up front or pay a deposit with the balance when you leave. If you are taking your car, motor home, cycles or MPV you need to make sure that parking arrangements are satisfactory. Maybe you need off street parking, and it is normal in the country side to find that off road parking is standard. When you see the phrase 'Easy walking access' means that a visitor using a walking aid should have no difficulty in gaining access to the principal rooms and garden whereas 'wheelchair access' means that a visitor in a wheelchair should always be able to gain access to the principal rooms and garden. Your property should be regularly inspected and you need to be able to rest assured that only the best quality properties are on offer. When you have paid for you holiday in full, you will be given details of how to find your holidaycottage, and where to collect your keys on arrival.

Do you want to go in the Autumn, Summer, Winter or Spring? Remember that a summer holiday in the UK will be hot and sunny especially in June, July, August, or September. You should also not take breakable glasses or other utensils into the pool area. Do not swim at night or when the pool is closed. Always supervise children. When you have decided on a general location in the UK you need to move on to think about which county, town or village, and decide whether the holiday cottage you choose is available at the time of year you want to take your holiday. You to have a safe and happy holiday so a few minutes taking some simple precautions could make the difference between a holiday enjoyed and a holiday spoilt.

When you see the phrase 'Easy walking access' means that a visitor using a walking aid should have no difficulty in gaining access to the principal rooms and garden whereas 'wheelchair access' means that a visitor in a wheelchair should always be able to gain access to the principal rooms and garden. Fortnight bookings are still available in many months, with Summer the most sought after, followed by Autumn, Spring and then Winter. If your cottage in Ireland or France then you need to think about your ferry journey across the Irish sea or across the English Channel from sea port to foreign climes. At present, availability in the following months is very good: , Easter, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Weekend breaks, Bank holiday weekend, Easter week 2008, Christmas week 2008 and New Year week 2009.

We are only concerned with making sure you are completely safe on your cottage holidays so do not swim or go into the pool under the influence of alcohol or immediately after eating a meal. On a cottage holiday as soon as you climb into your car you can start your adventure. Your accommodation should be prepared and waiting for you, and as long as you have a map that gives you good directions showing how to get there it should be a breeze. Have you thought about whether your holiday cottage has Internet access because for some holiday makers a web connection will be a vital part of making sure your holiday meets all of your needs? If you are taking a guide or service dog this needs to be noted on the booking form so that there are no problems when you arrive. Please keep your pets off the furniture, exercise your pets outside the garden, remove pet hairs from carpets before you leave and don't leave your pets unattended in the cottage.


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Changes to a holiday that you have booked might involve additional paper work and require the booking company to contact the owner of the holiday property so to cover these additional costs you might be asked to pay a small administration fee. The thing is though, it is better to have exactly the right holiday, so don’t worry about making changes. Make sure that you know when you should arrive and depart your holiday cottage. Most holiday lettings start at 3.00 pm on the first day of your holiday and end at 10.00 am on the day of departure unless otherwise specified in the cottage description. Saturdays are sometimes different, so it is wise to check. This ensures that the owner or housekeeper has plenty of time to prepare the cottage for the next set of guests. You should contact the owner or caretaker at least two days before setting off to discuss the time of arrival and key collection details. Because cottages are often in peaceful villages you will often be able to agree to leave the key under the door mat, something you would not consider doing in a busy town. Keep young children off balconies and if there is a garden pond, ensure that children cannot access it. Look out for any steep drops in the garden and if there are garden sheds or outbuildings, ensure that children cannot get in them. If the property has open fires, make sure that you use the fireguard and check that the fire is safely out before you go to bed, and do not smoke in bed as this is extremely dangerous.

Please note that provision is made to accept guide dogs and service dogs at properties that do not normally allow pets. You will find details with each self catering holiday property and you just need to make sure you keep your pets off the furniture and remove pet hairs from carpets before you leave. You should exercise your pets outside the garden, maybe in a local park, by the seaside, or in rolling hills and fields. If you need to pay by cash, credit or debit card or cheque then you need to make sure that the cottage you have booked can accept your preferred method of payment. If you want to take extra people, and arrive early you might need to agree with the person who you are renting the cottage from that this is OK. You must vacate the property on time on the last day, and most property owners provide linen at no extra charge while some prefer to hire out their linen by the week.

Although not every holiday cottage is equipped to the same standard, all holiday properties should have everything you need for an enjoyable holiday and many offer far more than most might expect. From modern minimalist furnishings and equipment with every convenience, to traditional farmhouses with slate flooring and a huge roaring AGA, there are thousands of variations to choose from. Searching for your cottage will give you lots of options and it is important to think of everything, because it is usually the small details that make all the difference about whether you look back on your holiday with good memories, or end up wishing you had found a more satisfactory cottage to take your well earned break. Occasionally you will find an abbreviation within a property's descriptive text and many people get confused, wondering what they all mean. Here is an explanation of the abbreviations and you might come across some more that are not listed: When you see the phrase 'Easy walking access' means that a visitor using a walking aid should have no difficulty in gaining access to the principal rooms and garden whereas 'wheelchair access' means that a visitor in a wheelchair should always be able to gain access to the principal rooms and garden.

Taking the safety and well being of holiday makers very seriously, properties need to be well maintained for your comfort and safety. Nevertheless, please remember that when you are in unfamiliar surroundings, you must take special care of yourself and your family. If the property has open fires, make sure that you use the fireguard and check that the fire is safely out before you go to bed, and do not smoke in bed as this is extremely dangerous. Privately owned properties around the UK :: music to your ears Make sure that you know when you should arrive and depart your holiday cottage. Most holiday lettings start at 3.00 pm on the first day of your holiday and end at 10.00 am on the day of departure unless otherwise specified in the cottage description. Saturdays are sometimes different, so it is wise to check. This ensures that the owner or housekeeper has plenty of time to prepare the cottage for the next set of guests. You should contact the owner or caretaker at least two days before setting off to discuss the time of arrival and key collection details. Because cottages are often in peaceful villages you will often be able to agree to leave the key under the door mat, something you would not consider doing in a busy town.


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Holiday Cottages in the UK are usually in the more scenic rural counties but we have cottages for rental throughout the UK: