A Home From Home: What Guests REALLY Want From A Holiday Let
The first holiday that Joe and I ever went on together was a weekend away in Amsterdam. We stayed at The American hotel, arriving on the early morning flight and going straight to the bar upon arrival, harnessing that laissez-faire attitude that you have when you first meet someone and you’ve got no responsibilities. We then proceeded to drink so much wine that we slept all afternoon and were too hungover to go anywhere. On our second holiday, we were more organised. I bought a book of French B&B’s (no Air at that time) and we booked (via telephone) six of them to stay in whilst we drove down to Antibe and back again. We had only the book for reference, a map of France and a convertible BMW (Joe worked for them at the time) but we were like Thelma & Louise, albeit without the headscarves and Brad Pitt. I’m pretty sure also that Thelma didn’t have the same obsessive regard for her company car as Joe did, meaning that full security systems had to be put in place every time we stopped for the loo and if I attempted to put rubbish in the side pockets it was on pain of death.
An AirBNB we stayed in in Riga, Latvia.
Anyway, our risky accommodation arrangements worked extremely well. One night we were in a sixties bungalow in Rimes, staying in a barn in the garden and eating a seven course dinner with the family and the other guests (the owner was an award winning chef, a fact of which we had no idea when we booked our room for £25 a night). We stayed in a tiny Hotel in Arles, the bathroom created out of the natural stone walls. In Carcassone, we booked rooms in a huge Chateau which had been bought by two British families who had upped sticks and started a new venture running luxury accommodation. And in Paris we stayed in a tiny top floor apartment in Saint Germain, with roads so narrow you could almost touch the person in the apartment opposite you (we didn’t). Our only fail was Antibe, where we decided to ‘go rogue’ and purchased a two person tent to camp for a week midway through the trip. We hadn’t, of course, taken into account that the temperature was 45 degrees in the sun, which is exactly where our tent pitch had been allocated (mostly due to the fact that we were both British and driving a convertible BMW, making us persona non grata to the other campers). We lasted two nights in sauna conditions on a deflating double mattress before we admitted defeat and checked into a Hotel in Juan Les Pins. Always know your limits.
Since those hazy days of coupledom and impulsive decisions, we’ve been on more than a few self catering holidays. We’ve stayed in cottages in Cornwall, party houses in the Peak District, beach houses in France and villas in Valencia, to name but a few. Our reactions upon arrival at these properties have ranged from ‘ah, this is lovely’ to ‘I’m not putting my child down on this floor, ffs'. Some have been exceptional - cupboards filled with copious glassware, sparkling surfaces, baby equipment and a bottle of wine as a welcome. Some have not. We once stayed in a house (owned by a British family, in fact) in Jard Sur Mer that hadn’t been cleaned since the previous guests had left, rubbish bins full and beds unmade. We’ve arrived at villa locations with three kids to find ourselves surrounded by wire fencing, miles from anywhere with ‘local’ restaurants that didn’t open until 10pm nightly, hopeless for family dining. As we’ve got older and more savvy, we’ve learned to grill down before booking, to scour every review. Of course, it’s helpful too that companies such as AirBNB and Booking.com have nailed this sector so that most of the time you know exactly what you are getting prior to booking. That, and the fact you can now Google Earth locations and see where the nearest supermarket is. Or, more importantly, wine bar.
For the last four months, I’ve been renovating our garage barn to create the perfect self contained accommodation. A large hallway and a shower room below; a small kitchenette with sink and fridge above, combined with a living space and large double bedroom. Initially, my intention was to use this space for family members and work - my job as a content creator means that I work regularly with brands styling their products so it made sense to have the extra room. However, as the renovation has progressed, it’s become more and more obvious that it would be perfect for a weekend break so I’ve started looking into how I can use it for this very purpose. There’s a couple of wins here for me. Firstly, in order to do the work we extended our mortgage so renting it out would cover the extra payments. And secondly, it would be a mini business in itself - a long term investment that would maybe even yield a profit, whilst still providing a location space for my work and extra guest room. Perfect.
But how to make sure that it’s the best it can be? What do people expect when they book into a holiday let? And how to make sure that you’re providing everything that will make their stay comfortable? In the interests of research (and my own interests, of course) I asked my Instagram followers what their benchmark is for the perfect stay. I received literally hundreds of responses from both potential and experienced guests and seasoned holiday let owners so I thought it was worth compiling - please note that I have based this list on a kitchenette (ie, no cooking apart from toast and cold food). Here’s what they came up with.
General
WiFi. Let’s start with the most important thing on everyone’s list. Good, strong and free. WiFi code clearly displayed upon arrival.
Parking. A clear place to park your car close to the holiday let is super important, advised in advance.
Welcome pack. If you want to hit the big time, this should include but is not limited to a bottle of sparkling water, Prosecco, a pint of milk, teabags (English Breakfast Tea and herbal), coffee capsules and ground, hot chocolate, locally produced biscuits and crackers, a piece of local cheese, locally produced chocolate, anything else locally produced such as scones, clotted cream, honey etc, butter, a loaf of bread, jam, fruit juice, tomatoes on the vine, posh crisps, croissants for breakfast. Dog treats if you allow dogs. Basically anything artisan and local. Get shopping.
Welcome book. A compilation of all local restaurants and pubs with reviews, bus times, local attractions, walking routes, taxi numbers, doctor and dentist surgery, takeaway and delivery menus, train timetable, local supermarkets, garages, Post Office. If you’re allowing dogs, a list of locations that allow them entrance. Plus anything else you can think of.
Coat hooks. This, I can tell you, appeared on many a message. A place to hang your coat and bag is an essential.
Music. A decent wireless speaker for guests to use, equipped with full details for connection.
Charging leads. How many people forget their chargers? if you’ve got USB plugs, you just need to provide an extra cable.
Outdoor space. Folding table and chairs if your property has any sort of outside space for the summer months.
Living Area
Comfortable seating. Guests laugh in the face of an uncomfortable chair. Make sure your sofa or seats are cosy with plenty of clean cushions and warm throws for the chilly nights. The overriding opinion is that people want to feel relaxed, as though they are sitting in their own living rooms.
TV. Smart TV that can be utilised for Netflix. Nowadays, it’s perfectly feasible to stream from your phone so you don’t need to provide Sky or any other sort of package. But a Smart TV is a yes.
Fire. This isn’t an essential, obvs. But if you DO have a fire, then you need to provide a bag of logs. Not just one, at least six so that they can have enough on arrival to not have to rush to the garage.
Reading matter. Coffee table books. The glossier the better - they look great but are also lovely to look at. Magazines were another popular request - recent please. A selection of current paperbacks is also welcomed. Local guidebooks or pub guides.
Accessories. So, this was an odd one but the general consensus was that people didn’t want to see clutter - they wanted somewhere to put their own things, to make it feel like their own space. However, on the same token they didn’t want to be in a home with no personality. So I’d say middle ground, for that one. Don’t overdo it.
Candles. A nice smelling candle was a winning request; a oil diffuser ticks the box too.
Board games. Trivial Pursuit is unbeatable, but a choice of board games is perfect for if your guests don’t want to go out. A pack of cards was also mentioned frequently as an easy and economical way to add that extra touch.
Honesty bar. I quite liked this idea. A range of basic spirits and mixers with a cocktail menu - you make the drink, you pay a set amount into the Honesty Box.
Kitchen
Glassware. Should be copious. The worst complaints were lack of water and wine glasses. General rule is to provide double the quantity for the amount of guests. Countless mentioned that they’d require champagne flutes and gin balloons as a minimum expectation.
Crockery & cutlery. Decent sized mugs and coffee cups, plus a teapot. Plates, bowls - again, going by the double the quantity rule. Serving platters and serving bowls for salads. Full set of cutlery, including teaspoons, plus serving utensils.
Bottle openers. This was absolutely the most popular complaint about rental properties. A decent bottle opener and a corkscrew are essentials.
Washing up. Two tea towels, washing up liquid, washing brush, general purpose cleaning spray and kitchen roll. Packet of wipes are a bonus although not particularly environmentally friendly so let’s stick with the kitchen roll. If no draining board, a drying rack.
Decent sized bin. Again, many complaints about lack of recycling facilities and bin bags. Ideally should provide a general waste bin and a recycling bin.
Sharp knife. A couple of sharp knives should be in the kitchen drawer. Blunt knives are a big no no in the world of holiday lets.
Coffee. A pod based coffee maker is not enough, you also need to provide a cafetière.
Appliances. In a kitchenette environment, a clean fridge, kettle (descaled) and toaster should be on hand.
Empty shelf. An empty shelf in the cupboard so that guests can store their own food.
Salt and pepper. Preferably in a nice grinder.
Ice in the freezer. Absolutely imperative for those predinner drinks.
Iron and ironing board. Essential after a long journey and can be stored in a cupboard.
Bedroom
Bedside tables. Seems such a simple one, but you’d be surprised how many people said that they’ve stayed in properties without them. Uncluttered is the buzz word here - keep them clean and clear. If you have to add anything, make it a magazine. Current, not last year. Standards. Or a box of tissues.
Decent bedside lighting. This is something that you’d have in your own bedroom, so why wouldn’t you provide that in a rental property?
Plug sockets. These should be copious but particularly important next to the bed, both sides. Combined with a USB socket, you’re in the Gold Zone.
Hairdryer. A categoric essential. There even seems to be a need for hair straighteners. The most important part is making sure there is an area with a plug socket for the hairdryer to be easily used.
Mirrors. This was a huge complaint with many people having issues with the lack of mirrors in holiday rentals. Bedrooms should have an area in a natural or well lit comfortable space with a mirror, ledge for storage, plug socket and enough space for putting on make up and dressing. An additional full length mirror is another bonus.
The bed. A massive one from a tick box perspective. And when it comes to size, too - the bigger the better. Bed linen should be Hotel luxe quality and preferably white, pure cotton or linen. The mattress should be good quality and firm, with a full mattress protector. Pillows should be medium firm, with many people requesting a choice of pillow depending on their needs (wtf). Again, pillows should have protectors. A throw and bed cushions are also essential for a good nights sleep.
Hangers. An essential - at least six for a stay for two.
Blackout blinds or curtains. To ensure the perfect nights sleep.
Extras. Heated blanket, hot water bottle, Hotel stylie slippers, suitcase rack.
Bathroom
Decent shower. This was the top request. Feeble drips are not acceptable.
Towel hooks. This was also a popular one. Apparently there is simply nothing worse than not having somewhere to hang your towel when you exit the shower. A heated towel rail is the ideal.
Storage space. No one wants to see a crammed vanity surface or worse, no vanity surface on which to place their toiletries. As much room as possible is the rule, plus basketware or containers for storage.
Towels. Another biggie. The worst complaint was only being given two towels for a two person stay. A couple of towels each should be the minimum and they MUST be fluffy and clean. Thin towels are the guests nemesis.
Toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash should be provided as standard, in large containers rather than disposable (better for the planet too, btw). The nicer the quality, the better. Think Cowshed, Malin & Goetz, White Company, etc. Hand soap and hand cream dispensers should also be provided as standard. Any additional luxury toiletries for guest use will gain brownie points.
Emergency Basket. Again, an essential. This should include, but is not limited to, toothpaste, razors, shaving foam, tampons, sanitary towels, cotton wool, make up wipes, body lotion, sewing kit and Barrocca.
Bathmat or bath board. So that your guests don’t get cold wet feet when they exit the shower. Yes, this seems pernickety but when it comes to the crunch, it’s a small investment but it’s going to make a difference.
Adequate toilet paper. Not just a few sheet at the end of a roll, basically. A couple of rolls is perfect.
Bathrobe. Lots of people suggested this was a nice touch which upped the luxe factor.
Mirror. Decent mirror essential in all types of bathroom or shower room.
So that’s the list from the Instagram massive, all of whom are fully experienced in the ways of the holiday let. The main consensus and the most important factor in rating a property is most definitely cleanliness - spotless EVERYTHING is essential. Someone commented that they wanted their holiday let to feel at least as nice, if not much better, than their own home environment which just about sets the bar. The Barn will be launched as a short break holiday let as of March so it seems I have a lot of work to do before then! Thanks to everyone who helped me to compile this list - I’ll keep you updated!