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When you arrive you will need a lot of guides to the local area and get your key which is probably hidden skilfully under the door mat, on the sill or under a flower pot.

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Pets are welcome too, and if you take any other kind of holiday it could cost you a small fortune paying others to look after your pets while you are away. After all why leave them at home when they are one of the family? Many cottages accept pets and you can specify this as a requirement. You need to decide whether you want to visit England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales because there is a lot of difference between a rustic Somerset thatched holiday cottage to let in the South of England to a traditional Cotswold stone farmhouse for rental in the Lake Districts. Your booking confirmation should come to you after you have booked your property and you need to know that your cottage is available for your holiday in plenty of time so you can book time off work. 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.

The legal details of your agreement to rent your cottage are very important as they form a formal contract. The Booking conditions or contractual terms for your hire should be very clearly stated. 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. 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: Many people ask whether properties are suitable for disabled people, whether walking disabled, in a wheelchair needing access using a ramp or are severly disabled, and we often find that the suitability of a property for the disabled is indicated in the property description.

Most holiday properties include fuel and power in the rental price. However, some cottages may have a coin meter or make a charge based on a meter reading at the end of your stay. Some may even charge extra for logs and coal provided for open fires and wood burning stoves, although you might want to bring your own fuel. Where there is a charge for fuel, this will should be made clear in the description of the cottage. How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? Can you play musical instruments when you go and stay in your cottage? Many people are keen pianists and need to know that they will have a piano waiting for them on arrival at their holiday cottage. In a self-catering cottage you will find most of the standard appliances you would expect to have at home including a washing machine, fridge, freezer, tumble drier, microwave, iron and ironing board.

A Welsh borders cottage is likely to be built from sturdy grey local stone, while a traditional holiday cottage in Scotland will be in a town or village, or maybe in the heart of the countryside, with magnificent views of mountains, valleys and lochs. 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. 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. Many people ask whether properties are suitable for disabled people, whether walking disabled, in a wheelchair needing access using a ramp or are severly disabled, and we often find that the suitability of a property for the disabled is indicated in the property description.

Carefully wrapped in its case, such as a guitar, trumpet (you don't get much chance to practice these instruments at home, eh?) or something more unusual like a basoon, flute or clarinet. How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? Pets are welcome too, and if you take any other kind of holiday it could cost you a small fortune paying others to look after your pets while you are away. After all why leave them at home when they are one of the family? Many cottages accept pets and you can specify this as a requirement. 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.

Payment for cottage holidays usually require a deposit of part of the rental price plus a booking fee and any extras. The balance is payable some time before your holiday starts. Late bookings require payment up front. 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 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. 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.

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: Parties of eleven or twelve are not that uncommon, although the selection of cottages in the UK that can sleep groups of that size is more limited. Is there a country pub nearby, a swimming pool, garden and washing machine? Cots and high chairs have to conform to British safety standards so if they are damaged or deficient in any way, then tell the owner. Look out for glass patio doors or glazed interior doors - they should have stickers at adult and child eye height. You have the freedom to tailor your own break and this is a unique part of a cottage holiday experience, and for many visitors to a small friendly country village it's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the locals.

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. Sometimes though wheelchair users may need assistance from an able bodied member of the party for some manoeuvres. Cottages should cleaned between lets and this means you only need to unpack when you arrive, put the kettle on and have a refreshing cup of tea, and explore your cottage and the surrounding countryside. There may be no extra charge for cleaning services, but often you will be expected to pay a notional amount. Most holiday properties include fuel and power in the rental price. However, some cottages may have a coin meter or make a charge based on a meter reading at the end of your stay. Some may even charge extra for logs and coal provided for open fires and wood burning stoves, although you might want to bring your own fuel. Where there is a charge for fuel, this will should be made clear in the description of the cottage.


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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. Your booking confirmation should come to you after you have booked your property and you need to know that your cottage is available for your holiday in plenty of time so you can book time off work. You have the freedom to tailor your own break and this is a unique part of a cottage holiday experience, and for many visitors to a small friendly country village it's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the locals. 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 dont worry about making changes.

The legal details of your agreement to rent your cottage are very important as they form a formal contract. The Booking conditions or contractual terms for your hire should be very clearly stated. 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. Many cottages have gardens where you can enjoy peace and privacy and do some well earned sun bathing as long as you use sun tan lotion to protect your skin. Holidays like half term, Christmas, Easter, May bank holiday, summer holiday and new year are a great time to take your remaining holiday entitlement at work and just take a few days well earned break.

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. Many country cottage properties welcome pets for a small additional charge per pet per week or short break, and you might do well to take your dog or cat rather than spend money on a kennel where your dogs might be unhappy, and your cats left feeling you don't love them. 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. Holidays like half term, Christmas, Easter, May bank holiday, summer holiday and new year are a great time to take your remaining holiday entitlement at work and just take a few days well earned break.

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. Pets are allowed in some cottages so you should check the description of the property. The owners of your rented property will not accept responsibility for the safety of your pets and they are only accepted on the understanding that they are kept under control, exercised off the premises, kept out of bedrooms and off the furniture and that they are never left in the property unattended. 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. 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.

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