Click here to view 9000 holiday cottages in the UK

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.

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. Holiday Cottages in the UK are usually in the more scenic rural counties: 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. 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.

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. Equipment in the children's playgrounds should be safe and in good condition. The surface of the play area should be soft with sand, soft earth or wood chippings. If you have a baby or several babies in your party then you need. 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. 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.

When you are looking you should seriously consider booking a property that sleeps up to two more than you requested. 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. 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 unsure of how to use the any electrical appliances please ask the cottage owner or caretaker, and if your property has night storage heaters, these must never be covered.

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. 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? 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.

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. 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. If you have a swimming pool, unless it is deep you should not dive into the pool, check which end is shallow and which end is deep, and check the location of life belts and other buoyancy equipment and read the instructions on how to use them. If you are unsure of how to use the any electrical appliances please ask the cottage owner or caretaker, and if your property has night storage heaters, these must never be covered.

Fortnight bookings are still available in many months, with Summer the most sought after, followed by Autumn, Spring and then Winter. 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. 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 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. You need to practice and a holiday is a great time to spend time learning the music that you don't normally have time for. So check if there is a piano, maybe even a grand piano or baby grand. 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.


Cornish Cottage Holidays in Mousehole | Wales Holiday Cottages | Cottage Holidays UK | Cornwall Holiday Cottage | Cornwall Cottage Holiday


Self Catering Cottage Holiday | Cottage Holiday | Cottage Holidays | Holiday Cottages | Cottages for rent | Rental Cottages | Cottage Holiday Hire | Hiring Cottages for Holidays | UK Cottage Holiday rental | English Cottage Holiday


If there is a phone number to call you on the owners of your rented cottage will be able to keep in touch and give you travel directions to your holidaycottage. 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. Holidays starting on a Monday are also find and you just need to consider whether you should book in advance to avoid a disappointment, or make a last minute booking and receive a discount. 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.

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. 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. 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: 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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: 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. 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.

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