‘Don’t assume what you see in an advert is set in stone.’
These are simple but wise words from Richard Young, 50, the co-founder of selfcatering.co.uk, a man who has decades of experience in holiday rentals.
His advice should certainly, then, be heeded by anyone looking to book a holiday.
Richard, who’s an advocate for doing your research in advance, wants his clients – and, indeed, any travellers – to avoid nasty surprises at the start of their trip.
‘One time my bedroom window directly looked out onto a working dairy farm approximately eight feet away,’ Richard says of one unfortunate trip. ‘You can imagine the noise at milking time, which is EARLY.
‘Look for clues in the photos, ask questions, maybe check Google maps for the location. You don’t want your idyllic countryside retreat to be one field away from a motorway. A bit of research goes a long way and can really improve your stay.’
As such, Richard has revealed the key areas inside your potential accommodation to check before booking a holiday rental.
He’s given a rundown of what to look for when researching accommodation and how to save money when doing so – as well as the biggest mistakes people make.
Richard Young, 50, the co-founder of selfcatering.co.uk, has decades of experience in holiday rentals
Don’t write it off immediately
Richard implores holidaymakers not to write off a holiday rental because it doesn’t fit your needs exactly.
To ensure you have the best stay possible and get the most out of your budget, he says all you need to do is just ask in advance whether your demands can be met.
Richard explains: ‘If you have requirements that are either specifically excluded, or not mentioned, get in touch with the owner, if possible. Many would rather have a property let under occupancy, or with an extra dog or two, rather than it sitting there empty.
‘If an owner only has to clean a small proportion of the house, their costs are much reduced, and you can bag some amazing deals this way, at properties you wouldn’t possibly think you could afford. This is especially possible out of season or last minute.’
Booking hacks
You could also book directly through the hotel or accommodation itself, Richard explains. He says: ‘Owners are frequently open to circumventing the fees they have to pay, and, well, Airbnb is a big enough company to weather the loss.’
Another suggestion he has is to go outside of school holidays.
Richard believes research in advance can make all the difference, ensuring you have the best stay possible and get the most out of your budget
The expert says: ‘You can often save more than the fine your children’s school may impose, although you might also get a hard time at the next parents’ evening!’
Pet issues
Pet-related issues can cause a lot of headaches if you don’t check the details, Richard says. He adds: ‘Some sizes of dogs are not welcome, for example. Add to that allowing dogs in the bed, which in some places might lose you part of the deposit as dog hairs can be quite difficult to remove. Never assume the garden is safely enclosed. Nobody wants that terror of losing a beloved hound.’
Look at the photos
‘Luxury means different things to people. Don’t assume your definition matches that of the host,’ Richard adds.
Look closely at the photos to see the types of decoration and fittings, he says, which will give you an idea if they are aligned with your standards or if the host is stretching the truth a little. ‘Blackout blinds are a must, unless you like to wake up with the sun. We don’t,’ he warns.
Countryside problems
Of course, noises are inevitable near farms and countryside areas.
Noises are inevitable near farms and countryside areas. Richard says: ‘Check on Google Maps to see if there are farms or other potential issues if you are a light sleeper. If you are not keen on some of the well known country smells, it might be worth checking for pig farms too’
‘Add to that the odd cockerel doing an early morning call, and restful lie-ins might not be that forthcoming,’ Richard says. ‘Check on Google Maps to see if there are farms or other potential issues if you are a light sleeper. If you are not keen on some of the well known country smells, it might be worth checking for pig farms too.’
Join mailing lists
Richard says signing up to mailing lists on holiday cottage websites could save lots of cash – plus, you’ll be the first to find out about last minute offers.
He explains: ‘If you are flexible on dates, where you are staying (both the property and the location), it can work really well. Equally, if you find an owner who might have just one or two properties you like the look of, they will often mail out their last minute availability when they have had a cancellation.’
You can also contact holiday agencies in an area you are interested in, and ask if they have any owners willing to give a last-minute discount.
Richard adds: ‘This won’t work with the big nationwide agencies though, because they have too many properties on their books to know all their owners. Think smaller, local agencies.’
Chilling
‘Check out the photos of the main living space and don’t forget to note the TV size and whether Netflix is on the menu’ – wise words, again, from someone who knows his stuff.
Richard explains comfortable sofas are essential – and you should always check the photos in advance
Richard warns: ‘Some places haven’t upgraded their technology since the 90s. Who can even watch a 24″ TV from across a room? These are often not mentioned, so investigation of the photos is important!’
This checking of the living room photos is also important for ensuring the property has comfy sofas.
He says: ‘Some properties have furniture the owners would never consider using themselves, such as awful upright suites. Who wants to sit like that? I have had to lie on a duvet on the floor in the past!’
Parking and access
Richard says: ‘There is little worse than arriving at a holiday home to find out parking is an issue, be that limited spaces for a larger property, lots of steps to navigate or even no parking nearby. It’s fine if you know this in advance but it’s best to make certain if you are not sure.’
Again, Richard explains the photos are a great source and if you feel like being a bit more investigative, check out Google Street view.
Walking distance
Inevitably, you’ll need a nice pub or supermarket during your stay – so check how far away your rental is from these in advance of booking.
If you need to be online during your stay, make sure you ask the owner or the travel website how strong the mobile and WiFi signal in the property is
WiFi and mobile signal
If you need to be online during your stay, make sure you ask the owner or the travel website how strong the mobile and WiFi signal in the property is.
Even with WiFi, it can be important to have a mobile reception too, so whilst this is not always listed on a holiday cottage website, you can use the Ofcom signal checker as a guide.
‘Not all WiFi is the same and if you need to stay connected or perhaps have teenagers who HAVE to be online, is it really worth the potential moaning?’ Richard says.
Bed sizes
‘There’s nothing worse than poor sleep on a too-small bed,’ the expert says vehemently.
‘When a double or king-size is mentioned, they might very well be different from your understanding. For example, when a Queen is mentioned, it could be literally anything from 4ft to 6ft wide. We tend to look for singles that are “zip and link”, so often a twin room can be set up as a lovely big super king-size. Just put a spare duvet under the sheet so you don’t notice the join.
‘A king-size is often mixed up with a Super King as there is not a clear standard naming system. Don’t even get me started on the USA – as they use different terms to us Brits.
If you are taller than most, it is good to check the pictures for foot ends as there is no way of dangling your feet off the bottom of the bed
‘If you are taller than most, it is good to check the pictures for foot ends as there is no way of dangling your feet off the bottom of the bed.’
Cancellation policies
‘As dull as it is, checking the terms and conditions can save you a lot of drama later on,’ Richard finishes.
Taking out travel insurance can also save you a huge amount of hassle.
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