How to start a holiday let business
Whilst owning a holiday cottage can be a financially rewarding and exciting venture, it can be incredibly daunting knowing...
With the self-catering holiday industry booming and more people looking to spend time outside, we’ve put together our top tips on equipping your holiday let for guests that love the outdoors.
From drying racks and dog showers to crabbing tips and tide timetables, these simple tips will make life easier for your guests, whilst also helping them to keep your holiday home clean and tidy.
Whether it’s walking, cycling, surfing or sailing, the UK boasts a treasure trove of activities; an indisputable playground for adventure seekers to enjoy.
So, as a holiday let owner, there are things you can do to make life easier for your guests that may be travelling with bikes or bodyboards, or looking to spend long days on the beach.
Luckily, this doesn’t have to be costly and by introducing just a few convenient solutions, your property can soon provide a useful and hassle-free base to explore and enjoy the local surroundings – in turn, encouraging repeat bookings and positive reviews.
Use the quick links below for specific holiday cottage hacks, or continue reading for our complete guide:
Beach accessories: A day at the beach is always more enjoyable with a few extra accessories, like a sun umbrella, wind break, buckets and spades for sandcastles, beach chairs and beach games.
Cool box and picnic supplies: Providing a cool box or picnic hamper that can be taken to the beach to keep drinks and food chilled will be welcome on those hot sunny days by the sea, and is an easy and relatively inexpensive addition to your holiday let. Including bamboo cups, plates and cutlery will also prevent unnecessary waste of single use plastics.
Alternatively, why not provide details on where guests can source locally made hampers, allowing them to enjoy local treats without the hassle of preparing a picnic?
Outdoor shower space: Make life a breeze for guests when they come back from a day in the sun and surf.
Whether it’s in the form of a wet room, utility room or small courtyard with an outdoor sink and tap, a space to wash off the sand and dry off is a great idea, and will help to prevent guests from bringing sand into your property.
Drying space: Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, provide an allocated area to hang wet towels and swimming gear.
Just a simple adjustable clothesline, the addition of a foldable drying rack or clothes airer in the utility, will give guests the space to get their beach supplies dry and prevent wet items from being draped on any of your property’s furniture, potentially causing marks and water stains.
For bulky items such as wetsuits, providing a heavy-duty hanger or drying rack in a designated area away from furniture and main living space will prevent the smell of damp and marked furniture.
Board rack: Provide a safe, compact and convenient space for guests to store their SUPs, surfboards or kayaks. If you have a garage or outbuilding, having the versatility of a padded board rack will prevent damage to boards when they are stored.
Include beach and watersport information in your welcome pack: A great way to welcome guests that love the outdoors is to provide them with comprehensive information on where, when and how they can make the most of the local coastline.
Reveal hidden gems in your welcome pack, such as the best places to go:
Include details on tide timetables, beaches that are dog-friendly, where they can hire watersports or outdoor equipment, what shops they can purchase crabbing equipment from, local private boat hire companies and more.
Don’t forget to mention your favourite spots to visit, as these will be much appreciated by guests.
Read our guide on how to create the perfect holiday home guest information pack here. Or, for more information on South Devon activities to include in your welcome guide, read our South Devon blog pages.
Properly equipped porch: After a long day out walking, make it easy for guests to come in, take a seat and remove their walking gear. Include hooks to hang coats or walking poles, and storage for hiking boots and wellies.
Providing adequate space and storage for outside gear will keep your guests happy and your cottage clean.
Boot brush: Conveniently placed boot brushes allow guests to remove muck and mud out of boot treads and sole edges, keeping your holiday let mud free. A bristly boot brush is a great way to clean off excess bits that have been missed by the boot scraper!
Washing line or tumble dryer: Sometimes getting caught in a downpour is inevitable when out and about.
Having some form or hanging space indoors, like a clothes airer or washing line for guests to dry out their gear will be welcomed. And needless to say, providing a tumble dryer for guests will be a luxury that will be much appreciated.
Walking guides and information: Books and maps featuring local walks can be extremely useful items to leave for your holidaymakers. Here’s our guide to walks in South Devon.
Garage or lockable storage: Bicycles are valuable pieces of equipment that guests would prefer not to leave strapped to their cars and exposed to the elements. Guests want to arrive at their accommodation and have secure and undercover storage, for peace of mind that their bicycles will be safe.
If your property has a lockable garage or a shed, provide bike racks or mounted hooks for guests to store their bikes, allowing them to have a truly relaxed holiday.
Bike rack: These come in all shapes and sizes and will be a welcome addition for guests with bicycles. Simple wall hooks to vertical multi bike racks are a good way to reclaim floor space and reduce the hassle of having a place to store bikes in your holiday let’s lockable garage or shed.
Outdoor hose: Bikes often tend to get mucky, especially those that go off the beaten track. Allowing guests access to a hose with a selection of bike washing brushes will do the trick after even the muddiest ride.
Local cycling information: Provide information on local bicycle hire businesses and popular cycle routes for your guests to enjoy, with local insider’s information.
For example, you may want to list your favourite cycle routes that take you to hidden eateries, or perhaps mention paths with amazing views.
There is a high demand for dog-friendly staycations, and as guests are likely to be out for dog walks come rain or shine, we’ve put together some of our top holiday let ideas for those four-legged explorers…
Dog washing station: A dog shower or wash station means no more guarding your property from a mucky mutt or putting a damper on outdoor time.
The simple addition of an outdoor hose or shower head, or indoor dog shower to wash off sandy paws, ensures that both house and dog remain clean and in top form.
Additional towels: All dogs love to explore and roam around, regardless of what the weather is doing…so prepare for their return with a few clean, old towels ready to minimise the amount of muddy footprints.
Pet treats: Having a few thoughtful additions made by local businesses such as dog treats, or discounts for nearby pet shops, will go a long way and will always be gratefully welcomed. You may also want to include poo bags, which are always useful in case guests forget to pack them.
We highly recommend including information on dog-friendly beaches, walks and places that guests can explore with their four-legged companion in a guest welcome pack.
If you are still undecided about accepting pets in your property, read our blog for more details on the pro’s and con’s of having a dog-friendly holiday let.
It’s often the small touches that make the most difference when letting a holiday cottage. Understanding what will give guests the best experience when staying at your property will not only encourage repeat business, but will make your property attractive to more guests.
Whether you are considering letting your holiday home, or you already have a holiday letting business, the following owner guides may be useful to you:
How to furnish your holiday let
How to make your holiday let eco-friendly
How to optimise your holiday lets outdoor space
If you own a holiday home and you’re thinking of letting it out, visit our property owners blog for a whole host of advice for homeowners.
With over 20 years’ experience, from cleaning, housekeeping and laundry to holiday let insurance, our team are here to help!
To find out more about holiday letting with Coast & Country Cottages, request your FREE owners guide today or call our team of holiday letting experts.
Click here to request an Owners Guide
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