Author Archives: Independent Cottages

A Guide to Taking Your Dog On Holiday

A cottage holiday is the perfect way to spend time with all your family but why not give your dog a holiday too? Paying to keep your dog in a kennel whilst you enjoy your cottage holiday will not only be costly, but could also leave you worrying about your four-legged friend throughout your holiday […]

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Some great UK holiday destinations that are accessible by train

Lady in sun dress with suit case at railway station

For many of us, a self-catering holiday in the UK usually involves packing the car until bursting point, often with bikes hanging off the back and the dog taking up the vast majority of the boot. This is then followed by a lengthy discussion on whether to risk the traffic on the motorway, or to […]

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Kent – The Garden of England?

Sun setting over the sea

The five main ingredients of a great UK holiday – culture, history, the great outdoors, attractions and food – Kent has them all! Fondly known as ‘The Garden of England’ due to its abundance of hop farms and orchards, Kent is the county of magnificent castles, glorious gardens, historic houses and maritime heritage. It is […]

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Top tips on how to get the most out of your self-catering holiday

Whether you are looking to book your annual family gathering, a romantic weekend away, or a last minute mid-week break, we all look forward to going on holiday. Whilst there are numerous different types of holiday accommodation to choose from, more and more people are opting for the convenience and flexibility of self-catering. Not only […]

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Wi-Fi or Not? The Risks and Benefits of Offering Internet in your Holiday Home

Person holding an iPhone displaying the wifi signal

It is now taken for granted that guests will be able to access WiFi whilst on holiday. Whilst going away is often about ‘getting away from it all’, for a lot of guests, watching a box set, surfing their social media feed, or Googling the latest football results is all part of creating some downtime. […]

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What to Expect From a Self-Catering Holiday in the UK

Family alfresco dining outside

There is a lot of different terminology used to describe different, but sometimes similar, holiday accommodation. We have B & Bs, half board, room only, guest houses, villa holidays and self-catering, just to name a few. In addition, these different terms can mean slightly different things in different countries. It is therefore not surprising that […]

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A guide to setting up your holiday cottage

Paper sign with 'Things to Consider' written on

If you have just bought a holiday cottage, or have finished renovating your own outbuildings as holiday lets, it is likely that you will be busy planning how to make your new property cosy and welcoming for guests. But where do you start? You might be thinking paint colour charts and curtain samples, or deliberating […]

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There are many benefits to renting your holiday home independently, but is it for you?

Women thinking

With more and more people choosing to holiday at home, the demand for self-catering accommodation in the UK has received a considerable boost. The holiday market has also seen a change in consumer booking habits. People are increasingly looking for short breaks, they are leaving booking to the last minute and in general, they are […]

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Top tips for taking your dog on a self-catering holiday

Westie leaping on a tennis ball on the beach

For many of us, our dogs are part of the family and a holiday just wouldn’t be the same without bringing our four legged friends with us. Not only does it eliminate the anguish and cost associated with putting your pets in a kennel, but taking your dog on holiday to discover new and exciting […]

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Holiday rental photography tips for the perfect listing

Lady taking a picture in bright sunshine of a field of sunflowers

Twenty five years ago, before the days of the internet, holiday cottages were booked from a brochure with just a single photo the size of a postage stamp. The only gauge of quality that potential holiday-makers had to go on was a subjective star-rating system and a short description of the property. However, times have […]

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