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

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 we sometimes get asked, especially by foreign visitors, what exactly is self-catering?

What is self catering accommodation?

In a nutshell, self-catering accommodation refers to a property which provides the necessary facilities to allow guests to cater (i.e. cook) for themselves. It might be a holiday cottage, house, apartment, country mansion or something a little more quirky like a tree-house, yurt or even a boat. It might also be described as a self-catering holiday let or vacation rental. Whatever the size and nature of the property, self-catering accommodation means that you will buy all your own food and cook your own meals. This offers guests the flexibility to set their own holiday timetable, meal times, menu and vacation budget.

However, there is more to a self-catering holiday home than the kitchen! This article provides an overview of what you can expect from a typical self-catering holiday in the UK. However, we do recommend that before you book a holiday home, you always check the facilities provided with the property owner before booking.

What to expect

Self-catering is certainly not new in the UK. However, the quality and choice has improved considerably in recent years. It was once viewed as a cheap holiday option where you might expect to find mismatched crockery and a dated and tired décor in a property that was only used for a few weeks of the year. Things have changed. Today, most owners of self-catering holiday homes aim to provide a true ‘home from home’ experience, where you will find all the facilities that you would expect to find at home, and often more.

Whilst the budget and size of self-catering accommodation can vary considerably, there are a few things that you can expect where ever you stay.

The kitchen and living space

Often the social centre of the house, every self-catering property should have a kitchen where you can normally prepare anything from a simple breakfast to a full blown Christmas dinner. This will generally include crockery, cutlery, glasses, pots and pans, bake ware, cooking utensils, a kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge, freezer, oven and hob. Many will also include dishwashers and some may have the luxury of range cookers, coffee machines and American style fridge freezers. Facilities vary considerably between property types so be sure to check the finer detail to ensure the kitchen space meets your catering needs.

The dining area should have a table and enough chairs so everyone can comfortably sit and eat their meals together. The living area should have enough comfortable seating for everyone and will usually have a TV. Most self-catering holiday homes will provide free WiFi, and some will provide devices to play music. Some properties will also have a wood burner or open fire. Sometimes logs are provided, but you might need to buy these from a local shop. If it is important that you have a real fire or WiFi it is worth double checking that the property has these facilities when you book. 

Bedrooms

Beds are normally made up ready for arrival with fresh bed linen. The majority of owners also provide towels, but some don’t, so double check this when you book. Remember that this is not a hotel, so if you are staying for a week or less then it is unlikely that your linen and towels will be changed. Most self-catering holiday homes will have a washing machine, and either a tumble drier or somewhere to hang your laundry to dry should you need to wash any clothes or bedding during your stay.

Bathrooms

Most holiday homes will have ample bath or shower rooms to cater for the required number of guests. However, whilst some might provide ensuite facilities, there will be others that don’t. Equally, some self-catering holiday lets might have showers but no baths – or the other way round. If your idea of a holiday is sitting in a deep bubbly bath with a glass of wine at the end of the day, you might be disappointed if the property only has a shower! It is therefore worth checking how many bath or shower rooms there are to ensure it meets your needs.

Outside space and parking

The amount of outside space really varies from property to property. City apartments or self-catering holiday homes in the middle of busy towns might not have a garden or parking space at all. However, outside these busy urban areas you are likely to find that many properties will offer either a garden, patio or balcony with equipment such as a table and chairs and sun loungers. Hot tubs are becoming increasingly popular and some might even have swimming pools and tennis courts with either private or shared use. Occasionally large rural properties will sit in acres of grounds with additional facilities such as on-site fishing or offer storage of outdoor equipment such as bikes or kayaks or a mooring for a boat.

What else is provided?

Traditionally, owners of self-catering holiday homes didn’t supply any household goods such as hand soap, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, and loo roll. However, it is rare today to find a self-catering property that doesn’t at least provide enough basics to get you going for the first night or two. However, don’t take this for granted and check-out what is offered before you arrive. If initial provisions are provided and you run out of anything during your stay, you will be expected to top up your own supplies. Holiday home owners will not be popping round to top up your supply of loo roll half way through your holiday.

Some owners will provide a welcome hamper or gift such as a bottle of wine, provisions for your first breakfast, a homemade cake, or tea, coffee and biscuits for arrival.

What do owners expect from you?

When you arrive at your self-catering accommodation you should expect to find it clean and presented in a neat and tidy fashion. Whilst the owners will appreciate you are on holiday, you will be expected to look after the holiday home during your stay and leave it in a similar condition to how you found it. Owners usually provide cleaning equipment to enable you to sweep the floor and wipe any surfaces when needed during your stay. Whilst you don’t need to leave the property sparkling, most owners will expect you to have done the washing up and put away any dishes, empty the fridge and food cupboards and take the rubbish out to the bins before you leave.

The booking process

There are a number of different ways to search for and book self-catering holiday accommodation. You can go through an agency, an OTA (Online Travel Agency) or search on websites such as Independent Cottages where you will liaise directly with the owners. Booking your holiday directly with the owner has several benefits. Firstly, hefty commission rates from agencies and OTAs means that you are likely to pay between 15% and 25% more than if you booked directly with the owner. Having direct contact with the owner before you book also means that you can ask any questions to the owner directly. Getting first-hand information about the property and the surrounding area can help ensure that it has everything that you need for your holiday.

The method of payment varies from property to property. A lot of independent holiday home owners now accept credit or debit card payments. However, due to the costs involved, not all owners have the facility to take card payments and they might ask you to pay by bank transfer or through online payment systems such as PayPal. It is a good idea to call the owner directly, and always from the number listed on the advert (not provided in an email), to double check that the bank details you have been given are correct before you make the payment. We have put together some useful tips to safeguard you through the holiday rental booking process.

With the majority of properties you will be asked to pay a deposit to secure the booking, with the balance usually due around 6 – 12 weeks before your holiday. Some owners will also require a returnable deposit to cover any excessive cleaning, breakages or damage to the property or any equipment. This will be returned to you once the owner has checked that you left the property in a reasonable condition at the end of your holiday.

Can I book a self-catering holiday home for less than a week?

Yes! Whilst it is rare that holiday home owners will accept one night bookings, most will accept a minimum booking of 2 or 3 nights and the changeover day is often quite flexible. However, during high season and school holidays you might find that a lot of holiday home owners only offer week long holidays unless it is a last minute booking. Weekly changeover days can vary too. Whilst this traditionally used to be a Saturday, many owners now opt for a Friday or Sunday changeover day. Others are completely flexible.

Can I bring my dog with me?

A lot of holiday homes will accept pets, especially those in rural areas. If you are taking your dog with you it is worth checking what they provide to avoid doubling up on bulky items such as dog bowls, beds and towels. Some owners are happy to allow dogs anywhere in the house, but others ask that dogs are kept off sofas and out of the bedrooms. It is therefore worth checking what the dog rules are before you book if your pet is used to snuggling up with you at night!

If you have an allergy to dogs you will find a number of ‘pet free’ holiday homes. However, we do advise that you double check the status with the holiday home owner as they are legally obliged to accept assistance dogs.

Will the owner live on site?

Some owners will live on site, or very close by, and will greet you on arrival to give you your key and answer any questions. Others might live hundreds of miles away and employ a housekeeper to look after the house in their absence. In this case the owner is likely to send you details of how to retrieve the key from a key safe so you can let yourself in when you arrive. They will leave contact details for themselves and the housekeeper should you have any questions or problems during your stay.

It is not surprising that self-catering holidays are so popular in the UK. They provide the space and flexibility to allow you to truly relax on holiday. There is something to suit all budgets, whether you are looking for a very basic place to stay or a boutique retreat with all the luxuries of a hotel but with lots of personal space to relax. You will find cosy romantic getaways, family houses or large properties to cater for a big get-together. You can stay on a farm, by the sea, in a quaint character cottage with beams and an open fire, a log cabin beside a loch, or a stylish city apartment. The choices are endless!

If this sounds like your sort of holiday accommodation you can search our wide selection of self-catering properties here.