What Makes a Cottage Great?

Mrs Marshall and the Marshall children like a bit of luxury!

Our days of camping are well and truly over!!

So when purchasing and renovating Rosella Cottage, we tried hard to creare a luxurious feel and a simply nice experience for ourselves to enjoy.

We also thought that a nice space for us would translate to happy customers who choose to stay at Rosella Cottage during their own holidays.

With those points in mind, here is my top ten suggestions of things to look for when booking a luxury self-catering holiday cottage.

Simple Cleanliness

Holiday cottages should be kept spotlessly clean.

A careful and thorough clean after each guest departs is essential.

A Good Nights Sleep

Beds should be comfortable and as large as possible - with Kingsize being our preference for couples.

It is essential that mattresses are turned often and replaced at an adequate frequency.

Bedroom Amenity

There is no excuse for poor quality, or overused bed linen and towels.

Thread-bare linens which have outlived their "use-by" date are just awful.

Look for "hotel quality" bed linen and towels which are always laundered between visits (should go without saying really).

En-suite Heaven

Bathrooms should be spotless, well-lit, modern as possible, and excellently maintained.

Showers should provide a high-pressure flow with plenty of hot water at an adjustable temperature to suite.

Property Maintenance

Holiday cottages should be adequately maintained.

Paintwork should always be in good order, carpets should be clean, and all lights should work.

In the Bank for a Rainy Day

Holidaymakers may want to just kick-back and relax at home for at least part of their stay.

And England's changeable weather means that days-out are sometimes a bit hit and miss.

For those occassions, holiday cottages should always include a good selection of things to entertain.

Free wifi is a must.

Childrens games and jig-saw puzzles are great.

And a good selection of reading material is always welcome.

As Described?

The holiday cottage should always live up to it's description.

If it's described as "two bedroom sleeping 4 adults", it should have two large bedrooms, both with suitable-sized beds (i.e., Kingsize if possible).

All property descriptions should always be honest; and owners shouldn't be afraid to point out limitations in their adverts or websites (e.g., no garden, steep stairs, etc.).

Great Expectations

Our philosophy is that holiday accommodation should always offer something more than we were expecting.

You might call it a "wow" factor.

It might be the view from the bedroom, the free wifi, or just some realy tasty fresh baked bread on arrival.

In our view, guests should always leave Rosella Cottage feeling they got more holiday than they paid for!