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Keep young children off balconies and if there is a garden pond, ensure that children cannot access it. Look out for any steep drops in the garden and if there are garden sheds or outbuildings, ensure that children cannot get in them. Many cottages have gardens where you can enjoy peace and privacy and do some well earned sun bathing as long as you use sun tan lotion to protect sensitive skin. If you want a short break in a holiday cottage then you need to think about logistics. When should you book your short break, and what do you need to bring with you, such as bedding, towels and kitchen implements like knives and forks. Keep young children off balconies and if there is a garden pond, ensure that children cannot access it. Look out for any steep drops in the garden and if there are garden sheds or outbuildings, ensure that children cannot get in them.
Holidays like half term, Christmas, Easter, May bank holiday, summer holiday and new year are a great time to take your remaining holiday entitlement at work and just take a few brief days of well earned break. If the property has open fires you need to make sure that you use the fireguard and check that the fire is safely out before you go to bed, and do not smoke in bed as this is extremely dangerous. How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? You may want a music room in your cottage that is fully equipped with a cello, double bass, bassoon or organ so don't forget to check! On the other hand you can take your own musical instrument along with you.
If you are taking your car, motor home, cycles or MPV you need to make sure that parking arrangements are satisfactory. Maybe you need off street parking, and it is normal in the country side to find that off road parking is standard. When you are looking you should seriously consider booking a property that sleeps up to two more people than you requested. Cottages should cleaned between lets and this means you only need to unpack when you arrive, put the kettle on and have a refreshing cup of tea, and explore your cottage and the surrounding countryside. There may be no extra charge for cleaning services, but often you will only be expected to pay a notional amount. Many country cottage properties welcome pets for a small additional charge per pet per week or short break, and you might do well to take your dog or cat rather than spend money on a kennel where your dogs might be unhappy, and your cats left feeling you don't love them.
We are only concerned with making sure you are completely safe on your cottage holidays so do not swim or go into the pool under the influence of alcohol or immediately after eating a meal. If you have a swimming pool you should not dive into the pool, check which end is shallow and which end is deep, and check the location of life belts and other buoyancy equipment and read the instructions on how to use them. You have the freedom to tailor your own break and this is a unique part of a cottage holiday experience, and for many visitors to a small friendly country village it is a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the locals. You should also not take breakable glasses or other utensils into the pool area. Do not swim at night or when the pool is closed. Always supervise children.
If the property has open fires you need to make sure that you use the fireguard and check that the fire is safely out before you go to bed, and do not smoke in bed as this is extremely dangerous. You should also pay a visit to the local branch of the tourist information service to get up to day information about local events, attractions, gardens, castles, country houses and fun fairs. You need to practice and a holiday is a great time to spend time learning the music that you don't normally have the time for. So check if there is a piano, maybe even a grand piano or baby grand. Sometimes wheelchair users may need assistance from an able bodied member of the party for some manoeuvres.
At present, availability in the following months is very good: Easter, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Weekend breaks, Bank holiday weekend, Easter week 2010, Christmas week 2010 and New Year week 2011. Parties of eleven or twelve are not that unusual, although the selection of cottages in the UK that can sleep groups of that size is more limited. Is there a country pub nearby, a swimming pool, garden and washing machine? Cottage Holidays in the UK, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales Remember to bring a highchair and cot, along with bedding and sterilisation equipment, along with nappy changing facilities and a potty, or check that they are supplied by the owner of the cottage.
Occasionally you will find an abbreviation within a property's descriptive text and many people get confused or worried, wondering what they all mean. There is an explanation of the abbreviations and you might come across some more that are not listed. Parties of eleven or twelve are not that unusual, although the selection of cottages in the UK that can sleep groups of that size is more limited. Is there a country pub nearby, a swimming pool, garden and washing machine? If there is a phone number to call you on then the owners of your rented cottage will be able to keep in touch and give you travel directions to your holidaycottage. Many people ask whether properties are suitable for disabled people, whether walking disabled, in a wheelchair needing access using a ramp or are severly disabled, and we often find that the suitability of a property for the disabled is indicated in the property description.
Cottages should cleaned between lets and this means you only need to unpack when you arrive, put the kettle on and have a refreshing cup of tea, and explore your cottage and the surrounding countryside. There may be no extra charge for cleaning services, but often you will only be expected to pay a notional amount. Please note whether provision is made to accept guide dogs and service dogs at properties that do not normally allow pets. In a self-catering cottage you will find most of the standard appliances you would expect to have at home including a washing machine, fridge, freezer, tumble drier, microwave, iron and ironing board. You might need to pay the full amount up front or pay a deposit and then pay the balance when you leave.
How many bedrooms are in the cottage? Can it sleep a party of two, three, four or five, or groups of friends with children who have six, seven, eight, nine or ten people with babies and toddlers who need to have special sleeping arrangements. If you want to take extra people and arrive early you might need to agree with the person who you are renting the cottage from that this is alright. You must vacate the property on time on the last day, and most property owners make linen available at no extra charge while some prefer to hire out their linen by the week. You will want the extra space, and a property sleeping 4 people will have a lot less room than properties sleeping 6 or more people. When you are looking you should seriously consider booking a property that sleeps up to two more people than you requested.
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Holiday Cottages in the UK are usually in the more scenic rural counties but we have cottages for rental throughout the UK: