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Frequently Asked Questions |
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On a cottage holiday, the adventure starts the moment you get into your car and start your break. We'll prepare your accommodation and give you directions showing how to get there, the rest is up to you!! You have the freedom to tailor your own break. Freedom is a unique part of a cottage holiday experience, and for many people it's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the friendly locals! When you reach your property you'll find a guide to events and places of interest, and the owner or key-holder will be close at hand if you need any help or advice. It's our quality that sets us apart All of our properties are regularly inspected by our team of regional managers and you can rest assured that only the best quality properties are on offer. Arriving and departing Most weekly bookings run from Saturday to Saturday, unless the property indicates otherwise. Where accepted, 2 night breaks start on a Friday or Saturday, 3 night breaks on a Saturday and 4 night midweek breaks start on a Monday. When you have paid for you holiday in full, you will, be sent details of how to find your cottage, and where to collect your keys on arrival. It's best to advise the owner or caretaker of your estimated arrival time, which should normally be after 3pm. On your day of departure, we ask you to leave your cottage by 10.00am so that it can be cleaned for the next arrivals. Gardens & Parking Facilities Many cottages have gardens where you can enjoy peace and privacy. Most properties also offer space for off-road parking; you'll find details of this in the full cottage details. Cleaning All cottages are cleaned between lets, meaning that you need to do when you arrive is unpack, put the kettle on and explore your cottage!!! There is no extra charge for this service unless extra heavy cleaning is required after you leave, or you do not leave the property and it's contents as you find them. Cottages with Character When choosing to holiday in an older cottage, you'll find that much of it's character and charm is due to it's age. Many cottage built before the days of damp proofing and cavity insulation!!. This worth taking into consideration if you are taking elderly or very young guests on your holiday, especially if it's between October and April. In rural locations, the people around you may often be earning their living and country hours do run into the late evening and very early morning. So please be patient when it comes to the sounds and scents - it's all part of being in the country!! It's also worth remembering that because of the cottages are privately owned, they are decorated and furnished to individual taste. Pets are welcome too Take any other kind of holiday and it could cost you a small fortune paying others to look after your pets while you are away. And after all why leave them at home when they are one of the family? Many cottages accept pets and you can specify this as a requirement in the detailed search. Please note that provision is made to accept guide/service dogs at properties that do not normally allow pets. If you are taking a guide/service dog this needs to be noted on the booking form so that no additional charge is made. All that we ask is that you respect a few simple common sense rules:
Caring for your safety Although we do not manage or own any of the properties featured on this site, as part of our safety first policy we do our best to ensure that our owners take the safety and well-being of our holiday makers very seriously. and that their properties are well maintained for your comfort and safety. Nevertheless, please remember that when you are in unfamiliar surroundings, you must take special care of yourself and your family. In particular:
Take special note of the following: Swimming Pools
Gas Appliances Gas water heaters, by law, have to be installed and maintained by CORGI engineers. If you have any doubts about the efficient operation of any gas appliance, particularly hot water heaters, in your property, alert the owner immediately. Gas Cookers - as you would at home, ensure that gas cookers are turned off after use, and in particular, check this before you go to bed. We want you to have a safe and happy holiday - a few minutes taking some simple precautions could make the difference between a holiday enjoyed and a holiday spoilt. Travel & ferry crossing information to help you plan your holidayTravelling to and from France Your holiday price includes a short sea ferry crossing for one car and up to five passengers, sailing from either Dover or a Eurotunnel # crossing from Folkestone. (Travelling from Folkestone to Calais via Eurotunnel is available at a £10 supplement each way).
Please note: During certain journeys at different times of the year supplements apply, see below.
* Outbound crossings between 07.00 and 13.59 and return crossings between 15.00 and 20.00 = Any day £13, (Low, Shoulder, *Peak Seasons), * Weekend £10 during Peak season. + Outbound crossings between 00.01 and 13.59 and return crossings between 12.01 and 21.59 = Any day £13, (Low, Shoulder, *Peak Seasons), * Weekend £10 during Peak season. # Eurotunnel * , see table below
# Please note that for Eurotunnel crossings on the following dates an additional supplement of £10 applies - Outward: 2-3 May, Return: 4-5 May # Please note that for Eurotunnel crossings on the following dates an additional supplement of £15 applies - Outward: 23-24 May, 17-18 & 24-25 Oct. Return: 31 May - 1 June, 25-26 Oct Eurotunnel unfortunately do not accept LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) powered vehicles. Weekend refers to outward travel on Friday/Saturday and return on Saturday/ Sunday. However the exceptions to this are Condor ferries whose weekend refers to travel on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, and Hoverspeed whose weekend rates refer to travel on Friday/Saturday both ways.
Driving Distances To help you plan your route and the length of your journey, please use the table below as a guide to driving distances from your chosen port (in France). Distances in France (km)
Travelling to and from Ireland Your ferry crossing To ensure you experience the Irish spirit from the beginning to end of your holiday, your holiday price includes an Irish Ferries Superferry crossing for one car and up to five passengers, travelling from either Holyhead to Dublin, or Pembroke to Rosslare. Not only will you enjoy a speedy and comfortable crossing, but good value for money as well. Included in Price Holyhead to Dublin Irish Ferries Superferry 3hrs 15mins Pembroke to Rosslare Irish Ferries Superferry 4hrs (approx) There are alternative ferry services available, which gives you the flexibility to choose a faster crossing or a different route should it be more convenient. These service and routes are outlined below and are available at a supplementary charge - please call 08700 781 600 for prices or we will call you after you have submitted your property booking.
Drive Times Driving in Ireland is relaxed; the roads are the least congested in Europe and the scenery among some of the best. The main roads tend to be narrower than in Britain and minor routes can be windy and bumpy which can lead to longer than expected journeys. You should allow more time than you would for the same distance in the UK. The table below provides you with a guide to driving times that will allow you to plan your journey more easily. The column headings relate to the port of arrival (Dun Laoghaire is approximately the same as Dublin Port)
Travelling from Outside Europe If you are travelling from outside of Europe, here is a little info on what to expect from a European cottage holiday. We'll prepare your accommodation and give you directions showing how to get there. There'll be no local representative to meet you at the airport and you'll have to find your own way there - so you'll need to hire a car. It's all part of the European experience, and for many people it's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the friendly locals! When you reach your property you'll find a guide to events and places of interest, and the owner or key-holder will be close at hand if you need any help or advice. You'll find that we do things differently in Europe, we speak a different language - even our English can be strange. So, to help you translate any unfamiliar terms, phrases or local descriptions you might find on our website, we've included a useful glossary of terms. Inside the cottage
In many properties in Britain and Ireland, water fills in a tank in the roof and you will need to throw a switch called the emersion heater to heat the water. Once full tank is used, you will have to wait for the tank to fill and heat again. Outside the cottage
Abbreviations used in the property descriptions
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