Benefits of Letting with Our Expert Team
Here at Northumbria Coast and Country Cottages, we have years of experience, knowledge and commitment. Our local teams are...
by / Owners
Northumberland is known for its wild wind swept beaches, amazing castles, quaint seaside fishing villages and fantastic countryside walking. Over the years we have listened to our guests, read their feedback and reviews of what’s important to them and we know 41%* of Brits want to try new experiences when on holiday and they are eager to experience activities such as walking, water sports and cycling to make their holiday a memorable one.
The opportunity to get away from the madness of everyday life and spend time in peaceful surroundings is one of the most popular features of a holiday let. Travellers are often looking for holiday homes in beautiful locations, where they can experience stunning views, take strolls through the countryside or simply relax at a quiet place. However, even if tourists prefer to be in or near a town, for example, Alnwick, Berwick upon Tweed, or Hexham, they still want a peaceful location.
All the comforts of home should be offered to guests in a holiday let, it helps make them feel welcome and relaxed during their stay. The most desirable features to enhance the overall holiday experience are modern comforts, comfortable furnishings, and good kitchen facilities, i.e coffee machines, air fryers, large fridge freezer. The guests want the basics to be there, then some additional features too. The best holiday lets are ones where the owners have stayed in the property for themselves and tested it out, from whether you’ve got space to out your muddy boots to how comfy the beds are.
If you have any outdoor space available, i.e garden, small yard, balcony, etc it is important to make sure that your premises are suitable and safe for the needs of all guests. It’s not going to make much of an impact on the appearance of your property, but you can attract families and dog owners by advertising a private garden. People want a safe place for their children and pets to play, so a garden surrounded by a secure wall, fence or hedge will attract their attention.
Woodlea, nr Seahouses Ref. 1126812
Convenience is key, and guests look for holiday lets that are located close to attractions and places of interest. Whether it’s sandy beaches, historic landmarks, or market towns, being within easy reach of the area’s highlights adds value to the holiday. It is important to ensure that guests are aware of what they can do in the vicinity of their property.
Over 300 Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages welcome our four-legged friends and many guests are now looking for properties that accommodate more than one pet. Dog-friendly accommodation is in the top search category, besides hot tubs and wood burners.
We recommend that properties are pet-friendly as it makes them much more bookable. If the property is pet friendly, consider installing an outdoor tap or hose so owners can hose their dogs off outside after a day out walking, you could even provide dog towels. Space for a dog bed to be easily placed is important so guests can easily find somewhere for their four-legged friend to sleep. A container of dog treats is also a nice touch. These must be kept in the original packet so dog owners can be aware of the ingredients in case the dog has allergies.
If space allows a utility or boot room is perfect for people to kick off muddy walking boots, hang up wet coats, beach gear, wet suits, etc before settling in for the night. Offering a dedicated space for guests visiting your property to the above items, conveys that the property is well suited to the location.
Muscle Shoals, Seahouses Ref. 1122064
Hot tubs have become very popular with UK holidaymakers as people are eager to warm up after a day exploring or just chill out under the stars. Owners can increase bookings and generate more income by an extra 35% in Winter and an extra 25% in Summer*.
If you decide to install a hot tub some small touches can make a big difference. Towel hooks close to the hot tub, a drinks shelf for plastic outdoor glasses, a safe pathway to and from the hot tub with lighting and nonslip mats, plus a step if the hot tub is not lowered.
Heather Cottages – Grey Seal, Bamburgh Ref. 1122174
Again if there is a space, consider bike storage or a bike rack, you could go the extra mile and provide locks. This will showcase your property as offering extra security and may be a factor for cycling enthusiasts when booking.
If your property is suited to families, it would be a nice gesture to provide some spades, buckets, and beach equipment to help families and guests who want to visit the local coastline. Offering play equipment such as a ball or tennis racquets will improve the guests experience. This also helps them to utilise the outdoor space available. Small touches like this make the guests feel very welcome in the property.
It’s so helpful to have maps of the local area to help guests visiting your property navigate their surroundings and plan their days out. Activity guides such as local brochures are really useful, these can be picked up from local Tourist Information Centres. Information about local walks, parking options nearby, dog-friendly pubs is appreciated by guests who haven’t been to the area before. Personal recommendations from owners for local pubs, restaurants, cafes, and places to visit. This is the ‘personal touch’ which is often received well by guests.
WiFi has become increasingly important for guests on holiday with some guests now expecting this as standard, just in case they need to work from the property if needed. Investing in a good wi-fi connection will improve the guests stay and make the property more bookable.
Smart TVs offer guests the ability to maintain their regular TV viewing if they desire. They can include streaming apps so guests can log in to their own accounts. A good sound system, Bluetooth speakers or Sonos for example, throughout the home appeals to friend groups and couples when considering a property.
As many cars are now hybrid or fully electric, many owners are now installing EV charging points, which will also give the property an edge for bookings.
Guests want agents who are attentive to their needs, respond promptly to concerns, and ensure a seamless booking process and stay.
Guests expect to get a really good feel for the property in advance of booking. So all our property listings, feature multiple photos, clear descriptions, property features and previous guest reviews, warts, and all! Every listing also shows up-to-date availability and our transparent pricing for chosen dates, this also includes any offers or last-minute discounts, which allows guests to have the flexibility to book exactly what they want easily and smoothly.
Getaways for a few days or a weekend are exceedingly popular; approximately 36% of bookings are short breaks. The popularity of your property will be promoted by offering short break holidays, i,e three or four-night stays, this gives guests the flexibility to book who don’t wish to take a weeklong break and don’t rule your property out. The fact that people are looking for fast escapes to break up winter months or quick family breaks during school holidays increases bookings throughout the year. Remember, guests who book a short break may return to book a full week next time! Click here to read more about short breaks.
Northumberland Coast & Country Cottages have offices in Alnmouth and Seahouses, the team are there to assist guests during their holiday, alternatively, guests can contact our customer service team at Chester. Plus we have an out of office hours contact telephone number if any issues arise outside the office opening times for assistance, this gives peace of mind to our guests and extra security to know the team are there to help.
All the above really do make a difference to our guests, new and returning. Some of these property changes require an investment to implement however some are small changes that would have a big impact.
Lots of small changes can show the property is perfectly suited for the location and the surrounding activities. The holiday cottage will be shown as a thoughtful, homely place for guests which will improve guest satisfaction and repeat bookings.
Request your FREE owner pack which will provide you with more information and guide you in the right direction. Call us on 01665 830783 or drop us an email on newowners@nccc-ltd.co.uk and we’ll get right back to you.
*All data is from our parent company Sykes Holiday Cottages.
by / Owners
Hi, I'm Gaynor and I joined the Lakes team in Jan 2020. I live and work in the beautiful Lake District! My passion is anything out...
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