Can you catch me out?

I holiday in cottages all the time but do always take our dog. Vet no is handy. Personally I always look for a cottage with a freezer as well as fridge. It is so much easier to do one big shop for the week rather than have to keep popping to shops every couple of days. I take my slow cooker then can plan meals for the week which leaves the days free to get, up prep an evening meal, then out walking with dog all day. Not always easy to eat out with a dog with you. Don't know if your place is dog friendly or not?

Different weight duvets for the different seasons. I’ve only experienced this once in years of self catering. I hate sweltering under a heavy duvet in the summer.

Dressing table and stool , mirror and good lighting in the bedroom. We like to dress up a bit at night and I’ve lost count of the number of places we’ve stayed at that have had very poor lighting in the bedroom, impossible to do hair and add a bit of make up! Nice towels and bath towels. We always take a couple of bath towels with us just incase. It’s also got to be immaculately clean for me and that includes the loo brush.

Granless

Make sure electric plug socket is near a mirror for plugging in a hair dryer. It’s surprising how many ‘lets’ have a socket on one wall, mirror on another. ?

I agree! So important

I am easily pleased, as long as it’s clean and there is a welcome pack, list of instructions for electrical devices etc and a contact number I ask no more.

I once stopped in a lovely caravan and the owner left a small cardboard box on the table with a lovely welcome note. It contained a washing up sponge, mini bottle of washing up liquid, a black bag and a mini bar of soap. It thought it was a lovely touch.

We used the first-aid kit last time we self-catered

I feel the cold and always appreciate a hot water bottle. Also postcodes (for the Satnav) are helpful if leaving details of pubs, shops hospitals etc

Hooks and/or decent sized shelf in bath/shower room

sufficient t towels - we once rented somewhere that gave us one tea towel for a whole week. in addition either dishcloths or j cloths. details of public transport as not everybody wants to drive everywhere

Wow, I’m quite amazed at some of the things people might expect.
When we go to self catering we expect to take our own supplies.
Would not want toiletries or room sprays / freshener.
Information is the thing we like to have. Places to eat, nearest shops/petrol etc.
We have been to some that provided milk, small coffee, tea and even some that provided scones or cake as a welcome and that’s lovely.
I just hope the places are clean and as described.

Or a CLOCK even!!

We recently stayed in a really wonderful holiday cottage, it was extremely modern and very comfortable. However, we missed having a click - there wasn't one of any sort & DH doesn't wear a watch or have a mobile so he was a bit at sea! Also, the sumptuous shower room had small bath towels - sheets would've been so much nicer.

We have just returned home from an AirB&B place. A very disappointing converted barn - there was no welcome pack at all. The only seating in the living room was one huge plastic/leather look sofa that was so wide that even my long legged other half couldn't sit on it. No other chairs apart from the dining room ones.
The details had mentioned "cooker" so we had taken our usual home made pre-cooked casserole to heat up only to find that the "cooker" was actually a portable, two ring electric hob. So ancient that it took forever to heat up. No oven or hob apart from this bed-sit type gadget. There was no information on local places to eat out/shop/visit and the only reading matter on the shelves were interior decorating magazines. No visitor book either. The duvet was a 10.5 tog and, being a converted barn, there were no opening windows in the bedroom. We came home after just two nights there.
AirB&B are now pestering me to leave feedback but I really don't like to leave negative comments. Certainly it is not somewhere I will go back to

EileenCl

Mine is more of a suggestion of something not to include! As an asthmatic, I always have to send my husband in first to trawl the cottage or apartment for air fresheners and diffusers, and remove them before I go in. I know that is a fairly ‘niche’ requirement, but may be something to consider.

Good point, I’m not asthmatic but I’m not a fan of artificial smells in the house, I prefer open windows and fresh air.

Agree with a lot of previous suggestions. The only thing I would add is a fan for hot days and especially stuffy nights.

Can I just add a potato peeler to the list? We've just stayed in self-catering accommodation and had to go out and buy one.

Good knives and a corkscrew which works

I don't drink alcohol, so my dilemma if any is left for us, is whether it would seem rude to leave it behind! Air fresheners are a big NOooo thanks, as they set my Asthma off, I usually ring ahead and ask for any to be removed

A couple of food boxes for leftovers in the fridge or
pic-nics are useful.

We have just got back from a superb place in Ashbourne...absolutely everything you could think of and all the stuff mentioned above - except WD40.. one of the bedroom doors had a squeak and not good in the night when trying not to wake others on loo visits!

On a recent trip to Cornwall there was a bottle of wine cooling in the fridge in our cottage. In others we have had scones or something very local.

Basic cleaning items like disposable dishcloths, green pot scourer, mop, bucket, dustpan n brush, antibac wipes or spray, fairy liquid, soap.
We dropped a glass once in self catering and had to go and buy a dustpan to clear it up.

Thank you all.

We are generally singing from the same hymn sheet!
Excellent beds, bedding, full length mirrors, plug sockets in the right places and sharp knives were all at the top of the list.
There is WiFi a 6” bed and a double, a bathroom for each bedroom.

I am going to stick to leaving a Booths gift voucher with a welcome letter.
We would rather buy some nice wine/ cheese than have cake or biscuits we would never eat.
There will be tea, coffee pods, dishwasher tablets etc.

I have done laminated sheets including a quick guide, all instruction manuals are in a file.

I know we will never please everyone but we will hopefully have a bright clean, comfortable and uplifting place for people to explore the area.

I will let you know ???

We stay in self-catering regularly. My important items in a house are as follows
1. At least one comfortable wing chair.
2. Sharp knives, two years ago, we forgot to take ours and went out and spent £130 on two decent knives and a knife sharpener. I usually take my own knives with me.
3. Our own pillows since Covid.
4. Decent saucepans and cooking equipment.
5. Crockery not chipped.
6. No stains on beds or bedding.
7. No smells of cigarette smoke.
8. Welcome folder with all local recommendations for restaurants, taxis, doctor and hospital details, newsagents, local shops and supermarkets.
9. Welcome hamper is always lovely but at least a bottle of wine and nice glasses.
I know we sound fussy but we spend a lot of money but expect high standards in return. We leave the house spotless when we vacate it and go back to the same places quite often.
10. We are very good guests and are loyal when we find nice places to stay.