OXFORD, England, February 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Self-catering is on the rise with British holidaymakers, but for many it remains unchartered territory - welcome to the fail safe guide to holiday lets
Self-catering holidays are booming as British holidaymakers search for value for money, but according to recent research by Holiday Lettings* a third of British people (31 per cent) still refuse to consider DIY breaks. When asked why, 39 per cent said they didn't want to do house work while on holiday and 28 per cent said they'd just never really thought about it.
"The term 'self-catering' probably doesn't help the perception of DIY holidays!" says Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies, spokesperson for Holiday Lettings. "But it's not about cooking every night - self-catering breaks can be just as enjoyable, indulgent and relaxing as a hotel holiday, if not more, and it's a whole different experience that allows you to experience the destination like a local. What's more, our research found that self-catering travellers cited value for money as their top reason for choosing self-catering over a hotel."
With one in five holidaymakers (19 per cent) spending less money on holiday accommodation in light of the current economic climate, there's never been a better time to embrace DIY travel. With that in mind, Holiday Lettings has polled seasoned self-catering travellers, holiday home owners and its own team of in-house experts for their top tips on how to get the most out of this type of holiday.
Holiday Lettings' top tips for self-catering first-timers
- Indulge in the experience - every self-catering holiday is unique because every villa, gîte or apartment is individually owned or managed. Invariably you're booking with the home owner who is able and keen to provide their own experience and service; so make the most of their passion and knowledge of the local area.
- Communication is key - don't make assumptions about the property or rely on email. Before booking pick up the phone to talk to the property owner or manager to find out everything you need to know about the property and area, including what will be provided on arrival, nearest shops and markets, directions to the property, etc.
- Location, location, location - use online tools like Google maps, available on each Holiday Lettings listing, to pinpoint exactly where the property is and what it looks like to avoid any surprises on arrival.
- Cover off all the booking basics - this includes a booking contract, which should be supplied by the owner and signed by both parties, full contact details of the owner and details of how you will obtain keys.
- Plan ahead when it comes to food - if you're holidaying in the UK why not arrange a food delivery timed for your arrival? If you're going abroad consider stocking up at a large supermarket en route, that way you won't have to think about shopping when you arrive. And don't forget, in many countries shops don't open on Sundays.
- Keep meals simple - anything from BBQs and cold platters to picnics and bulk portions of easily prepared foods like spaghetti bolognese you can eat over several nights. And instead of taking a jar of Marmite with you, try sampling the local delicacies for a new experience.
- Team work - make sure everyone helps out with any shopping and prepping food, and that means the kids too. Just because you're the usual home maker doesn't mean you have to shoulder all the responsibility while on holiday.
- Live like a local - shop for food where the locals shop, eat a typical local breakfast, go to bars and restaurants where the locals go, etc. There may not be a concierge to answer your questions about the local area, but maybe the owner or neighbours can help? This is one of the best aspects of self-catering!
- Relax, you're on holiday - don't approach a holiday home in the same way as your own home when it comes to tidiness. Who cares if the beds don't get made or the living room gets a bit messy? Leave the daily grind behind and concentrate on enjoying yourself.
- Make sure you provide feedback to the owner after your stay and review the property, so that other holidaymakers can in turn benefit from your experience.
*Research conducted by One Poll, 22-24 November 2011, 3,000 UK adults
HOLIDAY LETTINGS
Holiday Lettings™ is the consumers' favourite holiday home website; the UK's busiest site of its kind. Search 53,000+ privately owned holiday homes in 116 countries around the world.
Choose from: spacious villas, resort apartments, sprawling gites and farmhouses, cosy romantic retreats, cottages, barn and chapel conversions, city shopping breaks, rural getaways or beach breaks - there's a home for every holiday.
Escape on: a short haul hop to Spain, Portugal, France or Cyprus or head further afield to the US, South Africa, Australia and Thailand. Renting a holiday home is frequently up to 50 per cent cheaper than booking a hotel room - what are you waiting for... http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk
Holiday Lettings is a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc. and helps power the vacation rental experience on TripAdvisor®.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 18 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 65 million unique monthly visitors*. TripAdvisor's travel media brands include: http://www.tripadvisor.com, http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com, and http://www.kuxun.cn.
Holiday Lettings and the Holiday Lettings logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Holiday Lettings Ltd. in the U.K. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
©2012 Holiday Lettings Ltd. All rights reserved.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor and its subsidiaries, Worldwide, August 2011
Holiday Lettings, the UK's number one holiday home rental website, has seen an increase in traffic and growth in holidaymaker enquiries compared with January 2011. The number of properties listed on the website has increased to over 54,000.
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