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Renting Cottages in the UK, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales - Any property you rent for a holiday should have a full description of services and facilities available. A virtual tour of a holiday cottage is a great way of finding cottages that meet all your needs, maybe with panoramic country views, or special kitchen facilities, a hot tub or a Jacuzzi bath.

Although not every holiday cottage is equipped to the same standard, all holiday properties should have everything you need for an enjoyable holiday and many offer far more than most might expect. From modern minimalist furnishings and equipment with every convenience, to traditional farmhouses with slate flooring and a huge roaring AGA, there are thousands of variations to choose from. How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? 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. 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's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the locals.

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. Carefully wrapped in its case, such as a guitar, trumpet (you don't get much chance to practice these instruments at home, eh?) or something more unusual like a basoon, flute or clarinet. Linen must be requested at the time of booking and it is rare to find that cot linen is provided. Payment for cottage holidays usually require a deposit of part of the rental price plus a booking fee and any extras. The balance is payable some time before your holiday starts. Late bookings require payment up front.

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. When you arrive you will need a lot of guides to the local area and get your key which is probably hidden skilfully under the door mat, on the sill or under a flower pot. In particular. Check the layout and property so that in an emergency you can get out quickly and easily. Check for a fire extinguisher and fire blanket, and read the instructions on their use. The number of people occupying a rented cottage property should not exceed the number stated in the property description. Should the party occupying the property exceed the number stipulated the owner might have the right to ask you to leave the property immediately so you should check the terms and conditions.

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 2008, Christmas week 2008 and New Year week 2009. Holidays starting on a Monday are also find and you just need to consider whether you should book in advance to avoid a disappointment, or make a last minute booking and receive a discount. 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. Searching for your cottage will give you lots of options and it is important to think of everything, because it is usually the small details that make all the difference about whether you look back on your holiday with good memories, or end up wishing you had found a more satisfactory cottage to take your well earned break.

Your booking confirmation should come to you after you have booked your property and you need to know that your cottage is available for your holiday in plenty of time so you can book time off work. Cots and high chairs have to conform to British safety standards so if they are damaged or deficient in any way, then tell the owner. Look out for glass patio doors or glazed interior doors - they should have stickers at adult and child eye height. Linen must be requested at the time of booking and it is rare to find that cot linen is provided. The legal details of your agreement to rent your cottage are very important as they form a formal contract. The Booking conditions or contractual terms for your hire should be very clearly stated.

If the property has open fires, 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. When you are looking you should seriously consider booking a property that sleeps up to two more than you requested. Equipment in the children's playgrounds should be safe and in good condition. The surface of the play area should be soft with sand, soft earth or wood chippings. If you have a baby or several babies in your party then you need. If there is a phone number to call you on the owners of your rented cottage will be able to keep in touch and give you travel directions to your holidaycottage.

Do you want to go in the Autumn, Summer, Winter or Spring? Remember that a summer holiday in the UK will be hot and sunny especially in June, July, August, or September. Equipment in the children's playgrounds should be safe and in good condition. The surface of the play area should be soft with sand, soft earth or wood chippings. If you have a baby or several babies in your party then you need. Your property should be regularly inspected and you need to be able to rest assured that only the best quality properties are on offer. When you have paid for you holiday in full, you will be given details of how to find your holidaycottage, and where to collect your keys on arrival. You need to decide whether you want to visit England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales because there is a lot of difference between a rustic Somerset thatched holiday cottage to let in the South of England to a traditional Cotswold stone farmhouse for rental in the Lake Districts.

Do you want to go in the Autumn, Summer, Winter or Spring? Remember that a summer holiday in the UK will be hot and sunny especially in June, July, August, or September. 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 be expected to pay a notional amount. If you need to pay by cash, credit or debit card or cheque then you need to make sure that the cottage you have booked can accept your preferred method of payment. Regardless of size, age and location in the UK, all holiday cottages should have hot water, bathrooms with shower and flushing toilets. Kitchens should have all of the utensils and appliances you would expect for every day use such as a microwave, tumble drier, washing machine and blender. Well furnished sitting rooms should have enough comfortable chairs for the maximum number of people renting the holiday cottage to be accommodated and so will the dining table. There may also be a colour TV. If you look at the photographs of your chosen holiday cottage online you should get a reasonable idea of the type of facilities that are provided.

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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 your skin. 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 2008, Christmas week 2008 and New Year week 2009. You may want a music room that is fully equipped with a cello, double bass, bassoon or organ. Don't forget to check! Alternatively you can take your own musical instrument along with you. Sometimes though wheelchair users may need assistance from an able bodied member of the party for some manoeuvres.

How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? If you need to pay by cash, credit or debit card or cheque then you need to make sure that the cottage you have booked can accept your preferred method of payment. You need to practice and a holiday is a great time to spend time learning the music that you don't normally have time for. So check if there is a piano, maybe even a grand piano or baby grand. When you arrive you will need a lot of guides to the local area and get your key which is probably hidden skilfully under the door mat, on the sill or under a flower pot.

How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? Cots and high chairs have to conform to British safety standards so if they are damaged or deficient in any way, then tell the owner. Look out for glass patio doors or glazed interior doors - they should have stickers at adult and child eye height. How do you locate the cottage that you want to take your holiday in? If the property has open fires, 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.

Make sure that you know when you should arrive and depart your holiday cottage. Most holiday lettings start at 3.00 pm on the first day of your holiday and end at 10.00 am on the day of departure unless otherwise specified in the cottage description. Saturdays are sometimes different, so it is wise to check. This ensures that the owner or housekeeper has plenty of time to prepare the cottage for the next set of guests. You should contact the owner or caretaker at least two days before setting off to discuss the time of arrival and key collection details. Because cottages are often in peaceful villages you will often be able to agree to leave the key under the door mat, something you would not consider doing in a busy town. Changes to a holiday that you have booked might involve additional paper work and require the booking company to contact the owner of the holiday property so to cover these additional costs you might be asked to pay a small administration fee. The thing is though, it is better to have exactly the right holiday, so don't worry about making changes. If you have a swimming pool, unless it is deep 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 might need to pay the full amount up front or pay a deposit with the balance when you leave.

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Renting holiday cottages in the UK are usually in the more scenic rural counties but we have cottages for rental throughout the UK: