Staycations, our new business, help and feedback appreciated

[sidekickdmr]

Good morning,

I’ve been toying with starting this thread for a few months/years now but it seems now is as good time as any.

Our house is hitting the market next week and we are in the process of looking out for a property in Somerset with the view to starting a new business.

We are looking for a small cottage with a few acres in the country.

The plan is to build 3 or so small lodges, and then in the summer months offer a bit of Glamping too.

I know lots of places already do this but we want to go much more romantic, rustic and top end.

Each lodge will be sat in about an acre of its own, most likely a cider orchard for screening/privacy and completely secluded.

- Couples/Adults only

- Dogs welcome

- Hot tub on the decking with outside table and chairs

- Roll top bath in the bedroom as well as a proper ensuite with shower

- log burning stove and a pile of seasoned logs

- Fresh baked bread/cookies on the table with a couple of bottles of cider in the fridge on arrival, as well as milk/coffee etc obviusly

So the reason for the thread? I’m keen to see what your thoughts are on the overall plan and what you would look for if you and the wife/husband wanted a weekend in the countryside, and just to get some general feedback really, now is the time we can still make changes and look for a property that reflects the style we choose.

Would you come?

How much would you pay?

Would you want to be near a pub, town, tourist attractions?

Nothing actually exists like i have in my head, so they will certainly be unique, but they will be something along these lines:







and then the summer glamping:





Any feedback, good or bad appreciated immensely

Thank you

[sidekickdmr]

I dont know if I would want to fence the plot off completely with 6 foot panel fences but some kind of picket fence could work, good idea though as I'd look for the same for our dogs so they can go for a wee without being on leads.

And yes, for my sake as much as the guests im hoping I find somewhere with a pub close by

[sidekickdmr]

JQ said:

I'd be interested to see what impact making it adult only would have. I understand why you're doing it, I just wonder if you're ruling out your biggest potential customer.

I've got young children and this is the kind of thing we and our friends get up to these days. We are now of an age that we have a bit of cash but not necessarily the time to fly abroad at weekends or for short breaks. Pre kids we'd have gone to Berlin, Venice, Rome, Iceland, etc, rather than glamping. / lodging. We did camp back then, but that was more about getting outdoors and going walking, paying a sginificant premium for glamping / lodging would not have been considered when we'd get luxury when we went abroad.

Perhaps times have changed, but when we had the disposable income pre-kids we wanted to see the world, and we did. Now we have kids we're quite happy to stay in the UK for short breaks and let the kids play in woods / fields. We still have a couple of big holidays each year abroad with the kids, but hiring a lodge or glamping would not be considered for a big holiday.

Thank you for the detailed reply

It’s certainly something we have discussed a number of times, and I do know we are cutting a good 80%% of the market out, however I’m thinking this is almost the basis of what makes this business viable.

95% of places out there are set up for families, very safe, standard lodges, with kids play parks and entertainment, however because 95% of places cater to the masses, that leaves the extra 5% of the market that think outside the box to stand out and mop up the smaller slice of the market that wants a couples retreat.

I know of plenty of young couples and actually older kidless couples (combined with the weekend away from the kids/kids older and moved out brigade) that wouldn’t consider going to a family holiday park type place in the UK.

I’m willing to consider scrapping this completely and reverting to the kids welcome market if its not busy enough/taking off though, the business will be forever evolving.

[sidekickdmr]

wseed said:

As a child and pet free couple I think I'd be more put off by the fact that you accept dogs than if you allowed children. I always check when booking accommodation that it's smoke and pet free.

Yes I do understand the dogs allowed thing will put some people off, however considering you would be staying in a cabin, in the middle of the countryside and will have sheep, chickens and cows surrounding you, I think most people that want go to the countryside are ok with animals.

We unfortunately cant please all the people all the time, but I think the market/benefits of pleasing the dog people outweighs the market of the non dog lovers.

[sidekickdmr]

Not a bad idea to keep one of the plots/cabins as "dog free"

Yes ive already done a lot of mistery shopping, im my own perfect customer as at least twice a year me and the OH go down the westcountry and stay in a little cottage, it was the lack of the more rustic/basic cabins that gave me the idea in the first place.

[sidekickdmr]

MitchT said:

Can't really compare pet dogs with livestock. I love the countryside. I'm fine with chickens, sheep, cows, etc. because they don't run up to me, jump up at me, claw at my clothes and get slobber all over me. Dogs do, which is why I'm not overly keen on them.

But this isn’t a hotel, you have your own acre, your own cabin, your own land, complete seclusion, the whole idea is that you shouldn’t see another person (or dog) the whole time your on our site (apart from us when checking in of course)

Don’t like dogs, don’t bring one

[sidekickdmr]

See above, one/two of the lodges could be completely dog free, pleasing (almost) everyone


Can we leave the dog chat there for now and get some thoughts/feedback on the general idea/cabins?

[sidekickdmr]

Agreed, im planning to set out the cabins and landscape in a way that means the decking/tub area is completely impossible to be overlooked.

Its not just going to be a line of cabins in a field, I want each guest to feel like they are the only guest.

[sidekickdmr]

cRaigAl205 said:

Sounds really interesting! If you want any help or advice with cabin design/planning permission etc, drop me a line as I'm Somerset based

Yes i will need somebody to draw them up for planning and building control etc so thank you, ill hopefully take you up on that

Trophy Husband said:

Check out this place. My wife and I have stayed there (it is owned by a friend). Ideal for romantic weekends and that is what a lot of people want nowadays. It is pretty much booked out I believe so you can see that the demand is there....and this place isn't cheap!!

http://www.groesinn.com/the-high-cabin/

The setting looks lovely, but the actual cabin is nothing special and very "dunster house" and they want £660 for a weekend shows the demand is there though

[sidekickdmr]

Any more thoughts/comments at all?

we have the luxury at the moment of almost everything being amendable and nothing being too out there, so the more feedback the better, even if it’s to do something completely different (tree houses, hobbit homes, glass boxes etc) or scrap it altogether!

[sidekickdmr]

SpeckledJim said:

Lovely idea. If they are as secluded as you say, then what's the harm in allowing kids?

I’ve designed them in my head to be one bedroom, king size bed, 2 person hot tub, 2 deck chairs, one sofa, etc so they will be plenty big enough but “cosy”.

If I make them for families (2 bedrooms, 4 people dining table etc) even when couples stay they will feel like they are rattling around a place too big for them.

It’s also kind of my USP, there are plenty of places out there that do similar for families, and I know plenty of people that wouldn’t go to them for that exact reason, so they end up in hotels or renting a little cottage.

[sidekickdmr]

lambysdad said:

I like the idea, it's the sort of place my Wife and I are always on the look out for.
We are on the other side of the Country so to travel there it would have to be a reasonable price, and definitely something special.

A few things;

Would you supply a bbq?
Big enough fridge if no pub or restaurant nearby....especially for beer and wine!
Parking space next to Lodge? Wouldn't want to trudge across an acre with bags...alternatively parking could be near check in and you supply a buggy service to the Lodge?
Wifi?
What sort of heating? Women get cold even in the summer!

For the glamping side...i'd still want my own bathroom.

On the whole it sounds good

You’ve hit the nail on the head and it seems were on the same page, want to pre book 2017 ?

Oh yes, a proper BBQ and a outside firepit, supplied with lots of coal firelighters and wood.

There will be a small, but full kitchen with a proper fridge with freezer compartment for the ice cubes (fresh bag supplied).

I don’t want cars on the land, but we will have one of these (off road golf cart) to get people/baggage about if they so wish.



Probably not WIFI, A) because you shouldn’t be on your phone/laptop anyway and B) they will be so far from the house for that WIFI so it would involve running phone lines. I could look at a satellite/4G option though.

Heating, there will obviously be a log burning stove in the lounge, but there will be additional heating, electric UFH in bathroom and panel rad in the lounge and bedroom, to be confirmed by a builder/heating engineer but yes they will be fully heated.

Glamping wont be introduced for a year or two, but yes I've already looked into canvas en suite bathrooms for the Tipi's.

[sidekickdmr]

Point taken about emergancy contact, when we find a place we will do a check on all networks including 3/4G and if there isnt any we will consider something.

Thanks for the input

[sidekickdmr]

Petrol Only said:

I love this idea.

Future customer here.

Couple no kids and a well behaved dog!

A big thing for me will be making sure you keep it immaculate and no sign/smells of last weeks dog.

Please keep it brat free.

Thanks , im sure I can arrange a PH discount!

Yes of course, we cant aim outselves at the top end of the market if its not immaculate, woudnt get away with it nowdays anyway with trip adviser and such like.

[sidekickdmr]

Roo said:

That would put me off I'm afraid.

When we holiday by car we tend to take too much stuff but it's alright if you have easy access to it.

Relying on someone else to give us a lift to the cabin when we return after a day out with food for that nights dinner would be a no no.

How much do you eat for dinner ?

No problems and sorry to hear that would put you off.

It's only a couple of minuite walk to each lodge, probally not much further than the front door of the supermarket to your car (an acre is suprisingly small in reality) and there will be proper paths.

The buggy would be offered to you for the initial check in and out with your bags, and even then I cant see many people needing it (2 people for a weekend in remember not a week away camping/clubbing).

[sidekickdmr]

lambysdad said:

Hang on....I was first!!

You were indeed, you get first dibs

egor110 said:

What made you pick Somerset as the location?

I’m not strictly keeping it to Somerset, may consider east Devon or even some bits of Dorset for 3 reasons, 1)still no more than a couple of hours from friends and family, 2) easy to get to for customers, Cornwall is a bit of a journey for anyone not in the south west already, but Somerset has trains, A303 and the M5 serving it, and 3) its where me and my now wife love, we go there a lot anyway so have connections there and are very fond but cannot find enough places like this to stay so spotted a bit of a gap in the market.

CAPP0 said:

We'd certainly be up for this, I'm trying to find a dog-friendly week away at the moment and the quality levels are leaving something to be desired, even at premium prices.

Oh, and can you please not restrict it to one dog! Maybe one dog per human!

We have 2 dogs, so wouldn’t be any good for us if it was limited to 1, we may however have to draw the line somewhere, it also depends on size, my mum has 5 Pugs and they would be fine, my wife’s parents have a great dane and you wouldn’t want more than one of them in a small cabin trust me.

tr7v8 said:

Looks good, hate the staycation phrase!
No kids is brilliant & would attract us. Not fussed about dogs providing they are well behaved.

To be honest, I hate it too and wouldn’t use it on the website/blurb, just thought it was suitable and catching enough as a PH thread title.

mybrainhurts said:

And what, in the name of the Holy Succubus of Scunthorpe, is GLAMPING?

Stop it, immediately...

Hate to say it but that’s the official term for luxury camping, so that’s what people will be punching into Google, and as such that’s what I'll be calling it, I see your point though, don’t hate the player hate the game

[sidekickdmr]

egor110 said:

Looking at the pictures you've put on the 1st page i'm guessing your looking at quantocks/exmoor sort of area?

To be frank, we are keeping options open at the moment as there isn’t an abundance of suitable places out there, so we are within reason considering anywhere and when something comes up seeing if its suitable, if it can be made suitable and if not we move on.

Off to see somewhere at the weekend that isn’t exactly a forest like the first pictures but it has just over 3 acres and a apple (cider) orchard so although It won’t give the feel of being in the woods, come summer time it will feel a lot more suitable and sunny/open while still giving interesting backdrops and character to the land (as well as being able to offer things like cider making workshops as an extra revenue stream perhaps)

[sidekickdmr]

mybrainhurts said:

It might be in the OED, but the OED is becoming ever more hippy these days and it doesn't make it right.

The creation of buzz words by deeply affected, look at me, I'm trendy as hell, individuals is one of my pet hates.

For what it's worth, I would avoid anywhere that adopted this verbal tripe, just as I avoid any business with the word "solutions" in its title, or any restaurant offering "brunch" and don't get me going on "sustainability"....

When I take over, all such irksome beings will be placed before a firing squad....

Genuine question, considering "camping" is normally a small pitch on a field with acess to communial washing facilities, no noise or fun to be had past 10pm and a club house run by Janice and Clive the 70 year old retired couple from sheffield, how would you distuinguish yourself from this in one word?

If you wanted a pre set up, thick canvas walled tipi with log buring stove, decking, 4 posted double bed, ensuite bathroom with a copper roll top bath and flushing toilet what would you suggest I call it? What would you search google for?

mybrainhurts said:

You need to assess whether your potential customers are as reasonable as me...

Hopefully not

[sidekickdmr]

bluenosewrx said:

This place is good, always busy and seems to have the same ideas as your looking for.

search for the hideaway experience dundee

sorry my work computer does not let me access the website, but its good, you can pre book local produce etc

Thanks for the link, looks good, ill have a proper nose tonight.

Yes local produce was going to be another revenue stream of mine, when filling out the booking form there was going to be a completely optional extras section, things like:

Locally produced full English breakfast hamper £X per person

Vegetarian version £XX per person

Farmers market BBQ package £XX per person

and perhaps a couple of simple dinner hampers

The idea being when they book they tick various boxes and state what time and day they want them delivered to the door, the cost is incorporated into the final balance and I will source the ingredients during a Thursday shop and then package up and deliver at the set day/time for them to cook at the lodge.

[sidekickdmr]

BoRED S2upid said:

Looks lovely we do at least 2 breaks a year in this country usually in a cottage with a log burner before / after Christmas. One thing though dogs welcome. I wouldn't stay for that reason. We stayed in one once that welcomed dogs and had dog hair everywhere never again and the feedback on trip adviser (which we should have checked) is very much along these lines.

Thank you, fingers crossed it comes to fruition and it works out for us, a hell of a lot of time and money is going to be ploughed in, including a complete re-location but it will be worth it twofold it if works out

Back to the Dog chat, someone had the idea of keeping one or two lodges completely dog free from the outset, so hoping to please everyone and will listen to feedback/demand.

egor110 said:

Do you have any experience re the planning game?

What you want and what the locals who sit on the local council want may be very different.

Take a look at stogumber,monksilver,combe florey areas for property, i think they'd suit what your looking to do.

I have some experience at a consumer level, i have already spoken to 2 councils in the Somerset area and they were surprisingly positive and receptive to the enquiries, we would also be employing the services of a planning consultant with experience in this market to guide it through, always a big risk though!

Thank you for the suggested areas, ill take a look at them