Which holiday home would you pick?

[sidekickdmr]

LuS1fer said:

Why?

If you can find accommodation like the above and return flights for 17 adults for £3,000 I'm all ears!

[LuS1fer]

Kermit power said:

We've got 3 kids under the age of 10. Trying to transport them with any sort of baggage without a car, even for a short period of time, is a bloody nightmare.

It's also far, far more expensive than driving to somewhere in the UK, and whilst I can easily justify the extra cost of flying out to somewhere nice if it's just me and my wife, the kids couldn't care less if their climbing frame, woodland walk, bouncy castle or whatever is in Bangkok or Bognor, so why go to the extra expense and hassle?

Also worth considering that the beer won't be as good anywhere else!

Well get a car then. I have one 12, one 6, one 3. I appreciate it's bloody expensive paying for 3 air flights but I'd rather them run round in the sun in minimal clothing than have to constantly dress them in heavy clothing and let them roll in mud. But you're right, they don't care...

The extra cost for the weather is always worth it for me though.

[Kermit power]

LuS1fer said:

Well get a car then. I have one 12, one 6, one 3. I appreciate it's bloody expensive paying for 3 air flights but I'd rather them run round in the sun in minimal clothing than have to constantly dress them in heavy clothing and let them roll in mud. But you're right, they don't care...

The extra cost for the weather is always worth it for me though.

You show me airports where I can drive the car to the aircraft and I'll consider it. Otherwise, the hassle of parking, getting a transit bus, schlepping through the terminal, queuing to get on the flight then reversing the whole operation on the other side with the added hassle of picking up a hire car (who half the time screw up the booster seat reservations in my experience) means it's just not worth the hassle.

For longer summer holidays, I'll take the ferries to France or Spain out of preference to flying any day - this is exacerbated by having had a 10 year period of doing 4-5 flights per month on average and developing an abiding loathing of airports - but for short breaks, that's not an option, so I'll stick to the UK every time.

On a winter break, I'd focus more on finding somewhere with a nice big fire and plenty of nearby attractions which aren't dependent on the weather.

[RicksAlfas]

If there's lots of kids go for option 2.

A big bunch of us meet up in The Peak District every year at an old converted barn which has plenty of outdoor space for the kids to loon around, a games room and a slide/swing/climbing thing. It's perfect. An outdoor pool and a pole dancing facility is not really ideal if there's kids bombing round.

[LuS1fer]

Kermit power said:

You show me airports where I can drive the car to the aircraft and I'll consider it. Otherwise, the hassle of parking, getting a transit bus, schlepping through the terminal, queuing to get on the flight then reversing the whole operation on the other side with the added hassle of picking up a hire car (who half the time screw up the booster seat reservations in my experience) means it's just not worth the hassle.

For longer summer holidays, I'll take the ferries to France or Spain out of preference to flying any day - this is exacerbated by having had a 10 year period of doing 4-5 flights per month on average and developing an abiding loathing of airports - but for short breaks, that's not an option, so I'll stick to the UK every time.

On a winter break, I'd focus more on finding somewhere with a nice big fire and plenty of nearby attractions which aren't dependent on the weather.

I can understand all that but we use Cardiff airport which is never busy and we have never had any problems at any of the airports abroad. Even taking into account arriving 2 hours beforehand, we can be in a hire car within 4.5 hours in Spain. The main bugbear for me is that you just can't get short term flights, it's usually a week minimum or they just don't do flights when I want them. Never ever had an issue with hire cars or booster seats either, even in peak season.

I don't do fires so I'll stick to sunnier climes but understand people who prefer the UK. My Mrs is taking the kids to the Isle of Wight next week but I'm sure as hell not going - that is a military operation equal to any foreign holiday as it involves far more clothing.

Of course, that said, we went To Javea last year and had 3 days of solid rain.

[sidekickdmr]

Ok so time to come clean, we are looking into acquiring property 3 to start our own high end holiday home business. This was a little test to see how it compared to some of the others in the same sector. And it flopped!

What is putting people off property 3? Just a bit "boring"? Too new so no character?

Any feedback greatly appreciated!

[LuS1fer]

Too much grass, not enough landscaping and so while there is nothing inherently wrong with it, it does look like a house in a field. the photos may be misleading but the others look better (but may not be).

[Kermit power]

sidekickdmr said:

Ok so time to come clean, we are looking into acquiring property 3 to start our own high end holiday home business. This was a little test to see how it compared to some of the others in the same sector. And it flopped!

What is putting people off property 3? Just a bit "boring"? Too new so no character?

Any feedback greatly appreciated!

To start with, the photos do it no justice. I couldn't really tell if it was new build or not, because the shot of the house is taken from so far away. I assume this is to demonstrate the size of the grounds, but to me this just had the effect of showing it to be a house in the middle of a barren field of grass with no apparent privacy across which any wind would blow completely unimpeded.

It also talks about having a home cinema, outdoor hot tub, steam room, sauna and astro turf driving range and croquet lawn without showing pictures of any of them.

Home cinema could be anything from a 32" LCD screen with separate speakers right through to a full HD projector setup in a darkened, soundproof room with comfortable cinema-style seating for the 14 person capacity.

The hot tub, steam room and sauna could, again, take the full 14-person capacity of the property, or could be big enough for 2 people at a time. Equally, they could be sparklingly clean or a bit shabby and mildewed.

The Astroturf driving range could be a proper driving range with pins, greens, bunkers, distance markers and nets to catch errant balls, or it could just be an astro turf mat on that huge expanse of grass. Equally, the croquet lawn could be a beautifully manicured, spirit-level flat custom laid piece of turf with permanent hoops in place and balls and mallets provided, or it could just be a flattish, squarish bit of grass on which you can set up your own croquet set if you've got one, and you don't mind slaloming round the mole hills.

It could well be that everything listed is at the top end of the luxury market, but I'm a cynic. Unless I see photographic evidence of this, I'm going to assume it's at the bottom end, and the advertiser is trying to big up his property whilst hiding the shabby bits on the assumption that he won't need to worry about repeat business, as most people rent somewhere of this scale for one-off special occasions rather than as a regular event.

Edited by Kermit power on Thursday 25th October 10:30

[sidekickdmr]

Yes I do understand, I picked the pictures of the "grounds" as I thought they were nice

Here are some other quick snaps:













Also good point about the cinema/hot tub, there are no pictures of this as I will be adding these to the property when I get the keys.

Home cinema will be a 720p projector hooked upto a PS3 and sky HD box And full 5.1 surround sound with 6 leather reclining chairs in a darkened room etc.

The hot tub will be a brand new 8 person tub with iPod interface, speakers, subs etc, looking at about a 8k tub (American made, not Chinese)

There will be a pro 10 person poker table in the games/cinema room with pro chips/cards supplied

Hope that gives you a better idea!

Edited by sidekickdmr on Thursday 25th October 13:25

Edited by sidekickdmr on Thursday 25th October 13:46

[LuS1fer]

No offence but the rear aspect looks like a mental hospital/OAP home. It just lacks pizzaz but I would seriously like the garages.

[Kermit power]

That certainly makes it seem better. I still don't think it would be my choice though. For that sort of money for a weekend (even split between multiple couples or families), I'd want to feel as though I was renting a sense of occasion, rather than just a house which, other than on sheer size, looks as though it belongs in a suburban Wimpy estate.

The Surrey one looks like it would really give that atmosphere of "let's be lords of the manor" for the weekend, whereas the Devon one gives a proper sense of rural retreat. I'm afraid the last one just looks like a new build done for one of the less tasteless premiership footballers. Either of the first two left me thinking it'd be really nice to have some sort of special gathering there. The third just makes me think I'd think it was nothing special whilst I was there, but then come home resenting the fact that my house and garden are a fraction of the size!

Presumably the Surrey one in particular must be 4 or 5 times the asking price, and Devon is a long way from almost the whole country, so it would probably make for a closer run decision if the rental was a fraction of the Surrey one or we had people coming from anywhere much North or East of the M4/M3 corridor.

[rhinochopig]

None of the above. Personally I'd take the family here. It really is superb. You need to book way in advance though.

http://peelcastle.co.uk/

[Pothole]

We'll need some pictures and a bit of background info to make sure you're the 'right kind of people' Of course!

[LuS1fer]

rhinochopig said:

None of the above. Personally I'd take the family here. It really is superb. You need to book way in advance though.

http://peelcastle.co.uk/

He can't buy Peel Castle though, read the thread.

[rhinochopig]

LuS1fer said:

rhinochopig said:

None of the above. Personally I'd take the family here. It really is superb. You need to book way in advance though.

http://peelcastle.co.uk/

He can't buy Peel Castle though, read the thread.

I read the first page and got bored TBH. Oops.

[rhinochopig]

Kermit power said:

That certainly makes it seem better. I still don't think it would be my choice though. For that sort of money for a weekend (even split between multiple couples or families), I'd want to feel as though I was renting a sense of occasion, rather than just a house which, other than on sheer size, looks as though it belongs in a suburban Wimpy estate.

The Surrey one looks like it would really give that atmosphere of "let's be lords of the manor" for the weekend, whereas the Devon one gives a proper sense of rural retreat. I'm afraid the last one just looks like a new build done for one of the less tasteless premiership footballers. Either of the first two left me thinking it'd be really nice to have some sort of special gathering there. The third just makes me think I'd think it was nothing special whilst I was there, but then come home resenting the fact that my house and garden are a fraction of the size!

Presumably the Surrey one in particular must be 4 or 5 times the asking price, and Devon is a long way from almost the whole country, so it would probably make for a closer run decision if the rental was a fraction of the Surrey one or we had people coming from anywhere much North or East of the M4/M3 corridor.

To actually contribute to the thread...

I agree with you Kermit. The house looks like it was built with the design brief to make it big as you can for the money. There is little architectural flare to the exterior design as it resembles your bog standard detached house, but one that has been scaled up. Because of this, the windows look too small and get lost in the brick work.

For me - and the reason I suggested the castle - if I'm going to rent a property for a holiday I want something that looks special and has some character to it. Personally, whilst I've spent a fair amount on home cinema, I couldn't care less if it was fitted to a holiday accommodation. If you're with friends and family you want to chat more than watch TV. What I want is stunning characterful room that my friends and I can settle down of an evening and have a good old natter and get slowly drunk on fine wine and brandy / whisky. It could be ultra modern yet interesting, oak panelled and distinguished, or bare stone country cottage themed, but it has to be different to your typical house interior for the sort of money you'll need to ask to make it a viable business. The hot tub is a nice idea, but again if it's set in position where you view is of essentially a mown meadow then it's not appealing.

Regardless of what I think though, good luck.

[Kermit power]

rhinochopig said:

Personally, whilst I've spent a fair amount on home cinema, I couldn't care less if it was fitted to a holiday accommodation.

This is a very good point. At home, I've got everything set up exactly as I want it - wiring in the walls, everything managed from a single remote, screen properly set up etc, etc...

When I go on holiday with the family, I'll typically not watch TV once for a fortnight and won't miss it one bit.

[Bill]

Agree with other's assessment. I prefer something with character and class, that one screams "look at my wad"

[Kermit power]

I think the hot tub is a great idea. That's one of the few things which are probably better at a holiday rental than they would be at your own home, as I imagine the hassle of keeping them clean and maintained would take the edge off enjoying them when you had the time to do so.

If you're going to put that in to whatever property you acquire though, then it's an equal asset wherever you settle on.

[sidekickdmr]

Yeh I have to agree, hence the whole reason for this thread.

Bugger!

I'd love an amazing converted castle or old manor house, just need to keep looking I guess.

Well I'm off to see two this weekend, this one and another.

I'll report back on sunday