Staycations, our new business, help and feedback appreciated
Discussion
and hopefully getting each guest to come back at least 3 times..mmmmm
eta please don't think I am being picky.....I want it to work for you so we can come and stay.
ps some won't stay in a lodge where dogs have stayed and impossible to clean 100%
eta please don't think I am being picky.....I want it to work for you so we can come and stay.
ps some won't stay in a lodge where dogs have stayed and impossible to clean 100%
Edited by alfie2244 on Tuesday 12th April 13:54
sidekickdmr said:
That is a concern we have, but we have spoken to the planners already, and they seem susceptible to the overall idea.
Been there, done that. Bought a place with outline planning permission, showed the planners what we expected to do, "yes, that looks fine" they said.So we put in plans. "Not a hope in hell" was the official response (I'm paraphrasing). It took five years to get permission sorted.
Not that I'm bitter
Seriously though, don't underestimate the time taken to get everything lined up and ready to 'go'. It's one of those processes where you have to keep everything positive and moving forward, which requires a certain amount of stamina when things aren't immediately happening. You'll have an explosion in the number of people who need (or want) to be involved - from utility companies to neighbours and they all need to be kept on side so you can get from paperwork to choosing curtains.
alfie2244 said:
and hopefully getting each guest to come back at least 3 times..mmmmm
eta please don't think I am being picky.....I want it to work for you so we can come and stay.
ps some won't stay in a lodge where dogs have stayed and impossible to clean 100%
Your not being picky and you make a good point but I really don’t want to get into the dog discussion for a third time in one thread, but There will be at least one dog free place, this is the best I can do to TRY and please as many customers as possible and give people the option of coming no matter what their preference. eta please don't think I am being picky.....I want it to work for you so we can come and stay.
ps some won't stay in a lodge where dogs have stayed and impossible to clean 100%
Edited by alfie2244 on Tuesday 12th April 13:54
I certainly don’t want to be completely dog free, that’s not an option.
Tuna said:
Been there, done that. Bought a place with outline planning permission, showed the planners what we expected to do, "yes, that looks fine" they said.
So we put in plans. "Not a hope in hell" was the official response (I'm paraphrasing). It took five years to get permission sorted.
Not that I'm bitter
Seriously though, don't underestimate the time taken to get everything lined up and ready to 'go'. It's one of those processes where you have to keep everything positive and moving forward, which requires a certain amount of stamina when things aren't immediately happening. You'll have an explosion in the number of people who need (or want) to be involved - from utility companies to neighbours and they all need to be kept on side so you can get from paperwork to choosing curtains.
Yes I do understand the planners word is as good as a chocolate fire guard, but we are in this for the long haul, and are in no major rush and want to do things right, neighbour relations are very much top of my priorities too.So we put in plans. "Not a hope in hell" was the official response (I'm paraphrasing). It took five years to get permission sorted.
Not that I'm bitter
Seriously though, don't underestimate the time taken to get everything lined up and ready to 'go'. It's one of those processes where you have to keep everything positive and moving forward, which requires a certain amount of stamina when things aren't immediately happening. You'll have an explosion in the number of people who need (or want) to be involved - from utility companies to neighbours and they all need to be kept on side so you can get from paperwork to choosing curtains.
I know its going to be anything but easy......
Edited by sidekickdmr on Tuesday 12th April 14:08
sidekickdmr said:
awesome plan
SKD, I am also planning to build a site like this, albeit right up the top of the country, and with a very different theme, so not competition 
Having carried out quite a bit of market research in this area, I would be wary of the dog thing.
Dogs are great, and there is a niche market of people wanting to take dogs away with them. But the family market is by far the biggest. If you want to contact me I can give you more specific information than I would like to openly give out, but essentially dogs at a site put nervous mum off, and families make up the lions portion of weekend and summer bookings where your main profits are.
Having said that, niche is not a bad thing.
Efbe said:
SKD, I am also planning to build a site like this, albeit right up the top of the country, and with a very different theme, so not competition
Having carried out quite a bit of market research in this area, I would be wary of the dog thing.
Dogs are great, and there is a niche market of people wanting to take dogs away with them. But the family market is by far the biggest. If you want to contact me I can give you more specific information than I would like to openly give out, but essentially dogs at a site put nervous mum off, and families make up the lions portion of weekend and summer bookings where your main profits are.
Having said that, niche is not a bad thing.
Sounds great, would be good to learn a little more about what your plans are, compare notes as such, sounds like you know your stuff.Having carried out quite a bit of market research in this area, I would be wary of the dog thing.
Dogs are great, and there is a niche market of people wanting to take dogs away with them. But the family market is by far the biggest. If you want to contact me I can give you more specific information than I would like to openly give out, but essentially dogs at a site put nervous mum off, and families make up the lions portion of weekend and summer bookings where your main profits are.
Having said that, niche is not a bad thing.
However at this time we are still aiming towards the Adults only, romantic break type getaways, which removes the "nervous mum" element completely.
Out site has a stream, ponds, lakes and steep drops at a couple of points, so doesn’t really lend itself to kid-friendly.
I also like the idea of being a bit more grown up and as you say, niche
Yes it would have to be all or nothing, and we are certainly aiming for nothing. The no kids, romantic, Mr & Mrs Smith style is our USP, no good if there are sticky fingerptints on the walls or lego under a rug 
And The Moose, I cant see why that would be a problem, I'd be happy to sign for/be around for delivery and collection. I wasnt aware this was a "thing", is this something people with a liking for leather catsuits do?
And The Moose, I cant see why that would be a problem, I'd be happy to sign for/be around for delivery and collection. I wasnt aware this was a "thing", is this something people with a liking for leather catsuits do?
sidekickdmr said:
Yes it would have to be all or nothing, and we are certainly aiming for nothing. The no kids, romantic, Mr & Mrs Smith style is our USP, no good if there are sticky fingerptints on the walls or lego under a rug
And The Moose, I cant see why that would be a problem, I'd be happy to sign for/be around for delivery and collection. I wasnt aware this was a "thing", is this something people with a liking for leather catsuits do?
I can't fit the anal invader 6,000 in either pannier or top box. We experimented with the 4,000 which as I'm sure you know comes apart however it just isn't sturdy enough - hence the upgrade to the 6.And The Moose, I cant see why that would be a problem, I'd be happy to sign for/be around for delivery and collection. I wasnt aware this was a "thing", is this something people with a liking for leather catsuits do?
In all seriousness, it's a bit of a pain to try to go somewhere on the bike and go out for dinner somewhere nice and it's nicer to not have to f
k about with panniers etc.Rather than just signing for, it'd work well if you had a contact and suggested this on the site as opposed to have someone ask for it if you see what I mean?
sidekickdmr said:
And The Moose, I cant see why that would be a problem, I'd be happy to sign for/be around for delivery and collection. I wasnt aware this was a "thing", is this something people with a liking for leather catsuits do?
It also works for cycle touring people and walkers (lots of walkers come to this area), and even people who come by train (saves lugging suitcases around). None of these are major targets for your cliental admittedly, but its a good added service that will swing a few into staying with you. This from the Rightmove advert:
Crowness Cottage is approached via a long sweeping driveway which leads up from the main village road. The lower section of the drive is not owned by the cottage but does have absolute right of way.
I'd get your solicitor to check and double check this. I'd also suggest a informal chat with whoever owns the first part of the drive about your ideas, just in case they are very against more traffic.
Best of luck with this project.
Crowness Cottage is approached via a long sweeping driveway which leads up from the main village road. The lower section of the drive is not owned by the cottage but does have absolute right of way.
I'd get your solicitor to check and double check this. I'd also suggest a informal chat with whoever owns the first part of the drive about your ideas, just in case they are very against more traffic.
Best of luck with this project.
Will take a look into companies that can provide that service, from having a quick google there seem to be a few, thanks for the idea/suggestion
Re the access road, we have already highlighted this to our solicitor and they are looking into it in more detail, however the guy that owns the land lives nowhere near so hopefully wouldn’t be a problem, but certainly something to look into more.
Re the access road, we have already highlighted this to our solicitor and they are looking into it in more detail, however the guy that owns the land lives nowhere near so hopefully wouldn’t be a problem, but certainly something to look into more.
Interesting to follow your project
Don't want to mention the 'd' word but its interesting the strength of opinion on this and kids. I may be more concerned who's been shagging in my bed the night before rather than a few unhoovered hairs from a Cockapoo
. I guess these will be very important business decisions for you though - and smoking. Got into our room at Beaulieu last weekend and was blasted with stale smoke at £300 a night - very unimpressed indeed.
Have stayed at Bluestone a few times but the whole leave your car a mile away thing means we wont go again. Walking to the lodge with (self catering) shopping bags in the dark, in the rain was no fun. The knee high lamposts dazzle you rather than lead the way & daughter tripped and got hurt.
Consider getting a more descriptive URL for the business that describes what it does. I did this with a side business and am #4 on Google as the usual punter search term is actually in the url.
Best of luck with it and do report back on planning as I have something like this in mind one day for us as an inheritance project and planning terrifies me!
Don't want to mention the 'd' word but its interesting the strength of opinion on this and kids. I may be more concerned who's been shagging in my bed the night before rather than a few unhoovered hairs from a Cockapoo
. I guess these will be very important business decisions for you though - and smoking. Got into our room at Beaulieu last weekend and was blasted with stale smoke at £300 a night - very unimpressed indeed.Have stayed at Bluestone a few times but the whole leave your car a mile away thing means we wont go again. Walking to the lodge with (self catering) shopping bags in the dark, in the rain was no fun. The knee high lamposts dazzle you rather than lead the way & daughter tripped and got hurt.
Consider getting a more descriptive URL for the business that describes what it does. I did this with a side business and am #4 on Google as the usual punter search term is actually in the url.
Best of luck with it and do report back on planning as I have something like this in mind one day for us as an inheritance project and planning terrifies me!
It may have been said before but be aware of the requirements of the (old) Disability Discrimination Act, now The Equality Act. It is very specific about 'inclusiveness' where access is concerned. Tree house? How will people in wheelchairs get up there? Tent? Fine, cabin? Fine, treehouse? Ramp?
By the way, the plans sound fantastic. Good on ya fella!
By the way, the plans sound fantastic. Good on ya fella!
Johnniem said:
It may have been said before but be aware of the requirements of the (old) Disability Discrimination Act, now The Equality Act. It is very specific about 'inclusiveness' where access is concerned. Tree house? How will people in wheelchairs get up there? Tent? Fine, cabin? Fine, treehouse? Ramp?
By the way, the plans sound fantastic. Good on ya fella!
Its a Valid concern, and as you say, something for me to look into.By the way, the plans sound fantastic. Good on ya fella!
However, there must be a way around it, there are lots and lots of tree houses etc around without ramps etc.
We go away and stay in the cottages within the grounds of Bovey castle hotel each year, there is no hope in hell of getting to any of these cottages in a wheelchair, its hard enough walk/climb up the hill/steps to them.
Forgive me if this is a silly question that only a non-doggy person like me would ask, but why would you need to make a big deal about dogs staying at your place? If you made your dog-friendly approach one of your big USPs I'd instantly be suspicious of the place stinking, but I don't think I'd even think to ask about it if you didn't stress it in your marketing. Certainly I've never thought to ask a place before.
If your accommodation is going to be as clean as you say it is, can't you just quietly mention the dog-friendly bit in the small print somewhere so that people like me aren't even put on alert about the risk?
Totally understand if your experience finding dog-friendly accommodation in the past makes you want to shout about it, however, if you feel there's a big niche market for people with dogs.
Best of luck with the project. Genuinely hope it's successful for you.
If your accommodation is going to be as clean as you say it is, can't you just quietly mention the dog-friendly bit in the small print somewhere so that people like me aren't even put on alert about the risk?
Totally understand if your experience finding dog-friendly accommodation in the past makes you want to shout about it, however, if you feel there's a big niche market for people with dogs.
Best of luck with the project. Genuinely hope it's successful for you.
sidekickdmr said:
Time for another update?
We have settled on a Business name, and purchased the Domain name, we have gone for:
The Crowness
www.thecrowness.co.uk
You went with my suggestion????? I am SOO SO chuffed. That has made my day. Do I get a free stay? We have settled on a Business name, and purchased the Domain name, we have gone for:
The Crowness
www.thecrowness.co.uk
Would you mind a PM as I could do with a favour myself.
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