How do you book uk places to stay?

[CoolHands]

I don’t do this so don’t have much idea. Suppose I want to go and stay in small economical (ie value for money!) place in Scotland / Lake District for 2 or 3 nights on my own, take my mountain bike to cycle about a bit and look at the scenery. (I would drive up, ‘natch)

Who / what websites do you use? I’m imaging either self catering or perhaps B&B. Do you use airbnb if doing the self catering? ie rent whole small cottage or something? What about if wanting B&B what’s the best website to use to get whole selection? Are hotels ever comparable if they have deals on and if so then what website, booking.com?

Ta

[Ezra]

If I'm going self catering, AirBnB, if it's a B&B or hotel, Booking.com. Never had a problem with either, and used both for UK and overseas.

[Ryyy]

Never done B&B but for self catering in the UK I've used sykes and hoseasons plenty of times there is cottages.com too but don't think ive used them.

[CoolHands]

Thanks

[Silvanus]

Ezra said:

If I'm going self catering, AirBnB, if it's a B&B or hotel, Booking.com. Never had a problem with either, and used both for UK and overseas.

I'd echo this, we use both fair bit.

[Riley Blue]

We do around 20 two/three night stays all over the UK throughout the summer months and always use Airbnb. We have particular requirements due to my O/H's mobility difficulties and have only once, since lockdown, had an 'iffy' experience.

[MOMACC]

Airbnb
Booking.com
UKcaravansforhire - https://www.ukcaravans4hire.com/

[CoolHands]

I’ve never used airbnb - I will sign up!

[Skyedriver]

Ryyy said:

Never done B&B but for self catering in the UK I've used sykes and hoseasons plenty of times there is cottages.com too but don't think ive used them.

Used Cottages.com a few times, been OK

(Just going through the various sites/locations/cottages etc as I type, looking for Christmas 2025!

[Zaichik]

Tinder and only fish can get you reasonable places to stay overnight for the price of a meal for two and a couple drinks. Much less in some places.

[towser44]

I'd also try Parkdean for a static caravan, lodge or they have glamping in some places. We've had caravans for 3/4 nights for less than £120 before now. They've got a couple of sites around the Lakes and a few in Scotland.

[omniflow]

You could just try google maps, both with and without clicking on the "Hotels" button.

It's quite good for finding the actual website for somewhere, rather than going through a booking agency.

[Gren]

As well as some of those above I've used Vrbo for self catering cottages and Tripadvisor a couple of times too. B&Bs and the like I tend to just find their website and book direct.

[Stephanie Plum]

Sawdays.

[Familymad]

HolidayCottages.co.uk

[mikeiow]

Ezra said:

If I'm going self catering, AirBnB, if it's a B&B or hotel, Booking.com. Never had a problem with either, and used both for UK and overseas.

I’d agree with this.
Don’t forget to use TopCashBack - generally get 10% back on all hotels.com bookings via that

[chriswhitlock]

unique-cottages,co.uk

They just do places in Scotland, but have a varied selection of property

[soad]

Zaichik said:

Tinder and only fish can get you reasonable places to stay overnight for the price of a meal for two and a couple drinks. Much less in some places.

Not used plenty of fish in years.

[Harpoon]

AirBNB is worth a look but some of the service / cleaning fees lumped into the total cost can be steep.

https://www.holidaycottages.co.uk/ - they are part of Travel Chapter which includes lots of other brands / websites. So, you might see the same cottages on other sites:

https://www.yorkshireholidaycottages.co.uk/
https://www.originalcottages.co.uk/

We've also booked through:

https://www.the-cottage-company.co.uk/ - more Wye Valley & Wales though
https://www.coastalcottages.co.uk/ - Pembrokeshire

Also booked self catering direct with owners which obviously has a bigger risk than going via an agency but never had a problem so far. I'll try to find the property on Streetview and ring the owner before transferring any money. As mentioned above, scrolling around an area you want to visit on Google Maps can throw up properties with their own website for direct booking.

[bennno]

sykes
airbnb
bookings.com

you'll find >70% of properties on one of these 3.