UK - self catering ?
 

Still at the planning stage of our 2011 UK trip and basically trying to develop realistic strategies for various things.

I am now trying to decide accommodation TYPE.
The choices are:
1. Self-catering - our preference - never done this in the U.K. before
2. B&Bs - we have done this a number of times.

We will probably be in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall in JUNE.
I would really like to do self-catering because for health reasons I prefer to do mostly my own cooking
BUT
We also love flexibility.

On our past trips we were always able to find B&B accommodation even at the very last minute (like same day). Most self-catering accomodation seems to be booked well in advance - something we are NOT keen to do unless absolutely necessary,

SO my big questions is it terribly unrealistic of me to expect to be able to find self-catering accommodation in JUNE at the last minute in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall?
I would prefer not to book any more than a couple of days in advance for each booking (about a week in each place).

We are also prepared to mix the two types of accommodation - for e.g. B&B for a few days - then book a self-catering place for a week.

Thanks for ANY advice about this

Anyone tried to do this?

semiramis Most holiday cottages are on websites so as long as you have internet access you can search for late availability. If you contact and build up a relationship with one of the booking companies I'm sure they would help you out.

There is one I've used that specialises in properties in the area you are travelling to. Have a google and fore off a couple of emails and see what comes back.

Travel in early June before the schools pack up and availability should be better. Good luck.

Thx fashionista.
Our main problem may be finding internet access. On our last trip, we did not see a lot of internet cafe type places (actually only found one). Maybe we were not looking in the right places? We don't want to bring a Notebook with us. On our last trip, I basically carried a list of prospective B&Bs and phone numbers and just did some cold calls when we knew where we were going to be. This worked extremely well. It sometimes took a couple of phone calls but we always found something.

I like the idea of emailing a booking company before we go to as you say 'build up a relationship' and have just a few numbers to call for last minute stuff rather than 10 pages of listings (which is what I had for B&Bs). Do you have the name of the company you dealt with? I am going to google and see what all turns up and email any promising agencies when the time gets closer.

BTW when do the schools close for the summer?

English schools (as opposed to say Scottish schools) generally close for 6 weeks from mid July, but some have other dates.
June is very popular as a time for those who have pre school kids or don't have kids to go away.
Next year the dates are 16 July to 30 August, but as I said not all schools have a long summer break nowadays.

This was the company I used - I took my Mum away for a treat and we stayed in a gorgeous property called The Old Reading Room, in Langton Herring.

The web site is here: http://dorsetcoastalcottages.com/cottage-details/304

Im racking my brains to think of the company I used in Cornwall - will have to get back to you on that one. I stayed in a farm house near Helford - it was down a tiny track (the farmers lived elsewhere). When I got there milk was in the fridge and a home baked cake was in the tin. Really lovely people so I will do my best to find the details.

I prefer the local companies rather than the national ones as I feel they know the owners and the area better - Ive no evidence for that by the way and it may be totally wrong!!

Oh on internet access, go the to public library. Most of them have internet available - or they do where I live! May be different in Devon and Cornwall. Perhaps a local may see this.

I got it wrong we stayed at Rose Mallow Cottage, Langton Herring - looking at the pictures I remember being able to sit in the bath and just look at amazing countryside! A novel experience for a city dweller!!

I should think before I post then I would not look like I am talking to myself!!

There are the Cornish details. To be honest Ive booked holiday cottages all over the UK and have never been disappointed with any of them.

http://www.classic.co.uk/Cottage.asp...rea=&pagenum=3

Thx so much!
Btw - when you mentioned "public library" - a light went on because that's where you can get internet access here in Toronto - makes sense!
This may actually work out better than I thought it would.

We've stayed at self catering places in England, Ireland and Switzerland and love it.

If you don't book ahead, the better places may already be booked, so be careful. Many self catering places book up quite a bit ahead of time.

I hate to spend valuable vacation time trying to find a place to stay, so we always book ahead.

You might want to look at what cottages are available about 2 months before you leave. I fyou see there is practically nothing left - that will be a clue you need to book in advance. If there are still lots of decent options you can feel safer not making advance reservations. In either case, I wouldn't go without a list of places you would like to stay - starting to look while already on your trip could take a big chunk out of your vacation.

Librarian here confirming that public libraries have free Internet access across the UK (rolled out some years ago under a Government funded project called 'The People's Network'. I'd also recommend a magazine called 'The Lady' which advertises self catering accommodation too. Would recommend a stay in Lyme Regis (on the Jurassic coast) when in Dorset.

Few if any self catering places will be available at the last minute in places like Cornwall/Devon. If it isn't booked up far in advance, then an owner sometimes entertains bookings for short stays to partially fill the week. To find anyplace that is available for the exact dates you'd need would be slim at best. Since the vast majority are one-off's, there is no other option like a B&B might send you off to a friend down the road who let's rooms.

B&Bs will have availability since Junes isn't yet high season - but even then count on maybe having to search around in popular/scenic areas (which just about covers all of coastal Devon/Cornwall) to find openings.

If you want self catering -- you really do need to book in advance. Even if a cottage has a last minute cancellation - you'd have to be first in line to get it and there may well be a waiting list.

Thx for advice and suggestions. I think once we have firmed up dates and where we would prefer to be, I will book at least one week in advance - probably in Cornwall - since I suspect it may be the hardest to get self-catering at the last minute. I am also very attracted to the idea of staying in the Roseland area - so think that if I really want to stay there I may have to book ahead.

I don't know what others think, but one week in advance for a self catering isn't "in advance" to me.

If you're not particular about where you stay, you may be fine. I would be OK booking with a B&B or Inn/Hotel for one night at the last minute, but for a self catering where you will be for several days, kitchen, size of rooms, washer/dryer, comfortable beds etc are important to me.

The advantage of booking ahead of time (I book months ahead of time) is being able to research at your leisure the places you are considering (research here, Trip Advisor, Slow Trav, Google images & satellite map) restaurants, things to do, markets for supplies. Communicating with the people you are renting from will also give you great ideas. Great fun, and you don't eat up valuable vacation time at the library or on your own computer.

hi semiramis,

i was going to say "the library" but fashionista got in first. I can however assure you that the free internet access applies to Cornish libraries - but remember that they may not be open when you want to consult them especially in small places. the main libaries usually open 9 - 6 weekdays and fewer hours on Sats - [not at all on sundays], but best to check beforehand.

as for booking self-catering ahead, [but not much!] my experience is that you'll have much more luck with last minute booking if you use an agency and are prepared to be flexible as to position, size, no of beds, etc. When we let our holiday cottage through an agency, if they knew that we had a vacancy they would phone up the day before if they go a bookning and expect us to take it, whereas now we do it ourselves, we are less likely to take people at such short notice.

you will have more luck if you avoid the school half term holiday that usually falls in the last week of May/beg June every year. the rest of June it will be much easier to find any sort of accommodation, whether hotel/B&B/self-catering.

good luck!

One more question re: booking self-catering.
Assuming we do sacrifice flexibility and decide to book in advance -
How far in advance for June (probably the middle 2-3 weeks of the month)?
Would one month earlier be good enough?
Are there any bank holidays in June?

I started a reply but don't know where it went.

No UK bank holidays in June. There' s one the last Monday in May.

Janis is right about June being popular with empty-nesters and people with pre-schoolers.

From personal experience, if you want your first choice of dates, location, particularly on the water or water view, I would start looking this September. Next May is way too late unless you are not very particular. The latest I have booked in Cornwall was 4 months before an early September date and there was nothing left but the dregs.

Thx everyone for all the advice - unfortunately I won't be able to book before March-April of 2011 - so I guess I won't be getting an oceanview but I can handle that.

This has been really helpful though - now I just have to decide whether it will be all self-catering or maybe some B&Bs too. And I have to finalize whether it's Dorset, Devon and Cornwall or just Devon and Cornwall (that will probably depend on how much time my husband is willing to take off work.