WELCOME TO THE COSTA FORTUNE!
One balloon bursts and another rises into the sky. Yes, Boris’s ‘ red list’ of quarantine countries has put a halt to many families’ hopes of an easter getaway, but that opens the door wide for holidays within the UK once the shackles are off.
With tens of thousands of gorgeous cottages, country boltholes and seaside villas to choose from, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the most of everything Britain has to offer — whether you’re escaping as a family, or planning a romantic retreat.
The only trouble is that everyone has had the same idea, with this week seeing a steep rise in the number of bookings.
UK booking website Sykes Holiday Cottages reports a 78 per cent increase in summer bookings, while holiday search engine Holidu says domestic bookings in July are up 71 per cent compared to the same period last year, with August bookings soaring by 94 per cent.
And property owners, many of whom have suffered massive losses — due to travel restrictions, the rule of six and three national lockdowns — might be forgiven for seeking to make the most of high demand in order to recoup their losses by increasing their prices.
So book with caution. According to Holidu, the price of domestic holidays has risen by a whopping 39 per cent in July and 28 per cent in August.
We looked at ten of Britain’s top staycation options and compared 2021 prices to last year’s. For each property we looked at the price for this summer and then compared it with a week in the same month last year. So where have we seen the biggest price hikes — and where can you still find a bargain?
SCANDI-STYLE SUFFOLK
SeAHorSe Cottage in Aldeburgh, Suffolk is one of the best-known properties in the fashionable coastal town, which is home to the likes of Bill nighy and Tom Hiddleston.
Famed for its appearance in the BBC children’s series Grandpa In My Pocket, the two- bedroom cottage is full of modern Scandi- style charm, with plenty of light and sea views. Pubs, restaurants, shops and a spectacular
pebble beach are minutes from the front door. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,234 for seven nights in July. 2021 price, £ 2,109 ( up 71 per cent), holidu.co.uk.
ECO IN EAST SUSSEX
A StAy Less Ordinary is a trendy, eco-friendly apartment in Hove, East Sussex, where everything — including the sheets on the beds — is organic. Featuring minimalist modern interiors, it sleeps six, with books, games and Netflix available on a projector screen.
Owner Fabio Israel says he cut prices significantly last summer. ‘Every business was just desperate to get booked in the first place,’ he explains, adding that his 2021 prices are similar to those in 2019. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £510 for three nights in July. 2021 price, £ 785 ( up 54 per cent), sawdays.co.uk.
BEAUTIFUL BATH BARNS
SEt in a secluded valley near Bath, Congrove Barns are a pair of newly renovated barns let as one property, featuring a stylish openplan living room, games room and garden hot tub. It sleeps six.
Nigel Stengard-Green, managing director of Luxury Cotswold Rentals, says the firm is seeing a ‘lot more focus now for the summer’. Of the price increase, he says: ‘Because of the demand for the property in normal times, we felt the natural rate for the property is higher than it was previously.’ NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,650 for seven nights in July. 2021 price, £1,950 (up 18 per cent), luxurycotswoldrentals.co.uk.
DEVON BY THE WATER
LIStEN to the waves lapping at your bedroom balcony or watch boats drifting by from the veranda at Sandridge Boathouse, use, an 18th-century bathing ing house on the River Dart in Devon. It sleeps four, with nearby riverside walks and a village a stone’s throw away. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,421 for seven nights in September. 2021 price, £1,937 (up 36 per cent), helpfulholidays.co.uk.
NORFOLK LUXURY
tHE recently refurbished Cosy Cottage sits in the quaint Norfolk village of North Elmham. With Scandi-style interiors, it comprises a double bedroom, kitchen and living area.
there are two patios for al fresco dining and a summerhouse. It’s ideal for exploring the North Norfolk coast. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £621 for seven nights in July. 2021 price, £ 724 ( up 17 per cent), holidu.co.uk.
A WELSH ESCAPE
CymRyD is a quaint retreat on a nature reserve in the Conwy estuary in Wales. A wisteria- clad 15thcentury cottage, it oozes history, with exposed beams, woodpanelled walls and flagstone floors, and is managed by the National trust. It sleeps six, with two double bedrooms and two singles. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,399 for seven nights in August. 2021 price, £ 1,599 ( up 14 per cent), nationaltrust.org.uk.
JOIN THE BARD
HIStORy buffs will love a stay at 4 masons Court, a 15th- century Grade II- listed property in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which is thought to be the oldest house in the town where Shakespeare was born. It sleeps four in two bedrooms, with a wood-beamed living room and open fire. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £551 for seven nights in July. 2021 price, £689 (up 25 per cent), sykescottages.co.uk
DOG-FRIENDLY CUMBRIA
WItH magnificent views over open countryside, you’ll struggle to tear yyourself away from the sundrenched conservatory in the Old Joiner’s Shop in Eskdale, Cumbria. the interior is simply furnished but modern, with bunk beds in oone of three bedrooms. Snuggle up by the wood-burning stove or gaze at stars from the deck.
Kimberley Brough, of lettings aagency Sally’s Cottages, says it’s bbeen a ‘difficult’ 12 months and ththat it’s ‘usual for prices to increase tto take inflation and increased ccosts into consideration’. NEED N TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,075 fofor seven nights in July. 22021 price, £1,140 (up six per cent), sallyscottages.co.uk sa
BAY WATCH IN DEVON
SEt in Devon’s popular Woolacombe Bay, Byron’s Apartments aare light, airy and luxurious: 12 middlecombe sleeps six, with a private balcony, a large open-plan liliving room and even a surf shed fofor storing your beach gear. Olivia DDellow of Byron Woolacombe Holiday idHoliday Lets says: ‘ Our prices have only risen as previously planned within our guidelines.’ NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £1,600 for seven nights in July. 2021 price, £1,800 (up 13 per cent), byronwool acombeholidaylets.co.uk.
NOTORIOUS CLIVEDEN
SpRING Cottage is a threebedroom cottage in the grounds of Cliveden Estate in Buckinghamshire. Osteopath Stephen Ward was staying at the cottage in 1961 when his guest Christine Keeler met John profumo — and the rest is history. the cottage features a private mooring, two living rooms and the services of a private chef.
Cottage spokeswoman Georgia Richardson insists the price hike is not to compensate for reduced business. ‘It’s in line with standard yearly cost increases,’ she says. NEED TO KNOW: 2020 price, £2,105 a night in July. 2021 price, £2,250 ( up seven per cent) cliveden house.co.uk