STAYCATIONS SAVED: HOME RENTALS WITH SUMMER AVAILABILITY
Struggling to book a staycation retreat this summer? Don’t despair — these specialist firms could open the door
STORIES of holiday cottage prices rising by up to 70 per cent a year have raised eyebrows — and blood pressure. With so few travel options abroad that don’t require quarantine on return to the UK, it’s no surprise that staycations are more popular than ever. The problem is, cottages have been booked months in advance, as have hotels, campsites and B&Bs. The result? Prices have shot up.
Which leaves homestays — staying at properties that for part of the year are real homes unavailable for rent, or second homes/apartments that owners have decided to offer to holidaymakers.
Today, there are hundreds of properties in the UK (and farther afield) at varying prices, often listed on lettings websites.
So here’s our guide to the home rental market. All companies we mention offer Covid-19 compliant sanitisation.
AMERICAN PIONEER: Vrbo
vrbo.co.uk VACATION Rentals by Owner was founded in the U.S. in 1995. Specificity is the selling point here — as houses, apartments, farmhouses, chalets, estates, caravans, cottages, bungalows, studios and houseboats (and many more) can be selected. There are two million properties; you must book for at least a week.
The average price in London works out at £72pp per night; in Edinburgh £52pp. Best value UK destinations are Great Yarmouth (£23pp) and Bodmin (£29pp). GOOD TO KNOW: Digital payment isn’t mandatory; some hosts want a posted cheque. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Three nights at Millwood Manor, Dalton-in-Furness, which sleeps 12, from £2,103. Good availability in June and September, some in July and August.
HIGH LIFE: The Plum Guide theplumguide.com
THIS is aimed at the discerning traveller. An inspector checks prospective property inclusions against a 150-point set of criteria, so places with dodgy
showers, limited kitchen utensils and slow wi-fi won’t make the cut.
Only 3 per cent of properties inspected are selected. It operates in ten countries including the UK, Italy, France, Portugal and the U.S. GOOD TO KNOW: The highest price in London is £8,008 per night and the lowest £87. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Five nights at threebedroom Babbling Brooks, in Lancashire, from £1,444. Availability all summer.
REFINED: onefinestay onefinestay.com
THE vast Accor Hotels Group owns one finestay, the Plum Guide’s main competitor for high-end properties. The website is split into the ‘city collection’ (London, Paris, New York) and the ‘villa collection’ (including St Barts, St John, and Turks and Caicos). In the UK the company operates only in London. GOOD TO KNOW: Guests can earn points for Accor Hotels. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Three nights in a three-bedroom house in Chiswick from £1,005. Availability all summer.
KEEP IT REAL: Homestay homestay.com
AS HOME rental websites get larger, increasing numbers of professionally managed properties have popped up.
Homestay, founded in 2013, hopes to bring back people’s early experiences of
companies such as Airbnb, when they only offered rooms in homes that were in use by the owners. It focuses on being budget-friendly and has 33,000 offerings, operating in 160 countries at an average price of £24 a night. GOOD TO KNOW: Only individual rooms can be rented, which may be less popular because of Covid. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Seven nights at a home in the village of Miserden, in the Cotswolds, from £504, sleeping four. Availability all summer.
FAMILY FAVES: Kid & Coe kidandcoe.com
FAMILIES head to the same resorts year after year because they are reliable. Kid & Coe hopes to provide the same reassurance when it comes to holiday homes. There are more than 1,000 properties in 50 locations including the UK, France, Portugal, the U.S. and Mexico. All are suited to families with children. Each listing has details of
bed types, toys, activites and even decor. GOOD TO KNOW: There are categories
including best for babies and toddlers, older children, all-inclusive and coastal escapes. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Four nights at four
bedroom The Victory Residence in Kingsdown, Kent, from £1,000. Good availability in June and July.
THE BIGGEST: Airbnb
airbnb.co.uk WITH more than seven million properties worldwide, Airbnb has become the go-to for holiday rentals. Naturally,
there is huge variety regarding location, size and house type (entire properties or a single room). GOOD TO KNOW: Airbnb has partnered with British Airways, so you can earn Avios points on stays. PICK OF THE BUNCH: Four nights at five
bedroom Broadgate, in the Lake District, from £252. Availability all summer.