Q&A with...

Phillipa Kilby, cottages.com Area Manager for Dorset

Q. How can I make sure my property caters for large groups? A. Making sure you have everything for all the guests in the property is important when you’re catering for larger groups. Over the festive season there’ll be plenty of food and drink being consumed, so make sure that you have enough cutlery and plates and that there is plenty of kitchen equipment to be able to cook up a feast, and enough seating at the table and on the sofas. If your property is slightly smaller, it’s always a good idea to be creative to maximise the space available, such as investing in a sofa bed to create extra space. Having a smart TV and making the most of the hot tub and pool (if you have one) will also help to keep guests of all ages entertained.

Q. How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

A. I’ll be celebrating Christmas Day with family and friends and then we’re having a big family party on Boxing Day. My birthday also falls on the 28th December, so I’ll be marking this occasion with another get-together with friends.

Q. What are your top tips for planning a group getaway? A. Group holidays can be the most enjoyable getaways, but also the hardest to plan. Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to budget and agreeing on a top end price will help you to narrow your selection. Finding a holiday home to suit everyone’s needs can be difficult, but using the filters on our website can help to make it easier, including searching for cottages with pools, hot tubs and pet-friendly. You can also check drive times using a post code search to take the stress out of travelling. Our holiday packing list is also available to make it easy to know exactly what to put in your case.

Spend Christmas at a cottage from cottages.com