Self-catering accommodation is accommodation that you rent for short periods from a day or two to several weeks for a holiday, as temporary accommodation or for business trips.

It may consist of  a holiday cottage, house, apartment, log cabin or even a mansion for group activities and events.

The accommodation will be fully furnished and equipped as a 'home from home' providing everything you need to live comfortably whilst away from home.

The standard of the accommodation may vary and some is classified by the Tourist Boards using a rating system based on a range of one to 5 stars. The best way to decide whether the accommodation suits your needs is to have a checklist of requirements.

Procedure for booking self-catering accommodation

• Once you have identified self-catering accommodation that is suitable for your purpose, contact the cottage owner or management company to make a booking. You should receive a booking form which you cplete and return with details fo your booking and group. You will also receive methods of payment which could include cheque, credit card or BACs transfer.
• An initial deposit to reserve the accommodation is usually taken, with the balance payable anything up to 2-6 weeks before your arrival.
• A refundable damage deposit is also requested which would be returned to you in full or in part should your group have caused any damage.

 Advantages of self-catering holidays

The great bonus of a self-catering holiday is the amount of space, freedom and privacy that it provides compared with a hotel. Your accommodation will be of an entire self-caontained unit, be it cottage or apartment. You may have sole use of a garden which is a boon for people with children or dogs.

The other great blessing is that you have access to drinks, snacks and meals as and when you want them. This eliminates the need to purchase fequent drinks and snacks for families with children when the multiple cost mounts up.

It's also more convenient for people with special dietary requirements such as low fat, kosher or gluten free. You decide what you eat and when. You also have a choice of going out for meals when the mood takes you and trying a  selection of eateries in an area.

At the end of your self-catering holiday

It is expected that you will leave your self-catering accommodation in a neat and tidy condition ready to be serviced for the next guests.