With the holiday season fast approaching, there’s no better time to refresh your holiday let to ensure it stands out in a competitive market.
In this blog, we’ll explore a variety of strategies to breathe new life into your holiday let during the winter months. From incorporating seasonal decor that evokes warmth and comfort to enhancing amenities that appeal to winter travellers, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make your property inviting and memorable.
Join us as we delve into the essentials of winter preparation—from updating your interior with a fresh coat of paint and inviting textiles to optimising your online listing for the winter season. With a few thoughtful changes, your holiday let can become a sought-after destination for winter wanderers, ensuring a successful season ahead.
Let’s embark on this journey to transform your holiday let into a winter wonderland that helps guests create lasting memories…
Outside
A locked shed or garage provides the perfect place to store BBQs, inflatable hot tubs, garden games, and outdoor furniture. During the frosty, wet winter months, you’ll want to protect your beautiful rattan furniture from damp and mould. If space is limited indoors, investing in a strong, waterproof cover can be a great solution. This will save space in the shed, leaving room for other seasonal items.
Over time, issues like cracks, missing roof tiles, and broken guttering can lead to leaks, especially during periods of heavy rain. In Wales, where strong winds are common, it’s particularly important to check your roof tiles. Loose tiles can easily be blown off and cause further damage to your property, so it’s worth inspecting them regularly.
Winter winds can also cause branches to break, potentially damaging gardens and buildings. To minimise the risk of damage, we recommend trimming back trees and removing any large, overhanging branches that could pose a hazard.
With the unpredictable Welsh winter weather, including frost, snow, strong winds, and ice, it’s essential to prepare your holiday let for challenging conditions. In rural areas, snow and ice can be particularly severe. Consider providing your guests with a shovel, grit, and a brush to help them clear paths and driveways, making their stay a little easier during inclement weather.
Inside
Cottages can be prone to mould and damage, particularly during the winter months. To protect your property, it’s essential to keep your cottage warm and well-ventilated. Consider using an energy-efficient heating system or a cost-effective thermostat setting. One great option is installing a Hive meter, which can connect to your smartphone, allowing you to control the heating remotely from anywhere in the world!
Ensure your cottage is welcoming and cosy for your guests by turning up the heating a few hours before their arrival. This simple step will help prevent dampness, reduce the risk of mould, and stop pipes from freezing. After all, you don’t want your guests walking into a cold, frosty house—making sure it’s warm and comfortable is key to ensuring they have a memorable stay.
Decorating for winter
We love decorating for winter! Whether you prefer a minimalist approach with cosy touches like fluffy cushions, soft throws, and simple decorations, or you want to go all out with a winter cabin theme or a snowy forest vibe, there’s no wrong way to embrace the season.
During the Christmas period, adding festive decorations can really elevate the holiday spirit. Consider incorporating a beautifully decorated tree, twinkling lights, and wreaths to make your guests feel extra special. Just be sure to keep it tasteful, so the charm of the space still shines through.
As the days get shorter, it’s important to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. We recommend adding small lamps or a large floor light to brighten up your space and make it feel cosy on those darker evenings. Switching out cushion covers from time to time is a great way to refresh the look of a room, and you can always reuse them for future seasons.
Stock up for winter!
Ensure your property is well-stocked with essential supplies such as toilet rolls, dishwasher tabs, tea towels, and salt & pepper. If your property has a fire, providing logs or a fire starter kit is always a welcome addition. Be sure to include details of where guests can find extra logs in your guest welcome book.
Don’t forget to update your welcome pack! You can even give it a festive twist for the Christmas season. Consider adding mince pies, a small bottle of wine or bubbly, a personalised Christmas card, or even a small advent calendar or chocolate for any young children. These thoughtful touches will make your guests’ stay feel extra special.
It’s also worth remembering that guests may not want to venture out in the dark, especially when arriving in an unfamiliar area. For their convenience, leave some first-night essentials, such as milk, bread, or snacks, to ensure they feel comfortable and settled straight away.
By taking a few simple steps to prepare your holiday let for winter, you can ensure that your guests have a warm, welcoming, and memorable stay.
From protecting outdoor furniture to adding festive touches inside, these thoughtful details will help create a cosy retreat for your visitors. With the right planning and a bit of extra care, your property will be ready to offer a comfortable escape, no matter what the winter weather brings!
