Top Tips for Attracting Families to Your Holiday Cottage
UK holidays are particularly popular with families as they allow loved ones to get together and spend quality time with each other. This means taking parents’, grandparents’ and children’s needs into account at every step of the holiday journey.
Families will most likely choose a place where everyone can feel at home, relax and have fun – but with a few added extras and a little touch of luxury.
If you are looking to tap into this lucrative market of year-round bookings, here are a few top tips to discover how you can offer an unforgettable experience for families and make your property stand out.
What families are looking for in a holiday home
A place that appeals to all the family
Holiday lets that have enough space for everyone to spend time together, and individually, will be appealing to families. This is likely to be especially the case if the grandparents have come on holiday too, as they may well need a little bit of ‘quiet time’ in a snug away from over-excited grandchildren.
The kitchen is an area where families tend to not only eat but socialise together too. Provide all the necessary cooking equipment to prepare meals for all the family and a big fridge/freezer to store the family’s favourite food and snacks. Appliances such as a dishwasher and washing machine will also definitely be appreciated.
Kids love bunk beds (plus they are great for saving space) and a separate playroom or snug that they can make their own for the holiday.
If possible, add a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom for elderly family members who would prefer not to climb stairs.
A great location
Your holiday let should be near shops, supermarkets and chemists – it’s easy to run out of things when you’ve got small children so it’s good (and reassuring) to know that supplies are nearby.
A holiday home that is near things to do will also be a hit. A beach within walking distance, easy walks, a children’s play area, theme parks, zoos, restaurants, pubs etc.
Value for money
Families often choose holiday cottages over hotels not just for the space, but because they offer value for money. If you’re aiming for the upper end of the price bracket, highlight the extras you provide to enhance the guest experience. Offer special deals for periods outside the school holidays when parents with toddlers like to travel.
Provide equipment and entertainment
Providing essential equipment so families can leave items at home and plenty of entertainment for the kids is a huge draw. When it comes to family self-catering holidays, the general rule is that if the children are happy and relaxed, the parents will be happy and relaxed too.
Here are a few essential items that you should invest in if you want to attract families with young children
Babies – cot and highchair, booster seat, bottle warmer, sterilising equipment, pushchair, car seats, potty, toilet seats, baby monitors, changing mat, baby bath, outdoor umbrella for the beach or sun shade.
Small children – booster cushions, plastic plates, cups and cutlery, toddler steps, apron, toys, games, dressing up clothes, books, DVDs, bucket and spade, fishing nets, sandpit, water inflatables and a kite.
Older children – board games, books, video games, outdoor equipment such as a climbing frame and trampoline (check your public liability insurance covers these, that they are safe to use and well maintained).
Teens – board games, books, video games, PlayStation, Xbox or Wii and Wi-Fi (essential!). If you have the space game rooms (with a pool table or table football) are huge in helping properties stand out. Access to satellite and streaming TV channels is likely to keep everyone happy.
It’s likely families will be eating in so provide all the necessary equipment for cooking, including a BBQ, picnic hampers to use in the garden or on day trips and consider the option of providing home-prepared meals or supermarket deliveries ready for their arrival.
Think about what you can provide to ensure the grown-ups have a great holiday as well. Chocolates in the welcome hamper, a coffee machine in the kitchen or nice toiletries in the bathroom. Relaxing in a hot tub whilst watching the sun go down after the kids have gone to bed is a lovely way to end a perfect day
For more ideas check out our inventory list for holiday cottages.
Sell the holiday experience
Focus on families at every stage of your marketing. This includes your listing site ads on Airbnb and Vrbo, your website and your social media pages.
Make it obvious that your holiday let caters for families by including the words ‘family-friendly’ or ‘children welcome’ in prominent places. In your property description, include a section about family-focused activities in your area. Try to include attractions for all ages so you appeal to as wide a range as possible of families.
Including a specific section on your website that’s dedicated to families. Create useful content that attracts travellers in the research phase who are looking for a family holiday.
Some content ideas:
- 14 reasons why (your location e.g. Padstow) is (your area e.g. Cornwall’s) most popular destination for family holidays.
- 10 insanely cool family activities you must do in the Lake District.
- 7 child-friendly restaurants you must try in (your locations)
Your listing site ads and website photo gallery should show children enjoying your holiday home and its amenities. Show children playing in bunk beds or enjoying a movie in the snug with popcorn. Travelers want to visualize how they will use your space.
Also, list all the amenities and equipment you provide to show parents you offer above and beyond the basics to make their holiday special.
Help them make the most of their holiday
Guests travelling to your holiday cottage may be unfamiliar with the area, and probably won’t know the best places to visit. Show them that you care about their holiday experience by providing them with suggestions of family-friendly things to do that the locals love. The more personal you can make your recommendations – the better.
For younger children, this could include safe beaches, playgrounds, parks, petting zoos and family-themed attractions. Teenagers or older children love skateparks, cinemas, discos, bowling alleys, ice cream shops, seasonal festivals and shopping streets with trendy restaurants for TikTok or Instagram reels. Don’t forget wet weather ideas also to avoid “I’m boooooored” moans from children.
A list of pubs and restaurants where families with babies and toddlers are welcome is also useful.
How to childproof your holiday cottage
Safety is paramount for parents, when the kids are safe, the parents can relax. Make sure you have childproofed your holiday home as well as reasonably practical.
Until you have an active toddler, you won’t necessarily spot the potential hazards in your holiday cottage. A good way to spot dangers is to crouch down at the level of a child and look around your rooms for hazards.
For example, is there a table with sharp corners that a toddler may run into? Could a child pull over a unit by climbing on it, or climb onto a windowsill by using a chair? If so, you’ll need to remove the hazards.
- Fit stairgates and bed guards.
- Provide fireguards.
- Provide non-slip bath mats.
- Install covers over sockets and childproof locks on cupboards and drawers.
- Make sure any cleaning products are either locked away or stored in a cupboard out of children’s reach.
- Check toys regularly to ensure they are safe.
- Remove any fragile or sharp objects.
- Ensure wires in your kitchen (e.g. the cord for the kettle) aren’t within reach to prevent children from pulling boiling water over themselves.
- Install window blinds that are safe by design – meaning that they don’t use chains or cords, or uses hidden or tensioned cords and chains or retrofit safety devices.
- Make sure ponds and swimming pools are securely covered and fenced off.
- Enclosed the garden and fix child-proof locks on gates.
- Provide a list of names, numbers and addresses for the local hospital and pharmacy.
Leave a welcome gift for children
Before a family arrives, ask about the children’s ages so you can add a little something for the kids in the welcome basket to keep them amused while the parents unpack.
A colouring/puzzle book, and a treasure hunt to help familiarise themselves with their new home for the week.
Families travelling by car on a long journey will encounter “are we there yet?” numerous times. Send out a map highlighting fun landmarks that children can identify on the way to your holiday home.
Final thoughts
It goes without saying that if the children are happy, the parents will be happy. Make it your aim to offer a holiday that is enjoyable and stress-free. With such wonderful family memories, they will all want to come back year after year.
There has never been a better time to tap into this lucrative year-round market.