Easter will be here soon and with the fantastic weather we have been enjoying in the UK lately could there really be a better time of year to enjoy a self catering holiday? There is so much to see and do in the UK and the choice is yours whether you opt for an action packed cottage break with plenty of cycling, walking or other sports or whether you decide to completely take it easy and enjoy a lazy break away. Whatever you opt to see and do, each country within the UK has its own attractions and character to discover. Whether you choose to visit England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales click to take a look at last minute self catering cottage offers. When looking for last minute deals it is sometimes best to call up owners or agencies in the first instance to find out about availability and for an instant response. You can then follow up your conversation with an email for your own records and reference if need be. Whether you prefer to stay in a log cabin, a country house, a country cottage, a chalet or something completely unusual we hope you find what you are looking for on Country Cottages Online.
For those who love nature and find all things green beautiful, you may be taking part in the Woodland Trust’s campaign to plant trees for the Queens Jubilee. Planting trees when they are for all to enjoy seems a good idea, whatever the reason. Many people enjoy spending time in green and pleasant areas. Rural cottage retreats can be popular when it comes to self catering holidays and many people enjoy spending time in the national parks or forests for walks and wildlife watching. Whether you plan to plant a tree for the Queens Jubilee or for any reason at all, one thing you can be sure of is that if the tree grows and flourishes that it is likely that many people will appreciate it.
Want to shake the January blues off and have something special to look forward to? Valentines Day is fast approaching, and the 14th of February will be here soon. If you are lucky enough to be loved up and to have someone special in your life then why not celebrate the fact with a romantic weekend away or a romantic cottage break.
Romantic breaks can be really appealing when love is new and you want to share special moments with that special person. There’s nothing quite like being whisked away as a treat to make you feel special and desired. If you are looking for a romantic retreat do try to sound out your partner and figure out what they like. Some girls or guys just love rural retreats and are happy to stay anywhere so long as it is comfortable and there are plenty of walks and pleasant scenery around. Others meanwhile only find 5 star self catering accommodation appealing and simply won’t be in the mood for romantic frollics unless the very best accommodation has been booked.
Budget of course comes in to the equation but if your partner is someone who likes the luxury things in life do try to find the very best that your money can find. Pay attention to small important things like does the property have good romantic lighting? Is there a real open fire or a cosy woodburner which many find romantic? Does the bedroom in particular look romantic? Planning ahead and taking champagne, wine, flowers and chocolates can all help when it comes to getting the right feel. Knowing your partner is key to getting things right and ensuring that your romantic cottage break goes without a hitch.
If you have a big budget then really an oasis of choice is open to you. Four poster beds, cottages with sea views, unusual self catering, cottages with hot tubs, cottages with spas even and 5 star accommodation are all attractive options. Again there is no substitute for remembering the small important things like champagne and even romantic underwear if your budget stretches to it.
Location is another factor to consider when it comes to romantic breaks away. If you are taking a short break of only a few nights or a couple of nights remember you probably don’t want to be driving too far so somewhere within a 2 hour drive of your home may be a helpful guide. Bear in mind whether your partner loves being by the sea, city breaks or time in the country. Wherever you decide to go, always take time to do your research and make sure that it all feels right before booking so that you can be secure in the knowledge that things should go as planned for that all important romantic break away.
Enjoy browsing through our selection of cottages for Valentines romantic breaks below.
If you have been browsing the web for holidays but keep finding that costs have risen beyond your reach then do consider a holiday in eastern Europe and you could have a brilliant holiday that is within your budget. We all feel so much better when we obtain great value for money. Talk to the Czechs, Slovakians, Poles and Hungarians that you know to find out more about their homelands, best places to visit, the food and climate. Eastern Europeans work in the UK because even the minimum wage is more than they would earn in their own country and that tells you that certain costs in their countries are much less than here. Some of the desserts to be found in a restaurant in Poland are shown on the right.
The type of accommodation to avoid for a cheap break is international hotel chains because they tend to be similarly priced across the board. Try seeking out accommodation that is run by local families and you will find low prices and good standards. In all these countries there is a host of B&Bs and pensions as well as self catering accommodation to rent. The advantage of self catering is that you can cook for yourself if you are not keen on the local cuisine. Fresh food is still much less expensive in Eastern Europe than in Britain. If you do choose to eat out, you will find a wide range of restaurants in city centres so that you can select a menu and price that suits you, and lower costs in rural areas.
The very best value can be obtained by staying in a rural area and travelling to the cities for days out. Ideally you should hire a car for your holiday to get the most from your visit. There are fabulous places to visit and incredible scenery. Most Eastern European countries have natural hot springs and swimming pools or lakes that are geothermally heated. Now that is an experience. National parks abound where you can go walking, hire a bicycle, ride on a horse and cart and picnic. The national parks are wide open spaces with stunning scenery, rich in wildlife and wild flowers. Go in spring to see pussy willws draped over rivers, masses of primroses and cowslips.
Take a look at self catering holidays in Eastern Europe to see the type of accommodation you could rent and some of the places to visit. Stretch your money that bit further and have a different type of holiday in eastern Europe. If you’re used to beach holidays, try a holiday beside a lake instead although Poland has good beaches on its Baltic coast, for example Sopot. The city of Gdansk nearby has one of the most artistic and pretty city centres. Amber that is used in Polish jewellery and lamp making comes from Baltic beaches.
Thousands of people visit Prague in the Czech Republic each year without visiting anywhere outside the city. It too has fabulous national parks. Some of the most beautiful glass objects, including chandeliers, are made in the Czech Republic. Bring back a souvenir to treasure.
Nesting storks can be seen throughout Eastern Europe in late spring and summer. Visit Hungary for storks and nature and dishes with a touch of paprika.
In these challenging economic times we need to adapt and consider new avenues. A trip to eastern Europe will open your eyes.
January is never a good month for cheer which may be one reason why people consider the year ahead and plan their holidays. The anticipation of those weeks or days away helps us get through some cold grey days. Mind you, the weather recently has been most unseasonal, very mild with more clear blue skies than we’re used to. Today was almost a spring day with the sun shining and there are signs of life in bulbs emerging from the ground. I even spotted mushrooms growing on a grass verge. Now that is nature in confusion. Each and every year without fail as far as I can recall snow falls on daffodils in March. It will be interesting to see whether this year defies the trend.
I too was thinking about holidays for 2012. I am planning to visit the Lake District and Isle of Wight for working holidays, taking photographs and carrying out research for new web sites. Do please recommend beautiful places to visit in both these locations. Holiday literature from various companies is landing on the doormat on a daily basis. Today’s offering included a cruise brochure which I looked at and discarded. I guess I’m just not the type of person to enjoy the confines of a cruise liner and all those organised activities. The excursions off the boat don’t attract me either, the time to look around is too limited. And the prices …. who on Earth pays that kind of money for a holiday?
I was however, smitten by the area south west of Skibbereen in County Cork. I have recently been working on a web site about Ireland and having read about the chance of whale watching, spotting dolphins and seals in their natural habitat off the coast of Ireland, plus the chance to see puffins and thousands of nesting birds, makes a cottage holiday in County Cork most appealing. Kinsale in County Cork has a gourmet food reputation which doubles its chances of a visit. I have this notion of visiting the small islands off the coast of County Cork to see the wildlife and wild flowers. Each is a unique nature reserve in its own right.
I am taking the grandchildren for a break to a well-known holiday camp because the children enjoy it and their parents would consider it much too down-market for them to go. There are still a lot of gaps to fill in. I know that I am very fortunate in being able to holiday frequently, time permitting. Cheap holidays are difficult to come by. I find myself frequently recommending Eastern Europe because it offers such good value. take a look at a self catering break in Hungary or the Czech Republic, both of which are a mere 2 hour flights away. Both these countries have beautiful countryside and interesting cities to visit.
I adore Greece, the Euro has unfortunately made it affordable only for the wealthy who do not mind paying 5 Euros for a coffee or ice cream. A villa rental in Greece at least helps defray the cost because you can restrict eating to your holiday home and take picnics when sightseeing. I recall visiting Delphi on a hot day at the end of May and the only restaurant there sold ‘slush puppies’ for children at about £3 per glass. It would be less objectionable if it was real fruit juice rather than a chemical concoction.
For anyone with a little cash to spare, there are current discounts with our favourite orange budget airline that can take you to Europe’s ski slopes. Rent a ski chalet for fun in the snow with your family this half term. There is still availability at the following ski chalets in Europe where you can have a comfortable stay and ski, snowboard or just go sledging for fun.
When it comes to rural retreats, some people dream of a stay in a National Park whereas others yearn to spend time in areas of outstanding natural beauty or beautiful idyllic countryside. The UK has something different and unique to offer for rural retreats. Outside of the cities, there are plenty areas of unspoilt countryside, forests, fields, woods and lakes in the UK. The pattern of the landscape varies throughout the UK. Scotland is known for lochs, mountains, glens and valleys. Scotland also has a varied coastline ranging from beautiful unspoilt sandy beaches to steep cliffs. Wales similarly is known for mountains, valleys, its coastline and let’s not forget, sheep. England is a country which in the north in Cumbria and Northumberland has a landscape of hills and lakes, more closely associated with Scotland than England. England by and large though is known for a more flat landscape with soft undulating hills in parts and for its varied coastline. Ireland has its own mountain ranges and acres of unspoilt rural landscape.
If you are searching for a rural retreat you may well have a certain national park in mind or an area of outstanding natural beauty. Some people like the assurance that such trusted well known places bring whereas others like to discover new places that are less well known where you may really be able to immerse yourself in peace, quiet and tranquillity. For rural retreats, take a look at these rural country cottages or self catering log cabins if you are searching for a wooden hideaway for a special break. Whether you enjoy wildlife watching on your break, hiking, walking or cycling, have a fantastic time, we hope the weather is good for you.
2012 is almost upon us and it’s that time when many of us beginning to plan our holidays for the coming year. Where should we go on holiday this year?
I used to think about holidays in terms which country would I like to visit? I’ve never been to Russia for example, how about there?
I find that I have changed and although I love to explore new destinations, I also like to spend time doing the things that give me pleasure and that is far removed from just booking a package tour. The things that give me pleasure are:
Wild flower meadows – I would like to see a different one each year. Something that many people do not realise is that what we consider garden plants actually grow wild in many other countries. Go to Israel and the south eastern Mediterranean around Easter to see meadows full of wild iris and pink cyclamen and red and blue anemones growing under the shade of trees. Visit the mountains of Turkey for daisies, poppies, violets and wild hyacinth. Turkey is said to have more species of wild flower in its countryside than the rest of Europe put together. The island of Corsica is known as the island of flowers where they grow in profusion. The meadows of Colorado in the States are full of vibrant reds, blues and yellows. Each meadow is a colourful tapestry and a thing of beauty. The higher and more mountainous the landscape, the rarer the flowers. All over Europe there are mountains where crocus blooms in profusion at the edge of receding snowdrifts. Go to northern Greece to see yellow crocus or the Tatra mountains of Poland for valleys full of purple flowered crocus. A roadside verge in Greece in May is shown on the right. The very best places to see magnificent displays of wild flowers are the totally unspoilt remote locations. I like to stay in a log cabin or cottage and go out and about for walks of discovery. Views of wild flowers are good for the soul, they instantly calm and present an image of the world as a paradise.
Interacting with animals and nature – I have an endless fascination with animals on Earth. I feel that we have not yet developed relationships with anything other than domestic cats, dogs and horses. That relationship developed over thousands of years. We talk about communicating with animals and even where some form of communication is established we don’t think in terms of the animal but ourselves. The dog expressing a wish to go for a walk by bringing us his lead does not always fill us with glee. However, we have to be proud of the fact that British attitude to animals is arguably the best in the world. We do consider the feelings of animals or we wouldn’t support charities that try to improve the lot of working donkeys, performing animals and those kept in poor and cruel conditions. Animals are an important part of our world and I especially enjoy seeing them in the wild. Red squirrels in the Lake District and Scotland, seals on our beaches (Wales, Ireland and Scotland) and wild ponies of Bodmin, Dartmoor and the New Forest all give me pleasure to view.
Zoos have a part to play in protecting endangered species, however, one of the best forms of zoo for me is the safari park. We have several safari parks in the UK, all of which allow us to see animals from the safety of our cars. A safari on a game reserve in Africa is especially thrilling when an element of danger is added to the drive. Mind you, anyone who has been through the monkey and bear enclosure at Woburn Safari Park (stay in a cottage in Bedfordshire) has many a tale to tell of their experience and missing car parts.
Sea views – I like to be by the sea. Not just anywhere by the sea. You can keep those concrete monstrosities and high rise developments on the coast, my dream is of a crescent of sandy beach backed by pines and hills, where the occasional house nestles. The waves gently lap the shore and the water is crystal clear and there are few people on the beach. This is the kind of sea where I can go snorkelling and spot fish and sea creatures, or swim out to a boat just offshore. My ideal coastal views are natural. For beaches in the UK, I head to Cornwall or north. We have some of the most fantastic long and deep sandy beaches anywhere. Again, thinking nature and thousands of sea birds, my favourite destinations are remote. All around the rocky headlands of Scotland are rocks and nesting places for birds. Coastal walking has increased in popularity in recent years and the coastal paths of Wales and the south of England are very well developed. Go walking in the north east of Scotland, see the incredible cliffs of Bullers of Buchan near Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire for a magnifient sight. Or. go to County Cork for the Irish version and seas warmed by the Gulf Stream. There is whale and dolphin spotting off the Moray Firth in Scotland and the coast of Count Cork. Find somewhere to rent for a holiday in County Cork or the north east of Scotland. Take bird spotting books and teach the children to identifiy various species of sea bird and wader.
I think 2012 will be a year when people decide to stay in Britain and discover more about their own country. Lots of other people like myself will be be thinking, what would I like to do on holiday rather than simply where shall I go? Decide what you would like to do and that will help you decide where you are likely to find those outdoor pursuits and activities. Take a look at activity self catering breaks if you like to participate in outdoor sports with your children or cottages in rural locations where you can spot wildlife. Perhaps in 2012 we will all try something new and discover something about ourselves and our own country?
I love Greece; the scenery, Greek food, the endless sunshine and blue skies even during autumn and winter. On one such trip during late October when we went for a walk in the countryside close to our villa, the sun was shining, pomegranates were ripe on the trees and all was well with the world. You know how it is when you’re out walking on holiday, there is unlimited time to stop and stare at something of interest, a donkey in a field (lots of them in Greece), chickens scrabbling at the side of the road or an unusual flowering shrub. We were walking and chatting as we walked when I noticed a man on the road ahead of us pick up a tortoise that was foolhardy enough to cross it. He then placed this tortoise upside down in a carrier bag.
My immediate reaction was ‘poor tortoise’. How dare he! I scuttled up the road and whilst the guy had his back turned to me, stole his tortoise and ran away with it. He must have spotted me out of the corner of his eye and proceeded to shout at me in Greek. I just shouted ‘no, no’ back at hime because at that precise moment I didn’t have time to translate into Greek. Realising that I was English he then began berating me in English. Fortunately I was with two rather large men ( my husband and son-in-law) so he gave up the chase.
We set the tortoise free in some rough ground, that would give it cover, a little way later and hoped that it would keep to the rough ground and not venture back on the road. My conscience kicked in a little later when I realised that I had taken away someone’s free lunch. This was before the days of economical hardship in Greece. Greece is desperate for tourists money in 2012. It remains one of the most beautiful countries to visit around the Meditteranean.
The city of Athens is worth visiting for the ancient antiquities, the Acropolis and numerous other temples dotted across the city. Plaka is a district of Athens with good night life and lots of small tavernas serving up kebabs, tzatziki, Greek salads galore and mountains of Feta cheese and olives. It is the place to be in the evenings. See villas to rent for holidays in Greece.
A large number of Brits and Germans have become grecophiles and retired to Greece. Tourism has flourished in the various Greek islands and they still remain holiday destinations with fabulous uncrowded beaches.
The Greek mainland offers swathes of golden sandy beach and some real treasures. If you have limited time on holiday in Greece and like all the classical stuff about the ancient Greek gods, I would suggest that you make the journey to Delphi which is about 2 hour’s drive from Athens. Meteora in central Greece is a magical place featuring Greek Byzantine monasteries on top of sheer rock pillars. Nafplion is a coastal town of great charm and oozes history. Visit some of the beaches along the coast just to see the striking colours of succulent flowering plants on the rocks and sand.
Be aware that staying in Greece could be the beginning of a lengthy love affair and every year you will want to see more.
Many of us have less money available to spend on holidays. We have been hit by rising prices on food, utilities and fuel. Even the wealthier among us consider the cost of a family villa holiday, the flights and choose on price. Everyone is looking at value for money. 2012 is going to be another belt tightening year that I suspect may mean less foreign travel apart from holidays in good value Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Bulgaria. All of these Eastern European countries have stunning scenery, interesting cities and inexpensive prices for eating out. I met someone recently who was planning to go to Albania, which is along the coast from Greece and offers similar beaches and countryside but without the Euro. Croatia is much lauded for it scenery and there is still plenty of reasonably priced accommodation in holiday apartments and cottages.
The owners of self catering villas and cottages who are able to offer reductions and value for money will be the survivors and possibly winners next year. The British have a wonderful opportunity to attract foreign visitors. We know that we have some of the most beautiful rural areas in the world, fascinating cities and market towns that ooze character and history, lots of facilities of all kinds, free entry to museums and art galleries but let’s not forget that we also have cheap goods in comparison to many other European countries. Britain is the place to come for a shopping holiday. And it’s not just our cities that have huge department stores, life has moved on in Britain and there are sprawling shopping malls and parks in areas outside towns. Not only do our European visitors get a holiday but they also take home some great bargains that offset the cost of their holiday.
‘Baggage allowances on planes are small’ I hear you say. True, but there are many reasonably priced transport services that will deliver those goods to your front door. Parcel2Go, Eagle Transport and many others make shopping in bulk possible. Better still is to drive to Britain if you can. That gives you mobility to see more, shop in various places and carry more items home. Britain is currently a country of bargains.
One of the best times to take a shopping trip to Britain is about a week into the New Year when the sales are on in earnest and goods are discounted to clear. Come and fill your bags with bargains. It is also a time when self catering cottages are at their lowest rates and flights are cheap. January 2012 is a time for opportunity. Once Britain adopts the Euro currency (which may be sooner than we know) the shopping bonanza will end.
Where to stay in Britain? It all depends on what you would like to do apart from shop and where you can obtain cheap flights to. There are great places to shop all over Britain. Eating out is generally less expensive in the Midlands and the north of England, although you can cook for yourself with a self catering holiday. Nottinghamshire offers value for money in many respects. The City of Durham in County Durham, northern England is a friendly place with good shops.
Holidaymakers and bargain hunters arriving from Europe, having driven for hours, are advised to find somewhere to stay in the south of England. The ferry port of Dover is in Kent and there are several large shopping malls and thousands of shops. Essex is also wonderful for shopping. At Dartford, there is Lakeside shopping park on one side of the Thames and Bluewater in Kent a few miles away on the other side of the river.
Find a good value cottage. Many cottage owners have special offers on cottages to rent for January. Talk to the cottage owners, they will be able to let you know about good places to shop for bargains near their cottages, about car boot sales for second hand bargains and you can have a great shopping trip with lots of gifts to take back home.
I was talking to a cottage owner the other day who provided a valuable insight into the holiday lettings business , just how much effort he went to so that his guests could have a good time and his long working days.
He also went on to give me the benefit of his knowledge and opinions. Farmers went into the self catering business in a big way because of government subsidies that helped them convert disused farm buildings into holiday cottages. These same farmers took advantage of the solar generation of electricity schemes and have coated entire barn roofs with panels to generate electricity to sell back to the grid. Let’s just say that this particular cottage owner felt that farmers have an unfair advantage over a non farming person running a self catering business. Few other businesses receive any subsidies or tax advantages. It could be said that farmers and bankers are in protected positions in Britain.
This particular cottage owner expressed his fears about over supply of farm holiday cottages resulting in under occupancy for everyone. Cottage owners who are not farmers, funded their holiday cottages themselves but have to compete with those who did not, despite the fact that they could be in the same village. If those farmers decide to sell their holiday cottages, they do not have to repay the taxpayer for subsidies received. I could see his point.
There are also those people who inherit property and have an undeserved advantage over those who have to earn every penny. Life has never been fair.
The average self caterer renting a cottage sees life purely from their own needs; a warm welcome on arrival, a beautiful cottage, comfortable beds, a welcome cream tea and so on. They are not interested in the politics of the business or whether a cottage in the country is built on a level playing field, all they want is a good quality experience and a pleasant host.