In 2022, family holidays made up 30% of bookings on the Sykes website, with more families looking for the convenience of staycations rather than heading abroad with children.
Child-friendly breaks in the UK have never been more popular in 2023, particularly with the growing trend of 3-Gen (three generation) holidays.
Family-friendly self-catering cottages can be a great way to appeal to parents with children of all ages, without the added hassle of long flights, baggage charges and luggage restrictions.
Family holidays also provide year-round rental potential, with demand for staycations during the summer holidays, Christmas, and half-term breaks. Meanwhile, parents with pre-school children can help drive low-season bookings at your property.
Read our top tips below for suggestions on how to make your holiday let family-friendly.
Things to consider when running a family-friendly holiday let
When managing a family-friendly holiday cottage, you may think of how to cater solely for babies and young children. However, it's important to consider all the family, including adolescents, grandparents and even pets!
Covering all bases for family members will help to ensure guests enjoy their stay, and make them more likely to recommend your child-friendly holiday home to friends and family.
You can make your holiday let suitable for all of the family by taking the following into consideration:
Babies - Providing baby-friendly equipment such as cots, high chairs, baby monitors, toys, books, toilet seats, a changing mat and cutlery will be highly convenient for parents staying at your holiday home.
Having a microwave can also be useful for warming up baby meals and dishwashers to help make sure everything is properly sterilised.
Toddlers- It's vital to create a secure environment for small children visiting your holiday let. You can do this by childproofing your holiday home with stair gates, non-slip bath mats and toddler steps.
You may also want to consider including booster cushions for young children and plastic cutlery, along with child-friendly toys such as trikes, books, a bucket and spade, fishing nets, sandpit, water inflatables and a kite.
Teenagers- Older children love their technology, so it's a good idea to include Netflix, and gaming equipment such as a Playstation, Xbox or Wii console if your budget allows.
Make sure your self-catering cottage has a robust WiFi connection for guests with tablets or smartphones.
Or if you'd prefer, having traditional family-friendly items such as classic board games and books for reading can be a great way to appeal to teenagers of all ages.
Grandparents - Creating an accessible holiday home can often make or break a booking, so take this into consideration when preparing your cottage for families.
Adapting your property with age-friendly features such as an orthopaedic bed, walk-in shower or wet room can be a great way to help cater to older guests staying at your holiday cottage.
Including a downstairs bathroom and bedroom in your holiday home can also be appealing to families looking to stay with elderly family members, as well as a wheelchair-friendly entrance ramp and grab rail by the front door for better accessibility.
Pets - If you decide to welcome pets to your property, make sure to include all the essentials such as pet treats, disposable waste bags, chew toys, collars and tags, a spare lead and pet bowls.
Safety tips for your family-friendly holiday cottage
Safety is paramount when it comes to family-friendly holiday letting.
If you’d like to appeal to families and advertise your property as child-friendly, it's important to follow some basic safety guidelines to protect younger guests from everyday hazards.
A few things to consider are:
Doors and windows –Childproof your holiday home with doorstops and hinge guards. Adding protective measures such as window catches can stop children from opening windows, while blind cords should be securely attached to a wall connector.
Secure your furniture –Any loose and wobbly furniture pieces should always be secured to prevent toppling over. Bulky items such as televisions and kitchen appliances should be kept well out of reach of any children. You may also want to consider anchoring any bookcases and storage cabinets to the wall for added security.
Kitchen drawers and cupboards –Lock away any hazardous items such as cleaning products in lockable cupboards or secure drawers with child-proof catches. If you don't have these in your holiday home, make sure that any potentially dangerous items such as knives, scissors, glasses, clingfilm, plastic bags and graters are inaccessible to children.
Electrical items –Any electrical wires should be neatly tucked away out of reach from children, perhaps with adhesive hooks or cable ties to eliminate any risk of trips or falls.
Fire hazards –If your property has a portable heater, open fire or log burner, make sure these are kept firmly out of reach from little hands, as well as supplying a protective fire guard in your holiday let.
Read our full guide on Holiday Rules and Regulations for more information on keeping your family-friendly holiday cottage safe.
List any family-friendly places to eat and attractions nearby
According to the Sykes Staycation Index 2023, family-friendly things to do nearby make up almost a quarter of the most popular features for holiday lets.
Providing information on child-friendly cafes and restaurants in the area, with leaflets on local attractions and activities suitable for children and babies will help cater to parents looking for things to do.
This might include family-friendly attractions such as local zoos, beaches, family-orientated museums, theme parks, walking routes and picnic spots for guests staying at your holiday cottage, particularly if there are offers for discounted family days out.
Ideally, your holiday home should be located near supermarkets, shops and chemists to ensure families are able to stock up on supplies. You can also include details of the nearest places to shop and eat in your holiday let information pack.
Create a Safe Outdoor Space for Children
When running a child-friendly holiday let, it's a good idea to make use of any outdoor space, especially if children are running around!
Whether your cottage features a garden, balcony or patio, having weatherproof outdoor seating can allow guests staying at your holiday home to relax while their children and grandchildren play outside.
Creating a secure, enclosed garden by fencing the area with a secure gate, fence or hedge can help prevent children escaping onto roads or into neighbouring gardens.
If your property features a pond or swimming pool, make sure to fence the area to prevent accidents if children are unsupervised. For family cottages with hot tubs, it is recommended to restrict usage for children under the age of 5 due to the dangers of overheating.
Keep any gardening tools such as hosepipes, rakes and shovels safely locked away in a shed for added peace of mind. You may want to consider removing any decking and replacing gravel paths with paving stones to reduce the risk of children slipping or choking on stones.
If the space allows, including an outdoor play area can also be an excellent choice for children staying at your cottage. If your holiday let features a trampoline or climbing frame, make sure these are safe to use and covered by your public liability insurance.
Furnishing your child-friendly holiday cottage
When designing your family-friendly holiday let, reviewing the layout of the property is a great place to start.
Having a separate playroom or snug with toys and games can make an ideal hideaway for children, while helping keep the rest of your holiday cottage neat and tidy.
Creating a dedicated area for storage, with ample space for families to leave their backpacks, raincoats, bikes and scooters will also help reduce clutter in your holiday home.
With families exploring the local beaches and muddy adventure trails, you may want to consider adding a utility room to your property for a hassle-free holiday experience.
Whether you decide to welcome children or pets in your property, you will want to avoid choosing decor that stains easily, such as cream carpets and sofas.
Choosing furniture that is durable, machine washable and easy to clean can help minimise any potential damage.
When it comes to decorating your family-friendly holiday home, consider opting for tiles, floorboards or laminate flooring rather than carpet.
If your budget permits, equipping the property with an en-suite master bedroom that is within close proximity to the children's bedrooms will also help to create a comfortable experience for all the family.
Once your holiday home is ready to welcome families, advertising with aholiday let management agency will help promote your property and allow the bookings to roll in.
Here at Sykes, we manage more than 15,000 successful UK family-friendly holiday homes, including child-friendly holiday cottages, family lodges with hot tubs and coastal family cottages.
Making your family-friendly holiday home photo-shoot ready with high-quality, professional photographs is a great way to wow potential guests.
You'll also want to provide a list of local family-friendly places and selection of child-friendly activities, such as a fun activity set or a pack of cards in your guest information pack.
Focusing on families and promoting the unique selling points of your holiday cottage can help attract more bookings and maximise your rental income.
Bernie Clarke, Holiday Let Content Writer
