Independent Cottages or Agency Cottages?
Cottages on My Favourite Holiday Cottages are either independent cottages or agency-managed cottages. If you have a preference between one or the other you can choose which one when doing your search. You can therefore view all agency cottage or all independent cottages or both in a combined lot. Your choice!
The difference between Agency and Independent Cottages explained.
Independent Cottages
Independent holiday cottages are those where a property’s owner is responsible for marketing and managing bookings. If you call, you’ll be speaking to the owner. When you pay, you pay owners’ direct. No booking fees, no commission charges.
See below to understand the benefits of booking through an agency or owner.
Benefits of booking direct with the Owner
- The price: with no commission fees to pay anyone else and a limited advertising budget, prices can be more competitive.
- Owners know their holiday cottages better than anyone, so you’re more likely to get swift and accurate answers to your questions than through an agency.
- Owners have their own property website. They may be harder to find on the Internet (although My Favourite Holiday Cottages provides a connecting link), but they do convey a lot more information than that which can be squeezed into a single advert on an agency site.
- Owner’s managing their own properties invariably feel an enhanced sense of responsibility for their guest’s well-being, be that the state of cleanliness, maintenance, a freshly mown lawn or decent welcome pack to greet you upon arrival. They don’t want to be embarrassed about anything if or when they meet and greet you.
Disadvantages in booking direct with the Owner
- Many independent cottages do not provide card payment or online booking facilities, although this is changing.
- Owners who advertise their cottages on many sites, can be less diligent in updating calendars on every advertisement. That’s why it’s good to look at independent cottages on sites like this one, where a link to the property’s own website with an up to date calendar is included in the listing.
- Independently owned cottages are more at risk of fraud. If his concerns you, use sites like this one, containing a web-link to the owner’s own website Website owners are much more easily traced making fraudulent or cloned websites unattractive to scammers.
11 award-winning luxury self-catering holiday cottages (all with wiFi) in Derbyshire with large indoor heated swimming pool in 2 acres of landscaped grounds. Perfect for groups, families and couples. Just outside Bakewell.
- Sleeps 10
- Bedrooms 5
- Bathrooms 3
- Independent
'Granary' is a first floor, pet friendly countryside apartment with a heated pool in Pickering. This apartment has been attractively adapted, having an open plan lounge/kitchen/diner, with views to the Vale of Pickering and beyond.
- Sleeps 3
- Bedrooms 2
- Bathrooms 1
- Independent
River View in the rural East Devon village of Membury is a large holiday cottage with a heated indoor swimming pool a few miles from Honiton and the coast at Lyme Regis. This pet friendly cottage sleeps up to 27 guests in 10 bedrooms within 3 acres of glorious Devon countryside. Large Country Holid...
- Sleeps 27
- Bedrooms 10
- Bathrooms 8
- Independent
Baytree Cottage near Truro sleeps 5 guests in 3 bedrooms. From its idyllic location overlooking the tributary water of Restronguet Creek, this romantic and captivating holiday cottage offers a 5* setting for year-round stays on the South coast of Cornwall. Baytree is immaculately presented from top ...
- Sleeps 5
- Bedrooms 3
- Bathrooms 2
- Independent
Bass Cottage is located in the peaceful village of Point between Truro and Falmouth on Restronguet Creek. The cottage faces onto the village green, and has creek views from every room. It has just been completely refurbished and combines historic character with contemporary designer finishes.
- Sleeps 4
- Bedrooms 2
- Bathrooms 2
- Independent
Orchid Cottage is a spacious 19th c. character cottage in picturesque Axmouth village, next to the River Axe, and just 1 mile from the harbour and fascinating Jurassic coast. Ideally located for exploring Devon and Dorset.
- Sleeps 6
- Bedrooms 3
- Bathrooms 2
- Independent
Visitors coming to discover the delights of the Derbyshire Peak District can do so in style at Tagg Cottage at Endmoor Farm, a family friendly luxury holiday cottage on a working farm near Bakewell that sleeps 4 in a superb and secluded rural location. Pets welcome.
- Sleeps 4
- Bedrooms 2
- Bathrooms 2
- Independent
Swift Cottage is a charming ground floor cottage with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 5 and use of an outdoor heated pool. The cottage is all on one level and has an easy access wet-room with rails and mobility chair, so suitable for guests with disabilities. The cottage is in the National Park. Pets welcome.
- Sleeps 5
- Bedrooms 3
- Bathrooms 2
- Independent
Cleeve apartment is one of 12 Holiday Cottages at Duddings & sleeps 2 in 1 twin bedroom. It is set in the beautiful Avill Valley near Dunster & Minehead in the Exmoor National Park. Indoor pool & spa bath, tennis court, games room, trampoline etc. Families & dogs welcome. VisitEngland 4 star
- Sleeps 2
- Bedrooms 1
- Bathrooms 1
- Independent
