Get Ready for Christmas
Christmas is a time of year to relax, unwind and spend time with loved ones. For those who have booked their Christmas holiday in your holiday property will be looking forward to their forthcoming break. To turn their break from just that to a memorable holiday there are some areas you will need to focus on and if you get this right your guests will thank you by repeat business and recommendations.
Essential Repairs
Make sure you have had your heating and hot water system serviced well before Christmas and enough fuel to see you and your guests through the period, the last thing you and your guests want is for there to be a problem over the festive period. Contact your tradesmen and find out if they are available over Christmas should there be a problem. If they are not available make sure you have somebody who you can call upon.
Ensure your pathways, patios and garden are tidy, cleared and well light and think about planting some winter flowers to add some colour to the otherwise bare look.
Keep Warm
Nothing says Christmas like sitting around a log fire. If you have an open fire or woodburner and don’t normally supply logs consider going the extra inch for your Christmas guests and supply a basket or two of logs. Ensure there’s a big supply of firelighters, matches, and kindling too.
Get Cosy
For all your winter bookings, make sure you have warm throws on the beds and be sure to swap the summer duvets for winter tog ones. Consider the other areas of their house as well to create a cosy atmosphere for your guest’s, provide throws for the seating areas and even a supply of hot water bottles. To create the festive mood leave a Christmas CD and put festive covers on the hot water bottles.
What’s on in the Area?
Your guests will want to enjoy the comfort and atmosphere you have created for them in your property, however, provide them with some inspiration on what is happening in the local area. Consider festive markets and displays, walks and places to eat, make sure your recommendations are personal to the party as couples interests will differ from those with children. It’s also useful to provide opening times for the essentials such as supermarkets, the local vet if you are pet friendly, pubs and restaurants.
A Warm Welcome
Your guests have travelled a long way for their Cornish holiday so don’t just stop at the planning stage, make sure their arrival and welcome gets them to unwind from the moment they set eyes on your property. It is likely they will be arriving when it is dark so leave the outside lights on, make sure the property is warm, the fire lit and some lights on inside the house so the moment they open the door they will feel relaxed, happy to have arrived and looking forward to their holiday.
Create the Christmas feel
Having worked hard to create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere for your Christmas guest consider creating the Christmas spirit with some small touches. Change your normal welcome hamper to include mince pies, a Christmas pudding, mulled wine or a bottle of fizz. Decorate your property with carefully placed Christmas decorations which aren’t just the ones that you can’t fit into your own house. Consider the colour scheme you have and the type of property you have. For traditional properties reds, golds and greens work well and for modern properties silvers work well.
Start off by putting a wreath on the front door, a Christmas tree (real or artificial) in the main living area and decorate the living area and hall and provide some Christmas themed decorations for the dining table.
This blog was provided by Cornwall Traditional Cottages
