22/10/2026
With all the conversation around Airbnb's new rules, we understand both sides.. Here’s a little perspective from an independent holiday cottage. ⬇️
When you are paying good money for a holiday, you don't want to arrive to a long list of check out chores. You want to relax.. And equally when you've spent hours preparing a property for someone else's holiday, you hope they'll treat it with a little care too..
We don’t think guests should be paying high prices for bare minimum effort from hosts and letting companies. We too have sometimes felt dissatisfied, and like some things are missing.
(This leads perfectly into why we started Flock Cottage in the first place. You can see Our Story on our website)
Before we were hosts, we were guests.
We've stayed in lots of Airbnbs, and some of our experiences helped shaped the kind of hosts we wanted to become. Often, some things felt a little.. lacking or unconsidered and as a perfectionist who’s mood is very influenced by her surroundings, that wasn’t going to be our guests holiday cottage experience!
Sometimes we would find that the useful essentials weren't there. The thoughtful touches were missing- like nice quality bedding, plump pillows, cosy side lamps, a lovely smelling diffuser. Some that we visited the sofas were terribly worn and uncomfortable, the spaces cluttered or at the other end, lacking and bare. They were a place to sleep yes, but not always somewhere that made us feel particularly at home and comfortable, and as a paying guest that’s not great.
We do things differently, and when we say we look after our guests, we mean it. Right down to the little things you would never even notice.🪶
We're not a letting agency. We don't hand the keys over to a holiday let management company or send in a team of ‘cleaners’. We do the job of the cleaner plus manage our own guest communications, bookings, online presence, website and blog, linens, guest experience, turn arounds, and maintenance, alongside work and other commitments and responsibilities.
It's just us two, with some support from our amazing family.
Every single turn around, we are the ones ironing the bedding and lint-rolling every inch of those freshly made sheets.. We're the ones pruning the garden, potting seasonal flowers and making sure the entrance looks lovely when you arrive.
We pick up and lay out every welcome hamper from the store, dress the cot bed in cute cotton bedding, put out a cuddle toy, book and nightlight to go with.
We clean every surface and light switch, make sure every bulb works, stock the log burner ready for a cosy evening and keep the little things topped up: coffee pods, instant coffee, dishwasher tablets, tea, sugar, washing pods, olive oil, salt and pepper, fairy, the luxury hand wash.. the list goes on.
We stop and purchase fresh flowers for every guest, cut them and dress them in the vase. We fill the dog bowl with fresh water ready to quench their thirst after the long drive.
We charge the speakers, keep the games and toys stocked, fold your towels just so, top up the bird feeder, maintain the water feature so that you can enjoy watching them from the kitchen window seat, and Harvey gets dragged to every shop to hunt down our favourite home fragrance (that our guests also love) when it's running low.
All of this is before we've answered your messages, planned your arrival, hoovered, mopped, cleaned, stripped the beds, taken the bins out and done all the other things that go into making your stay feel great. Not because anyone asks us to. Because we care, we make the effort and because we know what it feels like to be the guest.
We never ask guests to strip the beds or take the bins out. That's on our list, we're quite happy with that. Nor do we have a cleaning fee. We do ask though that they pop the dishwasher on, put used towels in the laundry basket and switch off the lights and TVs before they leave. Just the little things that help us look after the cottage for the next guests and give us time to do the rest.
We don't think a holiday should come with a long list of chores. But we do believe that a stay is a partnership between the people who prepare it and the people who enjoy it.
A little care goes both ways and we hope that when you book with us, you feel the difference.
Long story short is that not every host expects more from the guest than they’re putting in, some are giving their all and perhaps it helps to know this and helps you pick the right host for your holiday.
Self catering hospitality is a two way street and we hope the message doesn't get lost that a little care and consideration for the place you're staying in still matters and stands, even with this policy change.
To every guest who has stayed at Flock Cottage, treated it with kindness and helped us keep it special for the next person: thank you. Honestly. We appreciate it more than you know. 🤍
For us, it's never just been about providing just somewhere to sleep. It's about how you feel while you're there and the whole experience.
If you value a personal welcome, thoughtful details and knowing the people behind the place you're staying, we'd love you to discover Flock Cottage Ringstead.
Book direct for our best rates and exclusive little extras.
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