Top Tips for Choosing a Holiday Cottage

By Richard A Bowen

1. Value for money. Don't flock to the traditional holiday destinations - beat the crowds and save money simply by choosing somewhere less obvious. e.g. a five star luxury farm cottage in Wales for 4 costs under £10 per person per night off-peak to around £20 per person per night in peak season. With an entire farm to enjoy in with the price, it is astonishingly cheap. When friends boasted how they rented a tiny Thai beach hut for £12 a night, I thought it was a rip off!

2. Food. Usually cottages are self catering, so check with the owner where the nearest shops are so that you can stock up on arrival. Your rural holiday cottage may be only a couple of minutes from a 24 hour supermarket! The super-organised could even order an online delivery to arrive when you do! Some cottage owners provide a small welcome pack including a few essentials like milk and bread.Treat the food shopping trip as the holiday's first adventure - listen to the local accents and discover the local specialities. Again, the owners should know where you can source free range eggs and prize winning butcher's sausages as well as being able to point you in the direction of good restaurants. Otherwise, if you really don't fancy venturing out - stock up before you leave home and remember to ask the owner if the cottage has a freezer.

3. Heating. Check out the heating situation. Make sure the owner turns it on before you arrive in the winter. Is there a real fire or wood burner, can you buy extra fuel, and what is the cost?

4. Sneaky Extra Charges. Always be sure to ask the cottage owner if there are any extra charges upon arrival. Always make sure that electricity, linen, heating, use of the washing machine and internet is included in the price.

5. Washing Machine. Is this in the kitchen and free of charge or is it coin operated and outside in a shed?

6. WIFI. Does your accommodation offer wireless internet? A quality holiday cottage operator should offer this free of charge.

7. Tourist Information. When you arrive in a new area, it can take quite a while to get your bearings. Is the tourist information provided in an easy to read folder or has the owner just dumped a few hundred leaflets into a box on the windowsill? Remember to take your Sat Nav with you on holiday. Much easier to find those attractions.

8. Weather. In the UK, it has been known to rain from time to time. This needn't spoil a cottage holiday. Pack your waterproofs and ask the owner if there are any good attractions nearby that are suited to inclement weather - there may be caves, museums, waterfalls or theme pools nearby which are all great for a rainy day. Maybe the cottage has a collection of DVDs if you fancy a cosy afternoon in?

9. Bathroom. Is there a bath or shower or both? When on holiday it can be nice to have a bath.

10. Activities. Are there plenty of activities in the area? Are they easily accessible from the cottage?

11. Cleanliness. Arguably the most important thing of all! All cottage owners will claim their cottages are clean, but the best way to check this out is to look at their website's testimonial page or visitor book. The comments of previous holiday makers are as good an indicator as any.

12. Accessibility. Make sure there is adequate parking and where it is - is there a car parking spot outside the cottage or is parking restricted? It can also be helpful to know the cottage is easy to find, especially when you arrive in the dark, late at night.

13. Green Credentials. If you are concerned about the environment, it is always worth checking out the green credentials of the cottage you are interested in e.g. do they use eco-friendly cleaning products, is there any carbon-offsetting scheme, and is recycling encouraged? Example of eco-friendly holiday cottages in Wales.

14. Accreditation. Accreditation by the national tourist board (e.g. in Wales, Visit Wales) is a sign of quality. Star ratings are not easy to get and they are assessed on a yearly basis.

15. Awards. If an establishment has a history of winning industry awards, that is a very good indication of quality. The holiday cottage industry is very competitive and awards are very difficult to win.

16. Pet Friendly or not. If you intend taking pets, make sure you book them in to a pet-friendly establishment. If you have allergies, you may wish to double check with the cottage owner that their pet-free cottage has always been pet-free.

17. Size of cottage. If there are only 2 of you in your party, it is worth asking for a discount as most cottages will sleep 4 people. Small cottages are hard to come by. If you have a large party, why not look for a complex of cottages on a farm rather than one huge cottage? This can give you more options.

18. Short Breaks in Peak Season. Many cottage operators will not allow short breaks during peak season (or if they do allow them, you must pay for the whole week). It's always worth asking the owner if they would get in touch if any short periods come up in their booking schedule (e.g. someone may book two and a half weeks, leaving a few days spare which may be available as a short break).

19. Emergency number. Do you have a contact number to call if there are any problems with the cottage or simply to ask for local advice? e.g. where is the nearest garage.

20. If you have found a cottage that ticks all these boxes then go ahead and book it!

Richard Bowen has worked for over 15 years in the holiday cottage industry and runs a website for cottages in Wales. He has published travel guides in his native country of Wales in the United Kingdom.

Visit the Bure Valley Steam Railway on Boating Holidays in the Norfolk Broads

By Dipika Patel

If you're a fan of natural settings and enjoy being close to stunning countryside scenery on holiday, you're sure to find a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads gives you just the opportunity you're looking for to get close to nature.

England boating breaks in the region are popular among Britons as well as visitors to the country as the area offers 125 miles of navigable waterways in truly beautiful surroundings. The broads are a fantastic location for UK boating holidays because of their lock-free design and close proximity to the rivers Bure, Ant, Thurne, Yare, Chet and Waveney, as well as to rural villages and bustling towns and cities.

Whatever kind of boating holiday in the UK you're looking for, you're sure to find it on the broads. Whether you want to relax and unwind on the water and visit secluded hamlets to explore history and stock up on supplies, or if you prefer being close to the action in thriving cities like Cambridge, the broads have it all.

As you travel across the waterways in the area, you'll come across all kinds of attractions to visit in each of the locations you pass through. A great place to stop off on a day trip if you're looking to enjoy the scenery of the broads is the Bure Valley. Located in the historic town of Aylsham, near the source of the River Bure, the valley is home to one of Norfolk's most famous railways.

Stretching between Aylsham and Wroxham, the Bure Valley Railway is Norfolk's longest narrow gauge steam line and covers 18 miles on a round trip. If it's beautiful scenery you're after, this is the place to find it, as your steam train will carry you through the rural landscape and stop off at three villages on the way.

Between the beginning of April and the end of October, at least three trains run per day - both steam and diesel - while the rest of the year sees the railway operate special events. The attraction is a great place not only for nature lovers and train spotters, but also for children, who will love the diminutive size of the engines as well as some of the events held throughout the year - in particular the trips to visit Santa in his grotto.

There is also a model railway shop on site, so browse the goodies and maybe pick up a treat for a little one who loved the train ride and would like a memento of the journey to treasure forever.

The historic railway was built on the track bed of the former Great Eastern Railway line, which ran between Wroxham and the junction of the Dereham to Wells-next-the-Sea railway at County School. You'll take in the sight of the River Bure as you travel, as well as the footpath that runs directly next to the railway for its entire length.

If you fancy some exercise during your boat holiday, you might decide a walk along the purpose-built footpath is a great way of doing just that while enjoying the countryside landscape. You could even rent a bicycle and ride the whole nine miles if you choose, but if you prefer to keep things more low key, ride to one of the local villages, where you can alight or board the train for the rest of the journey.

If you travel the entire stretch by rail, you'll stop off briefly in the three hamlets - Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall - where people can alight or get off the train. Once you've completed your journey, you might like to visit the villages in greater depth.

Brampton was once a thriving manufacturing centre in Roman times and has a picturesque round-tower church for visitors to admire, so pay a visit to find out more about the area's history. Buxton also has traces of being a Roman settlement and is known as the home of Black Beauty author Anna Sewell. Here you'll also find some stunning 17th century architecture. Meanwhile, Coltishall has a charming thatched village church and a famous RAF base, so explore at your leisure.

Once you've exhausted the railway and surroundings villages, you're likely to be glad to return to the comfort of your boat for the night, where you can plan the rest of your boating holiday on the broads. If you want to call in at thriving cities you'll find places like Cambridge not too far away, while seaside locations like Great Yarmouth are also within reach. Whatever you want to do, you'll find a wealth of opportunities on the Norfolk Broads.

A UK boating holiday is a great way of exploring the Norfolk Broads. And with boating holidays in the Norfolk Broads widely available, you're sure to find something to cater for your needs on an England boating break. Check out Le Boat for a wide selection of boating holidays in the UK.

Old English Inns

COUNTRY OR SEASIDE LOCATIONS, GREAT FOOD, REAL CASK ALES AND THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES!

Take a well-deserved break without leaving the country - and you can look forward to surprises round every corner. There are so many places to discover in England, no matter how well you think you know it. And what better way to discover them than staying for a couple of days in an inn or hotel just as fascinating as its location?

Choose from over 50 inns and hotels over 28 counties, many steeped in history and all oozing tradition, situated in picturesque locations: in the countryside, in small market towns, or even by the sea.

Old English Inns are known for the warmth of their hospitality - and the comfort of their rooms. You'll also fall in love with the cosy bars, often with crooked walls and low beams, where you'll love relaxing with a glass of wine or real ale, and the friendly restaurants where dinner - and a hearty full English breakfast - will refuel you for the following day.

Spend your days exploring: a nearby stately home or open gardens for the morning, and maybe browsing antique shops in the afternoon. Take a brisk walk, if the weather allows, or just relax with a favourite book in a comfy armchair.