People generally choose to rent a cottage for their holiday away, as they are simply looking for a home away from home. You could stay in a hotel or in a B&B but then you would lose that familiar feeling that you get from your own house. In a cottage you can cook in your very own kitchen, eat at your very own dining table and relax in your very own living room. It is just like being at home.

A luxury cottage is more than just a home away from home. These kinds of cottages are special and come with added extras that you are unlikely to have at home. You can rent a cottage that comes with an indoor or outdoor swimming pool, a hot tub, a tennis court or one that is simply luxurious. Here are our tips on what to bring on a luxury cottage break:

Some luxurious food & drink

If you are going to go on a luxury break, then you will need some luxurious food and drink to enjoy while you are there. You can of course bring some items from home and some cottage owners are happy for you to get groceries delivered to the property before you arrive ( a few will even stock your fridge and cupboards with the groceries for you!) but nothing can beat the local produce that you will discover on your arrival. Head down to a local market or simply pop along to the nearby butchers and get the ingredients for a fabulous home-cooked meal. Some of the produce might be more expensive but it is definitely worth it, as you are paying for real quality, fresh food. A bottle or two of champagne is absolutely necessary if you have a hot tub to relax in with the love of your life.

Champagne for the hob tub

Tennis racquets

There is nothing more luxurious than having your very own tennis court located just outside your property. If you are renting a luxury country house for a family gathering or a birthday celebration, being able to play some games with your guests is a great way of keeping everyone entertained. Many such luxury properties will provide you with some tennis racquets to play with but they will often not be of the greatest quality. Get any tennis playing guests to bring their own racquets to ensure that no one can blame the equipment if they lose! You may also want to bring some golf clubs or fishing rods depending on what activities you want to do while you are on holiday.

Have a look at our selection of luxury accommodation that comes with a tennis court.

A great way to keep your guests entertained

A good book

We are not saying that you should never venture out of your cottage but, if you book a luxury property to stay in, then there is no point treating it like a hotel room and only using it to sleep in. You should make sure that you get more bang for your buck by making full use of your luxury cottage and the best way of doing this is to simply relax with a good book. Depending on what type of cottage you have chosen, you can choose to sit by the swimming pool with your book, have a read while in your hot tub or relax inside and let your imagination flow. Go outside and take in the sights but be sure to use up every last inch of your luxury cottage. You may need more than one book!

Have a good book to read during your stay

Your swimsuit

There would be nothing more annoying than turning up to your cottage and suddenly realising that you don’t have anything to wear in your swimming pool or hot tub! I think it’s fair to say that the majority of cottage owners frown upon skinny dipping…

Have a look at our selection of luxury accommodation that comes with a swimming pool. If a hot tub is more your thing, take a look at our selection here.