Elianne
27 December 2018
Holiday cottages with hot tubs have never been more popular and adding one will almost certainly mean you’ll achieve higher rates and increased occupancy levels.
However, hot tubs need regularly maintaining to ensure that not only do they work smoothly but are completely hygienic for your guests.
Here is our Cottage Owner Guide to adding a holiday cottage to your holiday cottage.
Should you add a hot tub to your holiday cottage?
People love hot tubs! They help to make a short break or holiday extra special and will set your cottage apart from other similar properties. Not only will you be able to add a premium onto your rates but your property will get booked up faster and your occupancy will be higher.
Hot tubs are in demand across all property types so whether you have a romantic cottage, celebration property or somewhere for friends or family to gather; there is demand for holiday cottages with a hot tub.
Different types of hot tub
Hot tubs come in many different shapes and sizes and you’ll want to get an appropriately-sized one for your property. The most popular type is probably an acrylic hot tub with bubble jets that is electrically powered and heated. These are easy for guests to operate and temperature can be adjusted at the touch of a button.
The other main type of hot tub is a wooden hot tub which is almost always circular in shape and impressive looking. They may be much more in keeping with the look of a period property and can be either electrically heated or wood-fired.
If you decide to go down the wood-fired route remember that not all your guests will be adept at building and lighting the pile of logs needed. It also takes time to heat the water so it may be worth offering a service to guests where you prepare and light the wood so that it is ready and waiting for their arrival.
Choosing the location of your hot tub
The hot tub should be a real feature of your outside space so make sure you are making the most of any views. After all, what could be nicer than sitting in a hot tub with a glass of bubbly while looking out over the Yorkshire countryside? The views at White Willow Lodge below are pretty spectacular!
People will also want a degree of privacy so you’ll want a spot that isn’t overlooked – some strategically-placed shrubbery or trees can always help with this.
Consider where people will be walking to the hot tub – decking can be a good option.
Providing some sort of shelter over the hot tub will make it appealing in all seasons and can look really good too (Wykewood, for example, has a Balinese-style pagoda). Make sure, though, you aren’t hindering any views – if you have uninterrupted views you should just let these shine!
Maintaining the hot tub
Every hot tub will come will different manufacturer guidelines for how it should be maintained and these should always be followed.
Holiday cottage guests will expect a freshly-filled hot tub for their stay so this needs to be factored into your changeover time. The freshly-filled water will take a number of hours to get up to temperature so the emptying and refilling should be one of the first jobs on your list.
The water should be tested to make sure it is at the correct chemical balance and you should make sure all parts are regularly serviced by appropriate professionals. Make sure you provide some rules/guidance for guests e.g the maximum amount of time they should spend in the hot tub at one time.
Lighting for the hot tub area
Outside lighting is an important health and safety requirement for any holiday cottage and especially so when guests will be making their way to a hot tub.
The hot tub at Station House.
Make sure the hot tub has appropriate lighting – you don’t want it too bright but people need to be able to see where they are going.
Enjoy the outside space at Birch House near York.
Mood lighting can be a real focal point – either using different colours or a twinkly fairy light effect. We love the lighting at Station House in Wensleydale.
Gorgeous Cottages are the booking agents for a range of Luxury Yorkshire Holiday Cottages. If you are thinking of renting out your property, give us a call on 01642 263 249 or e-mail [email protected].
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.