If you love getting together with your family for Christmas, then you know how rewarding it can be. There’s nothing like making memories while eating festive feasts, watching classic movies and opening presents together.
However, hosting a big family Christmas isn’t easy. You might find yourself short of space as you cook up a storm in your kitchen and squeeze in seats for everyone around the table.
Renting a house for Christmas can give your family the room you need to relax and enjoy your time together. Plus, features like fireplaces, cinema rooms and hot tubs make your holiday extra special.
So, if you’re planning on renting a house for Christmas, how do you make sure everything goes smoothly?
Read on to learn how to get the most from your Christmas rental home.
When to start planning
Popular Christmas cottages book up fast, so you’ll get more choices the earlier you start looking. Some people start planning their Christmas getaway a whole year ahead!
If you have a really big group of 30 or more to travel with, you might want to book your accommodation by the end of springtime. By winter, many travellers could find that the places they like are booked up – although you might be lucky and snap up someone else’s cancelled spot.
Choosing a location
You can have a beautiful Christmas getaway at so many places in the UK – whether that’s among chocolate box villages in the Cotswolds, or close to London so you can take in a performance of The Nutcracker before heading home.
What’s key is choosing the location that suits your guests. If you enjoy a traditional Christmas day ramble outdoors, or if you’re travelling with dogs, perhaps you’d like a remote holiday cottage with winter countryside views. On the other hand, if you love getting to know the locals, a house just a short walk from a pub in the village might be the best fit.
Naturally, you’ll also want to consider how far everyone has to travel. Keep in mind, too, that some summer tourist attractions close down for the winter, so check seasonal opening times if you’re hoping to visit a nearby historic castle on the 27th.
Meeting your guests’ needs
When it comes to making sure everyone loves their holiday, technology is your friend. Group chats are a great tool for bringing everyone together for plans.
You can also ensure you’re not overwhelming everyone with messages by sharing a Google doc or spreadsheet where everyone can add info like their dietary needs, accessibility needs or requirements like highchairs for kids. That way, you can ensure you’re renting a house for Christmas that has everything necessary for your family.
Researching and prepping
When you’re in the middle of your Christmas day and the shops around are all closed, the last thing you’ll want is a surprise.
So, if you think you’ve found the right Christmas house to rent, ensure you know about:
- Activities everyone will do
- Supplies and amenities available in the house
- Supplies and amenities available nearby.
You can do this by checking out:
- The description of the house
- Reviews of the house
- Tourist information and maps for the area.
If kids are with you, how will they stay occupied – especially if the weather’s cold and they’re indoors? If a house is described as child-friendly, you might find a chest of toys or even a dress-up box waiting for you. But it’s best to make sure exactly what each home features by checking its description in detail.
Likewise, many holiday homes include kitchen tools in the kitchen. But for a big endeavour like Christmas dinner, you want to be sure they’ll have everything you need, like a turkey baster. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask. It goes without saying that you also want a dining table big enough to fit everyone!
Plus, consider how you’ll ensure you have food (for people and dogs), baby supplies, fuel for fires, and anything else you might need. If you’re doing a big shop for a large family, can you go to a nearby supermarket on the 23rd, or can you get some supplies delivered?
Lastly, take a look at reviews of the house for tips about what’s good to do while you’re there – or any warnings about any promised amenities that were missing.
Deciding what to bring
Once you’ve found and booked the perfect house, there’s still a little more planning to do.
You’ll want to check out the usual weather in that area – and do a weather check closer to Christmas, too. If heavy rain or intense cold is predicted, give everyone a heads up so they bring the right clothes and shoes.
If you’ve booked a luxury home with a hot tub, don’t forget swimsuits!
If you’ve got some traditional family Christmas items or decorations, bring them along – although, again, you’ll want to check what Christmas items are already provided. You’ll want your gifts, of course, plus batteries and any other necessities for those gifts.
And more than anything, make sure you’ve got any special toys or blankets that kids can’t sleep without!
Scheduling
Of course, most families won’t want a Christmas getaway that’s scheduled down to every moment. After all, the whole point is to relax and have fun!
However, it’s often good to ensure everyone is broadly on the same page about who’s doing what and when. Consider agreeing on a rough schedule, answering questions like:
- When is everyone arriving?
- Who is responsible for tasks like assisting older family members, securing supplies, or watching kids?
- When are presents opened?
- When is Christmas dinner? Who is preparing each meal and cleaning up afterward?
- If you’ve booked a house with a cinema room, will you plan on a big family movie night? If so, who’s making sure you have the DVD or streaming service needed?
Make special memories with your loved ones
Planning the perfect Christmas staycation is more than worth it. Renting a house for Christmas can give your family a luxury experience to make every moment special. You’ll get more than just extra space to be comfy – you can enjoy stunning scenery, indulgent amenities and beautiful indoor spaces.
So, if you’re planning a Christmas getaway in England or Wales with your family, take a look now at our selection of luxury Christmas cottages. At kate & tom’s, dedicated to providing opulent and unique houses for larger groups looking for the holiday home of their dreams. Need a hand with planning? Our team at [email protected] would love to hear from you. We’ve got everything you need to make your Christmas one to remember.
