FAQs
Please find below some of the questions we are often asked by potential guests, if the answer to your question is not here please call us on 01665 721380 or email us by clicking here.Q. I've made a booking online, when will I know that the booking is definite.
A - You will receive a booking request confirmation email as soon as you submit your booking. This automatically flags up to us that a new booking has been requested and depending on when you make your request if there are no details which need to be checked with you, the deposit will be processed and a firm confirmation returned to you by email once this has gone through. Obviously this does depend on the time that your submit your request but as our systems are regularly checked outside of office hours you should hear back from us within 24hours or sooner particularly if there is a problem.
Q What is included in the price?
A - All of the properties include electricity, gas, oil, and logs as applicable (note Fairhaugh has no electricity).
Bedding, bed linen, towels are also included. We have given a general idea of the major items included on each cottage's listing, if there is something specific you would like to check on please ring us on 01665 721380, our staff know each cottage well.
The price is inclusive of VAT at the current rate.
Q. What method of payment do you accept and are there any extra charges involved?
We accept most major Credit and Debit cards carrying the Visa or Mastercard sign.
Debit card transactions are carried out free of charge.
Credit Card transactions carry a 3% surcharge.
If we need to carry out a "repeat" transaction using encrypted data held by our card processing house Sage pay and Barclays Merchant services an additional 1% fee will be charged. It is always better to provide us with card information per transaction a) to avoid this fee, and b) to ensure better security for your card.
Pay Pal - we do accept pay pal transactions for online bookings only. Please note that your card will be charged immediately with this option. Should your requested dates then prove to be unavailable (see I've made a booking online question above), you will be fully reimbursed. Pay Pal transactions carry a 3.4% transaction charge.
We accept cheques for deposits and balances where there is at least 14 working days between receipt of the cheque and your arrival date, note that the booking is not firm until the funds clear our bank.
Cash - We do not usually accept cash payments unless your arrival is within 24 hours of booking. This option remains at the discretion of the management.
We apologise that we must pass on the transaction charges levied upon us by our suppliers.
Q. When do I get my directions and key collection details.
A. The location of each cottage is identified on the cottage listings on our website. Your full written directions including post code and Longitude and Latitude for Sat. Nav. and details of key collection will accompany your balance payment confirmation, this may be by email or in the post depending on how you have identified that you wish to recieve correspondence from us. Please note however, that we must be in receipt of your signed booking confirmation, and if applicable your good housekeeping bond, to enable us to release the arrival documentation.
Q. When should we arrive and depart?
A - Arrival time is from 16:00 and we would like for you to vacate the property by 10:00am on the morning of departure. Some properties which are managed by the owners have slightly different arrival times and this will be stated on your booking confirmation. All of our cottages require departure by 10am on the day of departure. In some properties early arrivals and late departures may be possible at the last minute, a fee may be required and times must be pre-arranged and agreed before your arrival. Please call us to check if this is possible on 01665 721 380.
Q. Why isn't it possible to enter the property earlier or depart later?
In general the arrival time and departure time stated on your booking confirmation is standard for that property, we will try to be flexible, however particularly on larger properties you have to appreciate that it takes a lot of time and effort by our cleaning teams to ready the property between previous guests departure at 10am and your arrival at 4pm, especially to get things right and to the high standards that we know you will expect. If you do happen to arrive early, you are welcome to leave your vehicle at the property and to go off and explore, but please do not automatically expect to be able to leave luggage in the property or to fill the fridge , if you ask the cleaning team and they say no please do not be offended, we want everything to be just right for your holiday so don't want to rush this very important preparation for your stay.
Q. Who do I contact if any maintenance is required in my cottage while on holiday?
A - Contact numbers for caretakers/owners are in the welcome folder or on the notice board of every cottage, in addition there is an out of hours emergency number given. This may be a mobile number onto which you leave a message, this answerphone system is monitored and responded to accordingly.
Q. Is smoking allowed in any of the cottages?
A - No, all of the cottages are strictly non-smoking.
Q. Do you accommodate young children and babies?
A - In most of the cottages yes, those few that are adult only will be identified on their listing, but they may allow infants under 9 months in a cot, please ask. Some cottages supply Cot, High Chair and Stairgate as standard, others we can arrange for you (charges may apply) Family friendly cottages have toys, children's games and DVDs. If there is something patricular you need to check on, give us a call and we can arrange for these to be supplied in advance.
Note that Cot linen is not included at any of the cottages.
Q. Can I bring my dog with me to the cottage.
A - Cottages which accept dogs are listed on our dog friendly cottages web page and look for the doggy logo on cottage listing, or you can do a specific dog friendly cottage search from the search panel. In cottages which take dogs they are not permitted on the furniture or in the bedrooms. They must not be left unattended in the property unless crated, and persistant barkers will be asked to accompany their humans at all times.
Q. Who do I contact if any maintenance is required in my cottage while on holiday?
A - Contact numbers for caretakers/owners are in the welcome folder or on the notice board of every cottage, in addition there is an out of hours emergency number given. This may be a mobile number onto which you leave a message, this answerphone system is monitored and responded to accordingly.
Q. Is smoking allowed in any of the cottages?
A - No, all of the cottages are strictly non-smoking.
Q. Do you accommodate young children and babies?
A - In most of the cottages yes, those few that are adult only will be identified on their listing, but they may allow infants under 9 months in a cot, please ask. Some cottages supply Cot, High Chair and Stairgate as standard, others we can arrange for you (charges may apply) Family friendly cottages have toys, children's games and DVDs. If there is something patricular you need to check on, give us a call and we can arrange for these to be supplied in advance.
Note that Cot linen is not included at any of the cottages.
Q. Can I bring my dog with me to the cottage.
A - Cottages which accept dogs are listed on our dog friendly cottages web page and look for the doggy logo on cottage listing, or you can do a specific dog friendly cottage search from the search panel. In cottages which take dogs they are not permitted on the furniture or in the bedrooms. They must not be left unattended in the property unless crated, and persistant barkers will be asked to accompany their humans at all times.
Some properties have been give a special "Pets Welcome" grading by Visit Britain and this logo will appear on the property details
Some cottages may have specific requirements in relation to K9 visitors, this will be listed under the special conditions section of the property's web listing. If unsure please contact us on 01665 721380.
Q. Do you have cottages with an open fire
Q. I'm staying for more than 7 nights will you clean my cottage while I'm on holiday?
A - All guests staying for more than 10 nights automatically receive a change of bed linen and towels mid stay. If you also wish to have a mid-stay clean this will be provided free of charge but must be arranged pre-arrival.
Should you require any additional linen/laundry/cleaning we can arrange this, however charges will apply, please give us a call on 01665 721380 we will be happy to help.
Q. Where is the nearest supermarket?
A - Depending on which location you are staying in :
The CO-OP in Seahouses, just three miles from Bamburgh and 2 miles from Beadnell.
Some cottages may have specific requirements in relation to K9 visitors, this will be listed under the special conditions section of the property's web listing. If unsure please contact us on 01665 721380.
Q. Do you have cottages with an open fire
A - Unfortunately not all of our cottages have a fire or a log burner, but many do, you can do a search for "cottages with a fire" on our search facility, which will show those with a fire or with a log burner.
Q. Which is the nearest Hosptial/Dentist/Police Station/Vet?
NHS direct - 08454647
NHS 24 - 08454 24 24 24
Police - Non-999 = 03456 043 043 provide your location to be put through to local facility. (your holiday cottage postcode is on your directions)
Q. Which is the nearest Hosptial/Dentist/Police Station/Vet?
NHS direct - 08454647
NHS 24 - 08454 24 24 24
Police - Non-999 = 03456 043 043 provide your location to be put through to local facility. (your holiday cottage postcode is on your directions)
Dentist's Surgery (Alnwick) - 01665 602 151 or 01665 602 178
Alnorthumbria VET (Alnwick head office & surgery) - 01665 602516 - also part time surgeries in Rothbury 01669 620638; Seahouses 01665 721800; Wooler 01668 281323.
Q. Are towels, linen, pillows and duvets supplied?
A - Yes, your cottage will be fully made for you on arrival. Bedding, linen and towels are provided free of charge, should you require more please ask, (please be aware that additional costs may apply). If you are taking a low occupancy discount, only a certain number of beds/rooms will be made up, this will be pre-arranged with you at the time of booking. If you have any special requirements, please let us know before you arrival and we will be happy to accommodate you. Note that cot linen is not supplied.
Beach towels are available at £2 each, please request at time of booking as quantities are limited.
Q. Are towels, linen, pillows and duvets supplied?
A - Yes, your cottage will be fully made for you on arrival. Bedding, linen and towels are provided free of charge, should you require more please ask, (please be aware that additional costs may apply). If you are taking a low occupancy discount, only a certain number of beds/rooms will be made up, this will be pre-arranged with you at the time of booking. If you have any special requirements, please let us know before you arrival and we will be happy to accommodate you. Note that cot linen is not supplied.
Beach towels are available at £2 each, please request at time of booking as quantities are limited.
Q. I'm staying for more than 7 nights will you clean my cottage while I'm on holiday?
A - All guests staying for more than 10 nights automatically receive a change of bed linen and towels mid stay. If you also wish to have a mid-stay clean this will be provided free of charge but must be arranged pre-arrival.
Should you require any additional linen/laundry/cleaning we can arrange this, however charges will apply, please give us a call on 01665 721380 we will be happy to help.
Q. Where is the nearest supermarket?
A - Depending on which location you are staying in :
The CO-OP in Seahouses, just three miles from Bamburgh and 2 miles from Beadnell.
There is a Morrisons, a Sainsburys, Lidl and a Co-op in Alnwick.
Berwick upon Tweed has a Tesco, Morrisons, M&S Food, and Asda.
Both Tesco and Asda will do home deliveries to the cottages in the area. You can place an order online at www.asda.com or www.tesco.com
Each of our cottages has a shopping guide in the welcome folder for independent shops in the immediate locality.
Q. Where are the nearest pubs and restaurants?
A - There is a wealth of good dining and pub experiences to be had across the whole of Northumberland. We provide a good pub and food guide in all of our cottages and in those properties that accept dogs a Dog friendly pub guide is also included.
Q. Where are the nearest pubs and restaurants?
A - There is a wealth of good dining and pub experiences to be had across the whole of Northumberland. We provide a good pub and food guide in all of our cottages and in those properties that accept dogs a Dog friendly pub guide is also included.
Q. Is there a mobile phone signal at my cottage?
A - This will depend on its location, and the provider you use. Generally T-Mobile and Orange have the best reception on the North Northumberland Coast. Note that Fairhaugh does not have mobile signal within a 2 mile radius of the house. We are currently preparing a mobile signal guide for each property and a list of reception will appear on each properties listing as we compile it.
Q. Is there Internet access at my cottage?
A - Each property listing will state if there is interent access, this may be wi-fi or may be wired. Public Internet access is available at the following places:
Beadnell - The Craster Arms, The Beadnell Towers Hotel.
Bamburgh - The Victoria Hotel
Seahouses - The North Sunderland & Seahouses Trust office on the main roundabout, The Library next to the school on Main Street, North Sunderland.
Q. I see you do short breaks, will you allow a 1 night booking?
A - Where a property allows short breaks there will be a minimum cost associated with the booking. If you wish to arrive for just one night this is perfectly acceptable but the minimum booking cost will still apply. It may be possible to arrive earlier in the day and depart later in the day than the normal times on these occasions and you should make your booking by telephone in order to discuss specific arrangements.