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Sleeps: 6
First letting through The Travel Chapter: 2018
Healthcare professionals Dave and Charlyne moved to South Wales with their two young children from South East England in early 2018. They were lured by the outdoor lifestyle and the opportunity to raise their children in a community with strong family values and a clean, beautiful environment.
Dancing Stones is a sympathetic, modern, ‘upside-down’ extension to the main Georgian house, with stunning views of the sea and fields. Asked what particularly drew them to the house, they say, “We were attracted by the cottage that came with the property as we felt it would be a wonderful place to share with friends and family, and realised it would also be a potential source of holiday letting income.”
Of course, the couple needed to be sure that owning a holiday property made financial sense. Dave explains that, “We were careful to research whether it was financially worthwhile to invest in a property that included a holiday let. We contacted The Travel Chapter prior to purchasing our home and received a forecast of income for the holiday let.” That helped to confirm that holiday letting would be sufficiently viable financially for them to make the move.
Having taken the plunge, the choice of location has been critical to the venture’s success. Southerndown is a small seaside village with spectacular local beaches. Dunraven Bay is within easy walking distance, has a beautiful walled garden and is the gateway to the Heritage Coast. Ogmore-by-Sea beach is dog friendly year-round and attracts people who enjoy water sports.
“It has a wonderful duality, feeling quiet and rural while having the convenience of proximity to an international airport and the country’s capital and with easy connections to the South East as well as West Wales.”
There are many places to visit – including castles and historic houses - and plenty for the more actively inclined, including horse riding, surfing, cycling, and walking. Southerndown is also just 10 minutes from Bridgend, a large town with many amenities, and about half an hour to Cardiff and Swansea. The Gower and Brecon Beacons are also close at hand.
The couple believes that Dancing Stones itself ticks many of the boxes for holidaymakers. Its location – within walking distance of the beach and the popular village pub and restaurant – is an obvious draw. They also feel that welcoming guests with dogs, who appreciate the “spectacular local walks”, and the fact that the house has many character features such as a wood burner has helped them to achieve both higher rates and better annual occupancy.
They also wanted Dancing Stones to be able to cater for various combinations of guests, so they offer flexible accommodation with room for up to six people, with a large open plan upper living area and a private garden with outdoor seating.
Dave and Charlyne have also recognised the need for flexibility in the length of stays they offer, especially outside the summer months. In fact, short breaks now account for 28% of holiday bookings made with The Travel Chapter owners in Wales, so a willingness to vary changeover days can boost occupancy.
“Being flexible in the way our property is booked in the off-season, so changeover does not need to be a particular day, is helpful in attracting guests.”
And finally, the little extras go a long way. For Charlyne that means, “Providing beach towels, some beach equipment and a sled for going down the Big Dipper sand dune at Merthyr Mawr.” They recognise that touches of this kind help to encourage repeat bookings.
Dancing Stones has been a real success for Dave and Charlyne. So what advice would they pass on to anybody thinking of setting off on the holiday let journey themselves? They suggest, “Doing your research carefully and making a spreadsheet to consider how you will manage maintenance, changeovers and expenses. Analyse the ways you could present your property in an attractive way year-round.”
And once you are underway, “getting to know your property and the guests you are attracting is vital. Find a reliable and consistent cleaner and tweak until changeover runs as close to clockwork as possible. Also, know how to remedy the occasional problem quickly and with least inconvenience to your guests.”
Overall, the couple are very happy with their decision to let the property through The Travel Chapter. Dave says that, “Currently we are thrilled with the year-round occupancy of the holiday cottage facilitated by The Travel Chapter. We feel its success is due to the excellent communication, interaction and the quality of The Travel Chapter brand.”
Looking to the future, Dave and Charlyne intend to keep the property as a holiday let and hope to upgrade it over time, for example by updating the bathrooms and flooring.
While the financial aspect of owning a holiday let is obviously key, the couple is keen to highlight other benefits.
“It has offered us the flexibility in our lifestyle to work in our professions part time and spend more time with our young family. We find it a pleasure to share our property as we have a passion for Southerndown; it is a hidden gem of a holiday destination”.