Help
You may find the help you need in the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Before booking
- Can I book a short break?
- Are there any last minute discounts available?
- How do I find a cottage to suit my needs?
- Do you have any cottages with easier access?
- How do I find cottages that are next to each other?
- Do I have to pay extra if I bring my dog?
- Which beaches allow dogs?
- If the cottage page says ‘No pets’, can I be sure no pets have been there?
- How do I ask the cottage owner a question?
- Are the prices shown per person or per cottage?
- How do I make a booking if I don't have an email address?
- Do you charge a booking fee?
- What is the star grading?
- Why doesn't the cottage have a star grading?
- Can we book a cottage for more than the number it sleeps?
- Can we book even though none of us are 18 or over?
- Do we need to bring our own bed linen and towels?
- Are beach towels supplied?
- Does the cottage have a cot and highchair in it?
- Is cot bedding provided?
- Does the cottage have central heating?
- Do we have to pay any extra charges?
- What are the check in and check out times at the cottage?
- Why do you advise me to have holiday insurance?
- Do you sell holiday insurance?
After booking
- I booked online so why haven't I had an email?
- Why wasn't I asked for my card details?
- How do I pay for the holiday?
- Did my payment arrive?
- Can I change my holiday dates?
- Can I bring more people or pets than I originally booked for?
- How do I cancel my booking?
- Do I get any money back if I cancel?
- How do I get directions to the cottage?
- Can I have the cottage's post code for my Sat Nav?
- How do I get a key to the cottage?
- Can we arrive earlier than the check in time?
- Can we leave later than the check out time?
- Can we have some friends to stay overnight while we're at the cottage?
- Can I change my holiday dates?
- What can I do if something doesn't work at the cottage?
- How do I send feedback about the cottage?
- How do I make a complaint about a cottage?
- How do I give feedback about your website or service?
- When do I get my damages deposit back?
Before booking
Can I book a short break?
Yes, many of our cottages are available for short breaks. See Short Breaks for details of how to book a short break.
Are there any last minute discounts available?
Yes, lots of owners apply late availability discounts to their cottage prices. They can log in and amend the rental price so the one showing on the cottage availability chart may already have had a discount applied.
How do I find a cottage to suit my needs?
Go to the Search page where you can use as many of the search options as you need to find the cottages which meet your requirements. If you'd like any help, please just call.
Do you have any cottages with easier access?
Yes, we have many cottages which have a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. You can find them by selecting the 'Ground floor bed + bathroom' option on the Search page. If you'd like help to find a property which meets your requirements, please call or email and we'll be very happy to help.
Many cottages display an Access Statement which can provide additional information about the property. If you have any questions which are not answered on the website, please call or email and if we don't know the answer, we'll ask the owner.
How do I find cottages that are next to each other?
Go to our Groups of Cottages page.
Do I have to pay extra if I bring my dog?
It depends on the cottage owner. Any charge will be mentioned on the cottage details page.
Which beaches allow dogs?
Most beaches allow dogs from October to April. Some have restrictions in the summer months. The county councils list the beaches and any dog restrictions:
- Pembrokeshire beaches (opens in a new window)
- Ceredigion beaches (opens in a new window)
- Carmarthenshire beaches (opens in a new window)
If the cottage page says 'No pets', can I be sure no pets have been there?
No. There may have been a pet allowed under special circumstances. If it is important to you that no pets have been in the cottage, please check with the owner or with us before you book.
How do I ask the cottage owner a question?
Check if there's a 'Contact Owner' tab on the cottage's page. If so, you can go there to find the owner's contact details. If the owner doesn't display their contact details, then just contact us and we'll pass your question on to them.
Are the prices shown per person or per cottage?
The prices are per cottage. Some owners vary the prices depending on the number in the party, offering a Couple's Discount for example, but this will be shown on the cottage details page.
How do I make a booking if I don't have an email address?
Just call us on 01239 810033 and we'll take your details over the phone. We'll then print the Booking Information and post it to you.
Do you charge a booking fee?
No. All of our service is provided free of charge to visitors. We don't charge administration fees for handling your enquiry or amending your booking either.
What is the star grading?
Star gradings are awarded by Visit Wales (used to be the Welsh Tourist Board) following an inspection. They say 'the stars reflect the facilities and overall quality of the experience'. Visit Wales say this is what the star ratings mean:
- * Simple, practical, no frills
- ** Well presented and well run
- *** Good level of quality and comfort
- **** Excellent standard throughout
- ***** Exceptional with a degree of luxury
Why doesn't the cottage have a star grading?
Visit Wales only inspect and grade accommodation at the owners request and they charge a fee each time. Some cottage owners choose not to have a grading because they don't find it justifies the expense or because they don't agree with the grading criteria.
Can we book a cottage for more than the number it sleeps?
Usually, no. Occupancy levels are limited by the number covered by the owner's insurance and to exceed those levels would invalidate the insurance. A few owners have cover for higher numbers but choose to advertise for smaller parties. Please ask the owner or contact us before if booking to find out if a larger party can be accommodated.
Can we book even though none of us are 18 or over?
No. Sorry but a guest must be 18 or over in order to enter into the booking contract.
Do we need to bring our own bed linen and towels?
It depends on the cottage. Look at the cottage details page to find out if these are provided.
Are beach towels supplied?
No, please bring your own.
Does the cottage have a cot and highchair in it?
It depends on the cottage. See if it is mentioned on the cottage details page and if not, ask us and we'll find out.
Is cot bedding provided?
No. Even if a cottage does have a cot, guests will need to supply the cot bedding and linen.
Does the cottage have central heating?
It depends on the cottage. See if it is mentioned on the cottage details page and if not, ask us and we'll find out.
Do we have to pay any extra charges?
You will pay the rental and any other charges the owner has listed on the details page. The booking Terms and Conditions set out the circumstances when you might have to pay more. Wales Holiday Cottages don't charge a booking fee or any fees for handling your enquiry or amending your booking.
What are the check in and check out times at the cottage?
It depends on the cottage but the most common times are probably 10 am and 4 pm. The owner will send you details of the times after you have booked. If you need to know before booking, please ask the owner or contact us.
Why do you advise me to have holiday insurance?
Insurance cover can help you avoid losing money if you have to cancel your holiday or if the cottage owner has to cancel for reasons beyond their control. Depending on your circumstances, you may need insurance to help pay for medical treatment or for loss or damage to your belongings, for example.
Do you sell holiday insurance?
No. We strongly advise you to ensure you are covered by holiday insurance but we don't sell it.
After booking
I booked online so why haven't I had an email?
Your Booking Information email is sent out automatically when you complete the booking. If you don't see it in your inbox, try looking in your Junk or Spam folder. If you entered the address incorrectly when you made the booking, the email won't reach you. Contact us and we'll send you another copy.
It is possible that someone else was completing the booking form for the same dates at the same time as you. If they finished just before you, they will have secured the booking and so you won't get an email. Although this is possible, it rarely happens.
Why wasn't I asked for my card details?
We don't take any payments from you. We don't charge a booking fee and you send the rental direct to the owner.
How do I pay for the holiday?
You pay the owner direct. The payment methods they accept are shown on the cottage details page and in your Booking Information email.
Did my payment arrive?
We don't know because you sent it direct to the cottage owner. You'll need to check with the owner to see if they received it.
Can I change my holiday dates?
If the cottage is available, the owners may be willing to move your booking to a different date. There may be an additional cost. Please ask the owner.
Can I bring more people or pets than I originally booked for?
Only if you get the owner's agreement before your arrival. Otherwise the owner is entitled to make you leave the property before the end of your holiday, without any refund.
How do I cancel my booking?
Phone the cottage owner and then confirm by email or in writing. Please send us a copy using the address on the Contact Us page.
Do I get any money back if I cancel?
Your non-refundable deposit is – not surprisingly – non-refundable. So you don't get that back. According to the booking Terms and Conditions, the owner is entitled to keep all payments and to recover the balance if unpaid. If you sent a refundable damages deposit, that will be returned if you cancel before the start of the holiday.
How do I get directions to the cottage?
The owner will send you them. They are usually sent once the final payment has been received.
Can I have the cottage's post code for my Sat Nav?
That is in your Booking Information email.
How do I get a key to the cottage?
The owner will give you details on how to get into the cottage. It's different for each cottage and we don't hold those details.
Can we arrive earlier than the check in time?
Usually, no. There is a lot of work to do to prepare the cottage for your arrival and the cleaner or owner may be busy right up until check in time. If you want to request an earlier check in, you'll need to contact the owner well in advance and get their agreement.
Can we leave later than the check out time?
Usually, no. After you leave, the cleaner or owner may have only a few hours to prepare the cottage for the next guests. If you want to request a later check out time, you'll need to contact the owner well in advance and get their agreement.
Can we have some friends to stay overnight while we're at the cottage?
Only with the specific agreement of the owner. Otherwise you are breaking the contract and according to the booking Terms and Conditions, the owner is entitled to make you leave the property before the end of your holiday, without any refund.
What can I do if something doesn't work at the cottage?
Please let the owner know right away. They'll do all they can to have it put right as soon as possible.
Can I change my holiday dates?
If the cottage is available, the owners may be willing to move your booking to a different date. There may be an additional cost. Please ask the owner.
How do I send feedback about the cottage?
- You can write in the cottage Visitor Book while you are there.
- You can email or write to the owner.
- You can email or write to us. See our contact details.
How do I make a complaint about a cottage?
If you are dissatisfied with an aspect of the cottage, please contact the owner while you are there to give them the opportunity to put things right so you can enjoy your stay.
If you need to complain after your stay, do so in writing to the owner within 7 days, in accordance with the booking Terms and Conditions.
The owner manages the cottage so they are the one who can handle your complaint. West Wales Holiday Cottages don't manage any of the cottages so we're not able to respond to any complaint about them. But we do expect the cottages to meet visitors' reasonable expectations so if you think there's something we should know about for our records, please email us at enquiries@westwalesholidaycottages.co.uk
How do I give feedback about your website or service?
Please us one of the means on the Contact Us page. We welcome all feedback because it helps us improve our service.
When do I get my damages deposit back?
Contact the owner to ask because it depends on their policy and on whether any part of it is being withheld. If the owner lives near the cottage, they should be able to inspect it before or soon after your departure but owners that live far away may not be able to visit the cottage immediately.