A cottage welcome book does a lot of quiet work. It gets guests down the right lane, warms them up on the first evening and sends them to the pub you would recommend to a friend. Here is a complete checklist, organised the way guests experience their stay.
In this guide
Before arrival
- Full address, postcode and what3words, plus a note if sat-navs get it wrong
- Directions for the last mile, with photos of tricky turnings
- Check-in time and the best time to arrive in daylight
- Where to park, and how many cars fit
- Mobile signal, so guests can download directions before they lose it
Arrival
- Key safe location and code (kept private until guests need it)
- Which door to use
- Light switches guests will need in the dark
- A short welcome message from you
Inside the cottage
- Wi-Fi network and password
- TV, streaming and sound system
- Kitchen appliances, especially the oven, Aga or range
- Washing machine, dryer and dishwasher
- Where to find spare bedding, towels and toilet rolls
- Bins, recycling and collection days
Heating, fires and hot water
- Thermostat and boiler or oil-fired heating controls
- Immersion heater and how long hot water takes
- Log burner or open fire: how to light it, what fuel to use, and where logs and kindling are
- Carbon monoxide alarm location
Outside, gardens and hot tubs
- Garden furniture and barbecue rules
- Hot tub instructions, cover, chemicals and safety, including children and alcohol
- Outdoor lighting and gates to keep shut for livestock or dogs
Dogs
- How many dogs, and which rooms are allowed
- Towels for muddy paws and where to wash them
- Local walks, livestock and where dogs must be on a lead
- Dog-friendly pubs, cafés and beaches nearby
- The nearest vet
Local favourites
This is what turns a booking into a memory. Pick a handful you genuinely recommend and say why: the pub with the best Sunday roast, the walk with a view at the top, the farm shop for breakfast supplies, a rainy-day plan. Our guide to writing local recommendations has a simple template.
Safety and emergencies
- What to do if the fire alarm sounds, the escape route and assembly point
- Fire blanket and extinguisher locations
- Fuse box and stopcock
- Nearest A&E, minor injuries unit and pharmacy
- Your number and an emergency contact
See our guide to fire safety information for guests.
Checkout
- Checkout time
- What to do before leaving: dishwasher, bins, heating, windows
- Where to leave the key
- A thank-you, a review prompt and how to book again with you directly, where your booking channel allows
Keeping it current
The weakest point of any printed welcome book is that it starts going out of date the day you print it. A key safe code changes, a restaurant closes, the boiler is replaced. A digital welcome book fixes that: you edit once, every guest sees the change, and you can send it before arrival so guests know what to expect. See how Welcomly works for holiday cottages or open the live demo.
Put this into practice in minutes.
Free to build. 30 days free when you publish. £4.99 a month after that.
