Hi All,
I would like to plan a visit to UK (Norfolk/Great Yarmouth area) with a family member over the summer. Our stay would be roughly 8-10 weeks. I'm having trouble understanding our boarding options. E.g. can we rent a flat OR are Holiday Lets our only option? My other question is are there services such as a rental agency for holiday lets, where a person will find what you're looking for and setup your booking for a fee? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
It would be unusual to find a lease on a normal flat with a period of only 2 or 2 and a half months.
Does your family member have any leads?
While you might not be able to find a long-term rental for just 2 or 2 1/2 months, you might be able to negotiate a substantial discount on a holiday (short term) rental for that length of time.
I would start by searching for rental agents other than the big short term sites (HomeAway, HolidayLettins, etc.). When you find rental managers in the area your needing, reach out to them via call or email and explain your situation. They may have some ideas...
Hi mwaldron1984,
In addition to the above responses:
Sounds like you are looking for self-catering, that is a search term that may help you.
Have you looked on Air BnB? There are several "whole house" rentals for Great Yarmouth. Whole house in Air BnB language can be a flat in some cases.
Here is another booking website and I'm sure it's just one of several like this.
http://www.cottagesdirect.co.uk
Have you tried the local Tourist Information? http://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/where-to-stay/self-catering.aspx
and for Norfolk: http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/ (also has a Where to Stay search engine).
Perhaps if these finding services aren't what you are looking for, you can use them as an example and say what they are missing. Then maybe someone can help you find the thing you want ;-)
Have a wonderful time.
Cheers,
Jill
Hi,
I am from the East Anglia area and travel back home to visit family every year. I usually rent a cottage for a week or two. Try http://Ownersdirect.co.uk. or Cottages.com. I always find that a cottages works out a little cheaper than a B&B or hotel for the vacation time. You don't say how many people and what time of year you plan on going. That will have a definite impact on price and availability, I have not ever had a problem booking cottages on these sites here from the USA and I have stayed in some fabulous cottages with them.
There are also Holiday sites or caravan parks (Think RV and camping areas) around Great Yarmouth as its a popular destination for British holiday makers. The "caravans" are sometimes called "static caravans" and look like what we would call here in the USA a trailer. But they are just used for vacations and are quite acceptable to stay in and are usually on a site with a pool and other amenities. They may be a little harder to book here from. the USA.
I would research the specific area you want to stay in - personally I don't much care for Great Yarmouth itself. I would prefer somewhere near the Norfolk Broads to stay. But depends on what you are looking for and what is best for meeting up with your family member.
Great Yarmouth is not worth visiting. I drove through and did not even bother to get out of the car. Although not a seaside town, Norwich is worth a visit or a place to use as a base for East Anglia. It is also more central. The coast of East Anglia is rather monotonous. Other coasts - such as Pembrokeshire, Dorset and Cornwall - to name just three, are far more varied. That said, Southwold and Woodbridge are quite nice and East Anglia has some fine National Trust properties and the Royal estate at Sandringham.
Sorry, but James is talking rubbish - the East Anglia coast is not monotonous! Granted, the coast around Great Yarmouth isn't that exciting, but there are some gorgeous beaches on the North Norfolk coast, e.g. around Blakeney, Holkham etc. Take a boat trip out from Blakeney to see the seals.
Norwich is a good base. Airbnb tends to work out expensive over here - there are lots of holiday letting companies that have cottages, such as norfolkcottages.co.uk or sykescottages.co.uk. You could also try norfolktouristinformation.com or visitnorfolk.co.uk. Properties nearer to the coast will be more expensive. There are lots of caravan parks around Great Yarmouth, which would be cheaper.
There don't tend to be agents that find holiday properties for you, as Brits search online themselves.
By law, residential lettings have to be for a period of six months with a minimum 2 month period and the landlords take up references etc which is costly and many are unfurnished or partially furnished.
You may find someone prepared to grant a discount on a holiday property, but it sounds as though you will be there peak season, so your issues are that the best will already have been booked and they are less likely to give discounts when they know they can get full price.
