Words by Hannah Tapping
Letting locations speak for themselves; retreats to nourish mind, body and soul.
When it comes to holiday expertise, John Bray Cornish Holidays boasts over half a century of experience specialising in holiday letting across north Cornwall. With a strong ethos of offering owners and customers the finest holiday letting experience, their dedicated team of experts, based in Port Isaac and Rock, is on hand to take care of all aspects of holiday letting, from property management and maintenance to bookings and administration.
Taking the strain from selecting your stay, John Bray Cornish Holidays’ array of luxury properties means that no matter the group size or generation, there is one to suit. Take, for example, The Bakehouse in Port Isaac. Whether you are planning an anniversary getaway, a mini break for two, or simply a week to recharge with your partner, this is the ultimate romantic retreat. Cosy, traditional and offering character and charm in abundance, this bolt hole has been beautifully renovated while maintaining original features including beamed ceilings and thick stone walls. Situated just metres from the harbour and beach, couples can spend long days strolling the South West Coast Path, before returning for dinner in one of the fabulous local eateries, or simply to relax together beside the woodburner.
Exploring north Cornwall’s coastline affords an endless natural adventure playground, where quality time can be spent together as a family. Finding family-friendly holiday homes is child’s play with John Bray Cornish Holidays, as they handpick properties which offer amenities perfect for a group with children.
Seahaven in Port Isaac is a spacious, immaculately presented house that has been carefully styled by an interior designer. Sleeping ten guests and a well-behaved dog, there is room for all in this desirable seaside sanctuary. There are breathtaking ocean views towards Tintagel Head, best experienced from the landscaped gardens and the open-plan living area. Head to the beach for the day, before returning for a social evening cooking on the stone barbecue and relaxing in the stylish outside space.
Nestled in Daymer Bay, just a stone’s throw from the beach, is Greystones. This magnificent property, designed with entertainment and group socialising in mind, makes gathering with friends or perhaps a multi-generational family looking to spend quality time together, effortless. On sunny days, spill out onto the garden where you can play a game of table tennis on the outdoor table, or lounge around the firepit. In the evenings, why not head inside to watch a film in Greystones’ very own cinema room! With so much space both inside and out, guests are free to join together whilst still having room to enjoy individual pursuits.
For a luxury pet-friendly getaway, Albany in Port Isaac is as delightful as it is desirable. Styled to an exquisite standard throughout, this coastal cottage is a short walk from the village’s shops, harbourside and beach. The contemporary living area with wood-burning stove is the place to unwind together, whilst the master bedroom boasts stunning views from the balcony. Perch in the room’s hanging chair whilst reading your book, with the marine vista as your backdrop, and you will feel instantly at peace. With a garage to park one car and a picture-perfect back garden with sea views and a lawn, this is a superb dog-friendly holiday home.
Owners are as much a priority as guests at John Bray Cornish Holidays and so they believe that there are a number of key features that will make your holiday property stand out to the increasingly discerning customer. First and foremost is its location. Whether the property offers stunning views of the north-Cornwall coastline, or has far-reaching views across open countryside or farmland, one thing is for sure: holiday homes with an outlook sell. They advise that you think of your property as a holiday destination in itself and be sure to make the best of these features.
There are a number of other locational factors that guests consider important when booking a holiday, with 34% preferring accommodation close to the beach, 33% wanting to be near to shops and 25% choosing to be close to pubs and restaurants. If your property ticks any of these boxes, it will set it in good stead for success, making it more appealing than other properties in less well-located spots. With reference to property features, over the last 12 months owners have found properties with hot tubs can earn 37% more and properties with wi-fi earn 26% more. 32% of people are also looking for good outdoor space or a garden. Lastly, Google searches for holiday cottages with EV chargers have increased by 20% year on year. Investment in any or all of these areas will pay dividends in terms of increased appeal and income, making your self-catering accommodation stand out from the crowd in Cornwall’s increasingly competitive holiday letting landscape.
There is no doubt about it, the holiday letting landscape is constantly changing and evolving. Competition in the industry is fierce and with the economic climate as it is, securing a good level of year-round bookings has never been more essential for owners. With this in mind, John Bray Cornish Holidays is proud to deliver a service to their owners that is second-to-none, both in terms of consistent bookings and excellent property management.
In light of the ever-evolving needs and requirements of customers, understanding the importance of industry-leading marketing, including offering flexible booking options is key. So, what does this look like for John Bray Cornish Holidays? Recently, initiatives have included a free cancellation option and a low deposit booking scheme, both of which have made booking holidays more accessible to guests. An eight-figure marketing budget ensures the portfolio is visible across multiple media platforms, including partner sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com. This, coupled with their ability to offer customers flexibility, is key to securing high numbers of year-round bookings for owners.
In addition to this marketing exposure, all brands in the Sykes Holiday Cottages family offer dynamic pricing tools, giving owners the ability to maximise their income as well as booking numbers. Prices can be automatically adjusted in line with demand by analysing searches, booking trends and individual property performance. Owners that utilise dynamic pricing tools see, on average, six additional bookings and 24% more revenue. Similarly, those that take advice on where their base price should sit, earn on average 16% more revenue than owners who set their own pricing.
It’s this level of detail, both in terms of guests and owners, that has always been at the heart of John Bray Cornish Holidays, making them an outstanding holiday letting option for owners with properties across north Cornwall.