UK self-catering offers best value for 2009

Booking a self-catering property in the UK is the best value holiday this year according to West Country cottage agency, Helpful Holidays, who have just introduced 40 new holiday homes in their latest colour supplement.

With prices from just under £25 per person per week, Helpful Holidays have nearly 650 places to stay ranging from romantic retreats for two, farm cottages and waterside homes to large country houses on private estates for up to 70 guests.

Today’s holiday homes have every modern convenience and most have microwaves and dishwashers ensuring family meals can be prepared with minimum effort. Dining in the comfort of your own cottage is far more economical than eating out and you can enjoy a bottle of wine without agreeing beforehand who will drive home!

All holidaymakers receive a free ‘What shall we do today?’ booklet containing nearly 85 discount vouchers for use at a huge range of attractions throughout the West Country. It also gives information on local farmers’ markets to ensure you can get some of the top quality local produce to enjoy in your holiday home plus the agency’s recommendations for the best beaches, coast and country walks and special places to visit.

For those short of time, Helpful Holidays are also introducing two-night breaks with a late 6pm check-out available from October to the week before Easter 2010, and at other times for last minute reservations on selected properties. They can only be booked within 28 days of departure.

Highlights in the new supplement include Garden Cottage, a single-storey, retreat for two at Woodleigh, an off-the-beaten track village in south Devon from £98pppw and Little Gate Cottage, a picture-postcard thatched cottage with an old inglenook and ancient beams sleeping four on Dartmoor from £62pppw.

For larger families Moonrakers, near St Mawes castle on south Cornwall’s coast has space for eight from £116pppw, while Merryfield near Ashburton on Dartmoor’s south-eastern edge sleeps twelve from £52pppw. And for holidaymakers seeking activities on their doorstep, there are four beautifully furnished granite lodges each sleeping six within the grounds of Dartmoor’s Bovey Castle with use of the hotel’s sports facilities, spa and restaurants from £112pppw. Many also welcome pets.

For more information and to book online, see helpfulholidays.com.