Just returned from a Cottages4U holiday in Dorset and it was excellent value. Went to Devon last year with them and, once again, no complaints. Not sure about France though.

Just returned from holiday with country cottages / cottages 4 you. very dissapointed with the holiday accomodation, this was graded as a for 4 star cottage suitable for family and 1 pet, cost £740.00 for 1 week .The cottage looks very nice on the internet but when we arrived the location of the property is not good, standing at the bottom of a terraced st with no where to park except 3 doors away outside a neighbours garage surrounded by wheelie bins. to top it off NO garden except an alley way. Reading through the guest book a previous guest had their car window smashed for parking in someones parking place, I would like to add we didnt see any trouble. Country Cottages have replied to my complaint and confirmed this place is a 4 star and was inspected in Feb 2008, they have not received any complaints regarding this property. I wounder what their 2 star propertys are like? The First and last time for us with country cottages, I did take a picture of the rear garden ( alley way ) and asked them to be honest with the discription and put this picture on the brochure.

Why not look at booking direct with owner via various sites such as - holiday lettings and owners direct. You may get better value for money. Alternatively look at Hoseasons cottages.

Pippa

I booked a cottage with French Country Cottages part of cottages4you (part of the RCI group) in February 2008 and cancelled it a few weeks later. As a result I forfeited the deposit of £49.74 I had paid. I was unhappy about losing this deposit. Administration costs for an internet booking are less than £49.74.

But I have now received an invoice for an additional amount of £441.00 as the balance of the deposit according to their terms and conditions! Buried in the fine print of the terms and conditions is the explanation that the initial deposit (of £49.74) is a "discounted deposit" and if I cancel, the balance of the deposit £441.00 is payable. This is an unfair business practice and to add insult to injury, the cottage I cancelled has now been rented out for the same period to someone else. So neither the owner nor cottages4you are going to be losing any money because of this cancellation.

I spoke to a call center person and his supervisor who said that the matter was in the hands of the credit control department, the money was payable and it would serve no purpose to speak to a more senior manager as the terms and conditions were clear. Cottages4you do not consider this policy to be unfair and this is standard company policy. No explanation was given about the reason for these excessive cancellation fees. I was advised to try to claim the money from my travel insurance if the reason for the cancellation qualified. Unfortunately the reason is a personal one related to an event one of my children was invited to participate in. I explained that the cancellation costs could not be claimed from my insurer and the supervisor confirmed that the fees were still payable by me.

I consider this "discounted deposit" business practice as unfair and the advice to pay them then claim from my travel insurance is also dodgy.

Be sure you will not need to cancel if you book through this company!

Wow, that is awful, such a huge amount of money to lose. It seems really unfair, but thanks for bringing matter to my attention. I think I'm changing my mind about the whole cottage booking anyway, it seems safer to go on package holidays. Lesley

Hi wevillm ... I can appreciate your frustration and anger. However, this is not just company policy, it seems to be standard policy within much of the travel industry when 'low' or 'discounted' deposits are involved. Hopefully your unfortunate and expensive experience may serve as another warning to holidaymakers to read booking terms and conditions thoroughly in advance.

There are obviously certain circumstances which might have allowed you to claim from your travel insurance policy in the event of cancellation, and so their advice in that respect should perhaps not be considered as dodgy.

David

This serves as a warning to always read the small print. And yes, it is common knowledge that if you pay a reduced or low deposit then should you cancel, the balance of what would have been the normal deposit is payable.

There are companies that offer cancellation insurance - Hoseasons are one.

Don't dismiss Owners Direct - you deal direct with the owners not via a company.

Pippa

I agree with you Pippa. I enjoy the cottage type holiday, will continue to book them and have had good experiences with Owners Direct.