Frequently asked questions

Q. Standards – what can we expect and how are they maintained?

A. Our reputation is central to our success and we will go to great lengths to protect it. That’s why we strive to ensure your experience with us is a pleasurable one, that your holiday cottage is of the highest standard, that it offers value for money and, above all, you return to us for years to come.
The key to our success is in the selection and quality of our properties. The criteria we use in deciding whether to include a property cannot be rigidly itemised. That’s why we try to capture the essence of each property as fully as possible in a combination of words and pictures. Each property also has the added benefit of being supervised personally by the owner or house manager and ourselves, who know each property well and visit them on a regular basis.
But of course, it’s what you think that counts. That’s why we welcome your comments and take all feedback – positive and negative – very seriously. By gathering your comments we can monitor cottage quality to ensure standards are maintained and in many cases improved. There will be a holiday questionnaire in your cottage that will be returned to our office at the end of your holiday. All comments, positive and negative, are summarised monthly and forwarded to the cottage owner. Any under-performing cottages are monitored closely.
Some of our properties have been independently inspected by the Scottish Tourist Board and awarded quality ‘Star’ ratings from 1 to 5 . Quite simply, the more ‘stars’, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect to find.

Furnishings and Equipment

Q. Will our cottage contain everything we need?
A. Though not every holiday cottage is equipped to the same standard, all our properties have everything you need for an enjoyable holiday and many offer far more than most would reasonably expect.
But regardless of size, age and location, all will have hot water, bathrooms and flushing WCs; kitchens will have all the utensils and appliances you would expect for every day use; well-furnished sitting rooms will have enough comfortable chairs for the maximum number accommodated and so will the dining table. There is a coloured TV in all the houses except for Rudh Dubh and Old Kilmory Church. The internal photographs on the property’s web site entry give an indication of the standards to be found. If you would like a more details of equipment a particular property, then check the description and detail pdf’s on the property page.

Q. Dogs – can we take our dog with us?
A. Dogs are allowed in most of our cottages – please check the ‘Details’ on the property web page- though we cannot accept responsibility for their safety. Dogs are only accepted on the understanding that they are kept under control, exercised off the premises, kept out of bedrooms and off the furniture and that they are never left in the property unattended. To help you choose your property we indicate in the description if it has an enclosed garden; however, this does not necessarily mean it will be totally escape-proof – very few gardens would pass this test. You should also bear in mind that many beaches ban all dogs (apart from guide dogs) during the summer months. Please remember to inform Steading Holidays of the details of all pets accompanying you, there is a Dog Supplement of £20 per week per dog. Normally a maximum of 2 dogs is allowed per let, but this is subject to negotiation.

Q. Linen – what is provided?
A. Linen: All properties have duvets, blankets and pillows. Keepers West, Old Kilmory Church, Grigadale, The Byre and Dondies linen is inclusive. Most of the other properties offer a Linen & Towel Service @£15.00 per double bed, £10 per single bed. Please note that no linen is supplied for cots. Where towels are provided, they must not be removed from the property and you must remember to bring your own beach towels.

Q. Fuel and Electricity- are they included in the holiday price?
A. Most of the properties the electricity is charged at cost, except for Old Kilmory Church, Grigadale and The Byre where it is inclusive. A electricitly slip with the cost per unit on it, will be in your house along with your questionarie, please read the meter on arrival and departure. Leave cash or a cheque payable to the Owner for the electricity. Where the owner provides logs/coal, there can be a charge during the Winter months.
The hot water, heating (if necessary) and fridge/freezer(s) will be on for your arrival.

Q. Price – how much will our holiday cottage cost?
A. Please check the tariff.

Q. Payment – how do we pay for our holiday?
A. The deposit payable is one third of the total rental due for the holiday, once we have received your deposit your booking is secure. The balance of the rental is due 6 weeks before the start of the holiday. Where you are booking within six weeks of the start date of the holiday we require full payment at the time of booking.

Q. Arrival and Departure – what time can we arrive and when do we have to leave?
A. Lettings commence at 4.00 pm on the first day of your holiday (usually a Saturday) and end at 10.00 am on the day of departure, This House Manager has sufficient time to prepare the cottage for incoming guests. If you are planning to leave earlier than the departure date could you advise the House Manager.

Q. Short Breaks – can I book a short/weekend break?
A. Short Breaks, out of high season, are available in some of our properties. Subject to negotiation, the minimum stay is 3 nights at a minimum cost of £160.
The price for 3 nights is 60% of the relevant weekly rate; for 4 nights, 70%; for 5 nights, 80%; & for 6 nights, 90%

Q. Changing the Holiday – what happens if we want to make changes to our holiday?
A. In the first instance please call us to discuss the changes. If it’s possible to accommodate them, we’ll be happy to help.
Changes to an already booked holiday involve extra work and we will need the client to pay an administration fee.

Q. Cancellation – what happens if I need to cancel my holiday?
A. Cancellations must be notified to Steading Holidays immediately by telephone or e-mail, and subsequent cancellation confirmed by e-mail or post. If the holiday is uninsured, regretfully Steading Holidays can only give a refund, if the property is re-let, minus a £25 administration charge from the price charged for any re-let.

Q. Booking Conditions – what are they?
A. When you make a booking you enter into a legal contract with the owner of the holiday property. The Booking Conditions are shown on our web site and must be agreed to before your booking.

Q. Problems – what do we do if something unexpected occurs?
A. Steading Holidays will do everything possible to ensure you have an enjoyable stay, but occasionally things go wrong. If a problem occurs you should, in the first instance, contact the owner/housemanager. Any problem must be reported immediately, as you will appreciate that complaints made after your occupancy cannot be verified.

Q. Discounts-do you offer discounts?
A. All Discounts are not applicable during Easter, Whitsun, July, August, Christmas and New Year and are subject to negotiation.
10% Discount is sometimes available when booking a 6 person property and party does not exceed 2 people, if you are making 4 weeks or more booking, long lets during the Winter and last minute bookings.

Q. What happens if we experience problems with our house?
A. Any problems with the self catering property , must be reported straight away to the House Manager or Steading Holidays, we can not be expected to resolve or refund at a latter date. Also owing to the remoteness, and consequently the difficulty of contacting available trades people, we’d be very greateful if you could tell us, as soon as possible, of any tiems in the house that need replaced or repaired. The house manager will do all they can to try and resolve the problem, if it is a major problem, like a fault in the oven, we can usally move you to another property. If we feel a certain amount of inconvenience has been experienced a refund will be offered.

Trip advisor and payment methods