“Big house” birthday rental.......

Nana billy, thank you for the precise detail. Very helpful. I've fancied doing this for a while but didn't have a clue where to start and the few dabs I've had at google have proven useless. Appreciated.

My sister organised similar for her 70th. It was brilliant. Apart from breakfast, all meals were either eaten out somewhere or catered. Ages ranged from 80 down to 6.

I have two friends near here in South West France that have really super properties that sleep 12. Reasonable cost. ON me if you are interested and I will send you contact details.

We did it at Christmas 2016 when sister and niece were over from US. 12 of us plus two tinies, worked very well. Only thing was, taking mountains of food and not forgetting anything essential, since not near any shops!

Dd2's lovely partner did it for a birthday of hers - about 10 of us, one baby, it was lovely.

Dd1's MiL also did it for a big birthday, very big house and garden walking dist. from beach in September. There were at least 12 of them inc. several children of different ages and it worked v well. We were there but in our own accomm. nearby.

One thing, if it's at all a high season time of year, do book early! We left it quite late to book that Christmas so I think we were lucky to find anything so nice - a big converted pub with a pool table and table football - both v popular! thrown in.

It sounds like a great idea - and in my experience people are OK to spread the cost among all the families involved. When I was a child, we all came to a Cornish village and booked rooms in a hotel and B&Bs, and rented cottages, and got together for days out and evening meals when we could. This is different from booking one large house or converted barns, but is an option if the larger shared properties are already booked.

We took a big house for our 50th wedding anniversary, 14 of us plenty of room indoors and out, a good time had by all. Do think about the catering and get food delivered to the house if you are eating in so nobody has to go off and do it.

Please do not read if you are easily offended!

There is a wonderful barn near us that sleeps 20+ in a beautiful location with shops only a mile away and plenty of tourist attractions.

It is however, known as the local "knocking shop"

We rented a beautiful big house for a week in North Yorkshire for my husband's 60th. We had a brilliant time and everyone was still talking to each other at the end of the week! My only tip is to make sure there's more than one bathroom/toilet! Ours had en suite and cloakroom facilities too.

We rented a cottage from "Sallys cottages" for my 60th ,they have places in the Lake District.
Ours was called Turner How Cottage and it was fantastic with a huge well equipped kitchen and plenty of seats round the table.2 huge bathrooms and a seperate toilet too. A massive living area with masses of seating space on squishy sofas and a lot burner. 2 other smaller living spaces for teenagers or whoever needs a bit of time away from everyone else . Quality bedrooms and superb luxury bedding. A walled garden . Boot room. Dog room..yes you read it right ,a dog room.
There were 11 of us there ranging from 3years old to 60+ and we loved it . We had a tesco delivery on the Friday night and everyone chipped in for it .A Chinese takeaway on the Saturday night. lovely walks around the area too and fab views..oh and a pool table in the basement garage.
I would definitely do it again.

That is so sad and lovely Pippa.

I'm in the same boat as you Sallyann and am still wondering what we will do. I've hired the village hall for the evening but nothing else and it's only a couple of months away. I haven't actually invited anyone yet!!
I'm coming out in a sweat just thinking of it.

The house sleeping 12 + sounds great as it becomes a holiday rather than a party.

Oh Pippa how sad but a lovely way to be together to remember him.
We rented a house for 11 of us in Greenwich last summer for my DH’s 70th. Some of the family live in Spain and the Spanish DGC were keen to see London. It worked well, especially as it was a house on three floors so the three families had a floor each!

Pippa000 my sincere condolences to you
Sallyann1 go for it - hope you have lots of fun!

Sallyann1 probably yes

Oh Pippa000 how very sad, but I’m sure it was a comfort for you all to be together at that time.
Tizliz - would your sister like to come with us?, ?

We rented an ex-youth hostel for a long weekend. 32 of us. My sister likes cooking so she did it all but didn’t pay towards the rental. This worked out well. It took a lot of organising though, but was great fun.

been; remembered

sorry, my fingers are getting in a twist today.

Pippa000, oh, what a shock that must have eben; I think you mentioned on another thread that you had been widowed recently.
It was lovely that you all still went and aremembered him with love - and champagne.

My husband had organised for the family to go away to a country park in a log cabin for my 70th. Sadly he died suddenly two weeks before the day, but we all went as he had spent so much time and had so much fun planning. We thought that the whole weekend was a fitting memorial to him and drank the champagne in his memory.

Getting a food delivery from a local supermarket is a good idea too, as someone mentioned upthread. Someone needs to co-ordinate it all by email/phone beforehand so that people can add to the list of food suggestions, someone to plan the meals and people could bring their own extras if they wish, then dividing the bill by the number of adults usually works well.

Thanks again for really really helpful feedback. It does seem to need quite a bit of research re the beds configurations as folks say. Saw one that seemed ideal, but then noted that the biggest (master) bedroom with en-suite had to be walked through to get to a twin room. I’m looking to book for Oct 1/2 term, so at the moment there seem to be some available. Need something to soften the blow of being 70 ?!

I hate to sound a note of pessimism, but if you are hoping to find a large house for this summer I fear you may already have left it too late. Every year I book a large house for all the family and I'm finding I have to book earlier and earlier; often a year in advance.
It's a wonderful experience though and I believe my childrens' closeness to their grandparents is due in no small measure to the annual family holiday where we all pitch in together. Now they bring their children and we are four generations.
Someone up thread said to check the bed configurations and that's really important as if you get that right most other things fall into place. We always need a minimum of five bedrooms each with a double bed - plus beds for small children who are not yet ready for bunk beds. As a minimum we also need two of the double rooms to be en-suite. My greatest find was a house with five en-suite double bedrooms that has a sea view and is decorated and equipped beautifully - but now has to be booked two years in advance for a summer holiday!!

Another one here who really enjoys renting large properties to holiday with family and/or friends.

It makes sense and whilst the initial cost does sound high when you break it down it is a bargain compared to hotels and even B&B's.

You have plenty of time to get the free brochures from the appropriate holiday rental companies Sallyann to look at the quality of properties on offer and I wouldn't mind betting you decide to book.

I think with little ones up to teens the freedom to be able to 'play to their tune' is a given by renting not in a confined environment such as a hotel or B&B so I think you will all feel far more more relaxed . Unless of course they write on the walls or break the Ming Dynasty vase then your in trouble

Have a good birthday whatever you decide.

We did this for MrA’s 70th last year.
We had a large cottage in the Forest of Bowland near Sawley and it was fabulous.
Plenty of room for everyone and a little play area for DGCs.
Celebratory lunch at the Spreadeagle in Sawley, and there was a jazz band playing. It turned out to be the drummer’s 70th birthday too and he had a piece of MrA’s ?

Before you book, make sure that there are enough places to sit and eat, Ive looked at some properties that say they sleep 12 but the photos show a dining room table with only 8 chairs, only 3 small sofas etc. and take anything that you can’t live without, don’t hope that the property has it ( I always take my kitchen knives with me, but then I’m a control freak)
Don’t forget you can always get your shopping delivered to you just after you arrive to save you filling the car with refrigerated goods.
My SIL and her family often do it, but the children chip in with the cost of food.
Having a games room is a definite plus for the kiddies young and old!

Yes, I’ve done this loads of times-with friends as well as family. We bring our own breakfast and drinks because that’s where people really like different things and take turns to bring/cook the evening meal.
I’ve never regretted the money I’ve spent on enjoying myself, never!