Indispensible items for your holiday home

A well-equipped home makes for a happy holidaymaker, a stress-free holiday and more chance of a repeat booking, so it's important to get it right.

When you're kitting out your holiday home ready for the arrival of your guests, put yourself in their shoes, maybe even 'test drive' it and enjoy a mini-break in your own home. It's the little things that make all the difference; from a freshly brewed cup of coffee in the morning to chilling out with your favourite music in the evening, there are lots of ways in which you can help to make someone's holiday!

If you're worried about anything going missing, then write an inventory that guests can complete and sign upon arrival and departure.

Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our top suggestions for turning your holiday home into a home from home:

Twin bed doubler A common question that we get asked is whether to equip bedrooms with double beds or two single beds. Many owners get around this dilemma by offering both – using a simple device that helps turn two single beds into a comfortable king size bed. Simply putting two single beds together creates an awkward gap but this can be eliminated pretty well using a twin bed doubler. For more information on this product click here.
Fitted sheets Once you've installed the doubler, you'll need to have king size bedding on hand so that your guests can sleep in comfort. It's well worth investing in some fitted sheets - it'll be much easier to make up the bed and they will also help to keep the whole thing pulled tightly together as one bed. For more information on this product click here.
Fly-trapping window stickers There's nothing more annoying than having flies buzzing around while you're eating, or having to brush them off the window-sills after your guests have gone. Window stickers look much better than a sticky trap hanging from the ceiling and are guaranteed not to annoy holidaymakers - there's no chance of getting your hair stuck in these! Dead flies will accumulate underneath the sticker, making it easy to wipe them into the bin! The stickers will also serve to remind people that there is glass there and avoid any nasty injuries For more information on this product click here.
Rechargeable LED lights Power cuts can add to the atmosphere of a holiday but no-one wants to be stuck not being able to see a thing! To ensure for all eventualities, it's worth having some emergency lighting at hand for your guests. These stylish candle-style LED lamps are rechargeable, so you won't need to buy loads of batteries, and are much safer than conventional candles, especially if there are children about. For more information on this product click here.
First aid kit Even when on holiday, kids and grown-ups alike can hurt themselves. Put a small first aid kit in the bathroom of your holiday home so that minor scrapes and grazes can be attended to. Even the most thorough of packers may forget the plasters, so it's certainly a worthwhile investment! For more information on this product click here.
Travel plug adaptors It's always a pain when your favourite gadgets won't work because the plug isn't compatible with the host country. Plug a few travel adaptors in the sockets around your holiday home abroad and your guests will be sure to thank you! They are a cheap yet effective way of showing that you've got the holidaymakers' best interests at heart. For more information on this product click here.
iPod docking station Your guests might not want to spend every evening out on the town, so invest in an iPod docking station. This will allow your visitors to plug their own players into your stereo and listen to their favourite music. This stylish black number is just the job! For more information on this product click here.
Docking station cable You'll need a cable so that the docking station can be connected to your stereo too... For more information on this product click here.
Filter coffee machine Who doesn't like a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? Even if your holiday home isn't in Italy, there's no excuse for instant. Filter coffee machines are widely available and are a great touch. After a long journey, a shot of caffeine will perk up tired travellers, so be sure to have some ground coffee to hand - mini-packets of quality stuff such as Lavazzo are ideal. For more information on this product click here.
Universal phone charger How many times have you arrived at your destination and realise you've forgotten your phone charger? A universal phone charger will prove a life-saver for those who need to stay in touch and works with most popular makes of mobile. For more information on this product click here.
Magnetic window cleaner Rather than risk life and limb when cleaning your windows before guests arrive, invest in a nifty device that lets you clean the outside of the window without even leaving the house! This magnetic cleaning system locks the two sides of the cleaner together through the glass, so that when you move one side the other follows. It's always good to have sparkling skylights, windows, doors and conservatories ready for your guests and now you won't have to pay a window cleaner to do the hard work! For more information on this product click here.