From hen parties to corporate retreats, here are 10 great ideas for group holidays in the UK.
At Big House Holiday Lets we know a lot about the benefits of renting a large holiday cottage, but sometimes we hear people say ‘Why would anyone rent somewhere so big!’, well here are 10 great reasons to look at renting a big house in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean.
1. Family friendly
If your friends or family have children of similar ages why not spend a weekend together at a large holiday home? You have the privacy of your own rooms, large gardens for the children to play in and plenty of places to socialise. You can then share out the duties of who takes the kids off during the day whilst you get some grown-up time to yourselves.
2. It’s a Celebration!
Whether it’s someone’s 50th birthday or 50th anniversary, sometimes you can’t all squeeze into the front room or kitchen to celebrate it. Take a week or a weekend to give everyone a chance to join in the celebration of a parent or grand-parent. For those who need to travel especially to be there they can make the most of their time with everyone in the same place rather than having to make an early exit to their hotel or worry about driving.
3. Hen party
If you’re looking for a safe, private space for your hen party then one of our big houses could be a great way for you all to have a good time. You can relax in a hot tub, play music in one of our oversize lounges and have plenty of wine chilled and ready to go! If you want a bit of pampering over the weekend just get in touch with us and we’ll connect you with local experts who will be available to come to you.
4. Corporate Retreat
Our midweek breaks are great for businesses who need to bring teams together for brainstorming or bonding sessions. Everyone can pitch in and contribute to making meals or we can put you in touch with local caterers who can come in and treat you. Our houses give you plenty of room for breakout sessions, to invite along speakers or just use it as somewhere communal to come back to after completing the day’s activities elsewhere. Some of the houses have grounds that are substantial enough for team building activities to be organised on site.
5. Pamper Weekend
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all with your friends and spoil yourselves. Have your very own private spa weekend at one of our holiday houses. Maybe you’re a local women’s sports team and you want a reward for your success! Whatever it is that you want to treat yourself too, whether it’s massage, reflexology, manicures, pedicures or facials, we can arrange an itinerary for you with services provided by selected partners.
6. Christmas Family Get-Together
Imagine a Christmas with stockings over a roaring fireplace, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and grandchildren all gathered round with a glass raised and singing carols. Sounds too good to be true? Actually, our Christmas dates are usually some of the first to be booked each year as families choose to celebrate it in just such a way. Why not jump ahead of the queue and book now for next Christmas!
7. The More the Merrier!
It’s a fact of modern life that not everyone can afford a holiday. The great thing about staying in a holiday home with a big group though is that you can share the cost and a lot of our breaks can be shared among a group of 20 people for a cost of less than £100 per head! That’s not per night! There’s no hidden extras. You pay one flat fee and you and your fellow guests can stay at one of our stunning holiday homes along the River Wye or in the Forest of Dean. You can book a few months in advance and everyone can contribute something to the pot over a few months before paying the final balance. You can also sign up with your email address to receive our Holiday Deals newsletter.
8. Celebrate New Year with Friends
Imagine being out under the stars having spent the evening in front of a cozy fireplace with your friends and you all join hands to sing the New Year in. It doesn’t just happen in sentimental TV adverts! However you choose to celebrate New Year our holiday homes offer a great space for you all to come together and look back at the past and forge a new future!
9. Reunion
When it comes to reunions finding the right venue can be tricky, but in order to help keep the atmosphere light and not have to worry about rushing back home, a large cottage would be ideal for you. When reconnecting with those old friendships there are few places better suited to it. With features such as snugs, outdoor seating and a hot tub, you can break off to find some quiet time or catch up with certain people away from the group. You can all then come back together around one of the massive 20+ seat dining rooms. We’re sure you’ll have such a great time that you’ll want to start pencilling in the next reunion straightaway!
10. Special Interests
There are plenty of fantastic outdoor activities that take place in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. If you live in another part of the country though and belong to a local interest group or activity club involving hiking, canoeing, fishing, wildlife spotting, orienteering or cycling, among others and fancy a change of scenery then why not organise a week or weekend getaway and explore this outstanding area of natural beauty. For a list of activities and places to see check out our Things to do section