Successful holiday letting starts here
With over 25 years’ experience in holiday letting, we believe the partnerships we make help and support owners’ rentals flourish in a crowded marketplace. As a boutique holiday letting agency specialising in unique and remarkable holiday homes throughout the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and beyond, we provide a bespoke service that offers expert holiday letting advice. From the best area for an investment, looking to diversify an old building, or an established holiday home, our local, knowledgeable team is here to help and support you every step of the way.
An Award-winning Agency
Competitive commission
We offer the lowest commission in the area, with no annual or monthly fees. From setting the rates to managing guest stays, we take care of the entire rental experience for you.
Expert advice
As a leading independent holiday rental specialist, we are here to advise you on how to maximise the return on your property investment, while minimising the amount of work for you.
Local team
We are a Cheltenham-based team with more than 25 years’ experience in holiday letting. No call centres, just friendly support and help whenever needed. 98% of guests would stay with us again.
How we market your home
Working with you exclusively, we showcase your property and its location, producing engaging content, welcome guides and area guidebooks written by our experienced in-house travel copywriters, as well as coordinating professional photography and 3D tours.
Our market-leading website and SEO expertise drives bookings, with 55% of our guests booking direct. We are also partnered with all the leading booking channels, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo, so your property is seen by an international audience.
In addition, we create email marketing campaigns which are sent to our large database, secure PR coverage in national and international press and utilise social media, promoting organic and paid content, to reach all the right people. Take a look at our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Here to give advice right from the start
We are passionate about beautiful holiday homes and offering excellent service to our owners and guests. If you are new to letting or a seasoned owner, we are here to guide you through the entire process of marketing your home, from an initial property meeting to your first guests.
With a bespoke package that is completely tailored to your needs, our highly professional team offers a personal service every step of the way ensuring your property achieves its full potential.
Why choose Bolthole Retreats?
- Free advice and property valuation
- Bespoke pricing model, individual to your home
- Bolthole AcciCover Bond – we guarantee to pay out claims to owners up to the first £250 of any accidental damage claim
- Maximising your property’s reach and visibility across social media, email marketing, advertising and press coverage
- No start-up or yearly fees
- Professional photography, aerial footage, floorplans and 3D tours of your property
- Exposure to global holiday booking platforms – we list your house on more than 10 third-party sites such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Plum Guide
- Guest bookings managed for you, 24/7
- Support from our owners’ team
- Local expert knowledge and advice – we all live in the area and are passionate about promoting it
- Experienced travel copywriters who bring your property and the local area to life
- An in-house PR and marketing team
- Exclusive Experience discounts for your guests
Meet our owners
We’d love to hear from you
Owner Blog
Can I let my house as a holiday home?
If you're wondering if you can let your house as a holiday home, you're not alone. We talk you through what you need to consider!
How to let a holiday home: a guide for owners
Let Bolthole Retreats take the stress out of the holiday let process, giving you the set up for success.
The benefits of letting a holiday home
There are so many benefits to letting a holiday home, learn all the ways you can generate additional income and have a place to getaway to.
The benefits of accepting pets in your holiday let
Nearly a third of UK households own a dog, and they want to bring them on staycations! Read all the benefits of accepting pets in your holiday let.
UK Staycation Trends for 2025 and Beyond
Stay ahead of the trends so you can make the most of your holiday let.
Owner Design Tips
Design details don't need to be complicated! Create a beautiful space with our owner design tips.
New fire safety regulations for holiday lets
New fire safety regulations came into force on 1 October 2023. Find an overview and further information here.
Ways to boost bookings – Which aren’t lowering your prices!
A little TLC can really help to boost bookings, join us on a walk through your cottage as we highlight changes that don't include lowering your prices!
How to lower costs for holiday homeowners
We share some advice on how to lower costs this winter for holiday homeowners.
7 little changes that will make a big difference to your property
Seven little changes that will make a big difference to your property. Simple solutions to make your holiday let the best it can be.
Renting out a second home or holiday let for the first time
If you're thinking of renting your property out as a holiday let for the first time, read our top tips to ensure you're setup correctly, and learn how much you could earn.
Thinking about holiday letting?
Read our top five tips for breaking into the holiday rental market and what you can do to turn your purchase into a good investment and an even better experience.
