FAQs

If you’re thinking of booking your holiday at Keep Cottage for the first time, you may find my FAQ section handy.

Remember to call me If you have any other queries that have not been covered; Sara 07976 829836 or email me on sara@keepcottagesuffolk.co.uk

Is it possible to book a short break at Keep Cottage?

Yes, short breaks can be booked during low and mid-season. High-season short breaks can also be booked as a late-availability call me to see what availability I have.

What is the standard arrival/key collection time?

The key will be available from 4 p.m. onward it may be possible to have access to the key earlier, call me to ask the question. When you settle your final balance, I will send you full travel directions and the details of the keysafe.

What is the standard departure time?

Our standard departure time is 10am. This is to give our housekeeper plenty of time to get the cottage ready for our next guests. Please call me should you wish to leave any later.

How much deposit do I need to pay to secure my holiday and when will the final balance be due?

When you book your holiday, you will be required to pay a deposit equating to one third of the total booking value inc. any extras, within 5 working days. The final balance is due 8 weeks prior to your holiday start date.

How can I pay for my holiday?

You can pay your deposit or balance by cheque or direct bank-transfer. We may on-charge any bank fees incurred for non UK sterling bank transfers or for any bank fees incurred during non-UK bank transfers.

What is the housekeeping deposit?

Keep Cottage is our much loved holiday home we have lavished much time, effort and investment in creating a beautiful and relaxing space for our guests to enjoy. We therefore request a housekeeping deposit which protects us and our personal belongings, it makes life simpler when we share our home with guests.

The housekeeping deposit is your acceptance that you understand that you are responsible for the property during your stay and that if damage does occur, you will be accountable for covering the cost of repair. I do understand that accidents happen and therefore usually do not seek recompense for minor damage (which as a guide we define as breakages, damage or extra cleaning that is likely to cost less than £25.00 to put right). We do ask that that you notify me should any damage happen so that it can be remedied in time for our next guests.

I endeavour to return the housekeeping deposit to you as soon as possible after you leave the property (This is usually within 3 working days unless an issue has been flagged).

Where can I find the holiday booking conditions?

The booking conditions can be found by clicking here.

What if I need to cancel my holiday?

I will always try to help accommodate your requirements.
However, if you need to cancel a holiday completely please refer to our Booking Cancellation policy and notify me by telephone or email immediately. You will find full details of our Cancellation policy by clicking here.

Can I start my Holiday booking on any day of the week?

My standard changeover day is Friday. However, during low and mid-season booking periods, you can start your holiday on any day of the week.

What can I expect as a standard inclusion of the rental?

The following basic supplies are included to make your stay more comfortable: bed linen, towels, logs, tea, coffee, store cupboard essentials (such as cooking oil, sugar, salt, pepper), toilet roll, cleaning products, refuse and recycling bags, dishwasher tablets, tea towels.
All beds will be made up. We have beautiful feather duvets and pillows. Our beds are hotel standard, of which we have two king size and a twin.

We have a cot, please note we do not supply cot linen. Please remember to bring your own beach towels.

Does the property have access to WiFi?

There is free WiFi for you to use. Mobile phone signal is poor in Orford, however WIFI calling and Skype work perfectly well.

Does the property provide a cot and/or highchair?

Yes both a high chair and travel cot are provided.

Can I bring my pets?

We do welcome a well behaved dog. We simply ask that they stay downstairs and don’t sit on the furniture.

Do I have to clean Keep Cottage before I depart?

It would be appreciated if you remember to do the washing up and leave the cottage tidy. Don’t worry about removing the bedding we will do that.
Suffolk has a great record with recycling, so please do put out any rubbish into the appropriate black/blue/green wheelie bin.

Can I request additional services for my stay?

Of course! I am happy to provide extras, such as mid-week cleaning, in-house pamper sessions, at home fine dining, delivery of groceries etc. We can even provide a selection of chocolates, a cake, fizz and flowers to set the tone and get your stay off to a fabulous start. Simply give me as much notice as possible…

Do you offer any last minute discounts or special offers?

Keep Cottage is very popular, check out or website for any offers.

Do you offer holiday insurance?

I don’t offer nor insist that you purchase holiday insurance. I do however think that it is prudent to consider doing so. A good travel insurance policy is likely to cover cancellation of your booking due to most reasons genuinely beyond your control; some insurances even cover cancellation due to adverse travel and road conditions. I also strongly recommend that your insurance policy covers you for personal liability claims just in case accidental damage is caused during your stay.

Am I permitted to have guests visit me at the property?

Friends are able to visit you in the property simply let me know beforehand. However, friends are not allowed to stay overnight unless they have let me know before hand. This is an insurance and health & safety issue and is non-negotiable; clients will be asked to vacate a property if they do not adhere to this condition of their stay. So to make life simple, just let me know.

What do I do if something doesn’t seem quite right at the property?

I work closely with our housekeeper, gardener and handyman to ensure that everything is perfect for your stay at Keep Cottage. Very occasionally, things may go wrong. If this is the case I want you to let me know as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours. This will enable me to investigate the issue and to do my very best to take any remedial action necessary. If you do not tell me the issue cannot be addressed and we will assume that everything is perfect for you.

How do I get to Suffolk?

We always recommend planning ahead for your journey. Google Maps is a great online tool for planning your trip and getting a realistic idea of the time it will take to make your way to Suffolk.

By Road
If you are coming from the South or London, Suffolk is easily accessible via the M25 and then onto the A12 or A11/A14. If you are approaching from the North or Midlands, Suffolk can be reached via the A14 which is accessed by many major trunk roads.
By Public Transport
Suffolk is well served by a regular train service that runs nearly every hour from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich. The Ipswich to Lowestoft line stops at Melton where you can then take a taxi to the cottage. We have Castle Cars based in the village call 01394 459477.
For train links from the Midlands and the North, change at Peterborough, Norwich or Cambridge.

By Air
Suffolk is best served by two airports situated at Norwich or Stansted.