I’m always amazed how quickly holiday cottages book up for the summer, especially in the popular seaside resorts of Devon and Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Dorset and even along the Northumberland coast. Getting the size of holiday property you want, in the location of your choice, with all your requirements you need, on the dates that fit in with school holidays, annual leave, or work commitments, can be a nightmare if you don’t get organised early.  And if you want to rent a groups of cottages to holiday with family or friends and bring along a dog or two it can be even more complicated!  It often seems to me that all the best holiday cottages in popular locations are booked year on year by the same people, which is great for holiday cottage owners, and the those ‘in the know’, but not so good for the rest of us who can’t get a look in.  Even caravans by the sea seem to get booked up early.
However, as the sizzling summer of 2013 showed, camping by the coast, booking a yurt, gypsy caravan or a shepherds hut can be a great choice and may offer more availability if you take a gamble and book early.  Taking an eco-holiday doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on luxury either.  There are campsites with swimming pools, log cabins with hot tubs, lodges with spa facilities on site.  All can provide great alternatives to the hassle of flying abroad.