A house by the day: how to rent a cottage for a group or family
Who you are looking for a house for
People take a house by the day for celebrations, birthdays, company events, a weekend with friends or a family holiday. What matters depends on this. For a noisy group, a house standing apart where loud events are allowed. For a family with children, a safe yard, a fence and no dangerous places near water. For a winter break in the hills, heating, a fireplace and an access road that is cleared of snow.
What to put in your request
- dates — check-in and check-out, or the number of nights;
- number of guests — adults and children separately;
- place — a city, resort or outskirts;
- budget per day — or for the whole period;
- sleeping places — how many separate bedrooms and beds;
- facilities — pool, hot tub, barbecue, fireplace, bonfire area;
- event — a holiday, a celebration, a company event, whether noise is allowed;
- pets — whether you travel with one;
- parking — how many cars.
Example: “I am looking for a house for 30–31 December, 1 night, in Lonavala or nearby. 10 adults and 3 children, I need 5 separate bedrooms, a pool and a barbecue. A celebration, 3 cars. Up to ₹15,000 a day.”
What to ask before booking
Ask how many people the owner counts as guests: often the price covers a set number and each extra person is charged. Find out the minimum stay, especially for holidays and weekends, as many owners rent from two nights. Ask about check-in and check-out times, the deposit and the rules on loud music and fireworks.
Ask separately about what may be charged extra: the hot tub or pool, firewood, cleaning, bed linen. For winter trips, ask about heating and what happens during a power cut: is there a generator, do the boiler and water still work? A common mistake is booking from photos and not asking whether all the bedrooms are really separate and not walk-through rooms. Also ask whether there is a shop or a cafe nearby if you travel without a car, and whether the road is kept clear in winter. Leave a deposit only on an agreement that is clearly recorded in the chat.
How it works with BlaBlaPrice
You describe the trip once, and house owners reply in the chat: which house, price per day, what is included, photos. The request is checked before it is shown, and BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer by content first. Owners see where they stand among the others and can improve their terms. Your phone is hidden until you choose whom to give it to. More: how it works.
For smaller groups there are flats by the day or hour, and if you need service and meals, hotels and holiday resorts.
