Holiday cottages in Bournemouth: agency fees and terms
Bournecoast adds a £25 to £65 booking fee; Classic Cottages charges £42 per pet. Ten agencies listing Bournemouth holiday lets compared on fees and terms.
Facts checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. How we research
Every cell below comes from the agency's own terms, FAQ or Bournemouth listings page. Several agencies only show the booking fee, deposit or dog charge during the booking itself; where an amount is not published, the table says "not stated" rather than repeating a figure from elsewhere.
| Agency | Type | Bournemouth page shows | Booking fee | Dogs | Deposit and balance | Cancellation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournecoast | Booking agent, Southbourne Grove office, established 1960 | 99 properties across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch | £25 (rent £100 or more), £45 (£500 or more), £65 (£1,000 or more) | Only with permission before arrival; supplement may apply (amount not stated) | One third plus booking fee; balance 6 weeks before | Full cost unless re-let; if re-let, 10% to 100% of the deposit kept | Bournecoast booking terms |
| Dorset Hideaways | Booking agent, team based in Dorchester | Count not stated | Included in the rental fee (amount not stated) | Some properties, charge applies (amount not stated) | One third, non-refundable; balance 8 weeks before | 57 days or more: deposit; 29 to 56 days: 50%; 1 to 28 days: 100% | Dorset Hideaways terms and conditions (PDF) |
| Classic Cottages | Booking agent, Hayle (Cornwall) address | 14 cottages, none in Bournemouth itself | Non-refundable, shown on the booking form; listed prices include it | £42 per pet a week or short break; two dogs at most unless stated | One third; balance 8 weeks before | 56 days or more: deposit; 28 to 55 days: 60%; 14 to 27 days: 75%; 0 to 13 days: 100% | Classic Cottages dogs and pets page |
| Toad Hall Cottages | Booking agent, Kingsbridge (Devon) head office | 124 results, mostly in Sandbanks | Not stated | £30 per pet a week (or part week) | One third; balance 6 weeks before | No refund unless re-let, then less a £50 fee | Toad Hall Cottages booking conditions |
| Sykes Holiday Cottages | Booking agent, Chester head office (Forge Holiday Group) | 168 cottages within 10 miles | Non-refundable, amount shown at booking | Where the listing says so; any charge shown at booking | 30% of rent plus booking fee; balance date shown at booking | Before balance date: deposit lost; after: full cost | Sykes Cottages booking terms |
| Dream Cottages | Booking agent, Weymouth office (Forge Holiday Group, Sykes terms) | 23 properties | Non-refundable, amount shown at booking | Where the listing says so; some free of charge | 30% of rent plus booking fee; balance date shown at booking | Before balance date: deposit lost; after: full cost | Dream Cottages booking terms |
| cottages.com | Booking agent (Awaze) | Count not stated; includes Christchurch, Wimborne and Poole | Non-refundable, amount shown at booking | Only where the advert says so; a charge may apply | Deposit amount shown before booking; balance date on confirmation | Sleeps up to 9: more than 71 days: deposit; 57 to 70: 50%; 43 to 56: 60%; 42 or less: 100% | cottages.com booking conditions (PDF) |
| Hoseasons | Booking agent (Awaze) | No Bournemouth page (redirects to Dorset) | Non-refundable, amount not stated | Only where the advert says so; a charge may apply | Deposit amount shown before booking; balance date on confirmation | Sleeps up to 9, booked and starting from 1 Oct 2026: 71 days or more: deposit; 57 to 70: 50%; 43 to 56: 60%; 42 or less: 100% | Hoseasons cottages booking conditions (PDF) |
| Independent Cottages | Listing site: you book with the owner | 9 properties, including Wareham, Highcliffe and Poole | None | Set by each owner | Set by each owner | Set by each owner | Independent Cottages about page |
| Simply Sea Views | Listing site: you book with the owner or agent | 28 beach and sea view cottages, including Swanage and Poole | None added by the site | Number of dogs shown per property; fee set by owner or agent | Owner or agent terms | Owner or agent terms | Simply Sea Views terms and conditions |
- Type
- Booking agent, Southbourne Grove office, established 1960
- Bournemouth page shows
- 99 properties across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch
- Booking fee
- £25 (rent £100 or more), £45 (£500 or more), £65 (£1,000 or more)
- Dogs
- Only with permission before arrival; supplement may apply (amount not stated)
- Deposit and balance
- One third plus booking fee; balance 6 weeks before
- Cancellation
- Full cost unless re-let; if re-let, 10% to 100% of the deposit kept
- Source
- Bournecoast booking terms
- Type
- Booking agent, team based in Dorchester
- Bournemouth page shows
- Count not stated
- Booking fee
- Included in the rental fee (amount not stated)
- Dogs
- Some properties, charge applies (amount not stated)
- Deposit and balance
- One third, non-refundable; balance 8 weeks before
- Cancellation
- 57 days or more: deposit; 29 to 56 days: 50%; 1 to 28 days: 100%
- Source
- Dorset Hideaways terms and conditions (PDF)
- Type
- Booking agent, Hayle (Cornwall) address
- Bournemouth page shows
- 14 cottages, none in Bournemouth itself
- Booking fee
- Non-refundable, shown on the booking form; listed prices include it
- Dogs
- £42 per pet a week or short break; two dogs at most unless stated
- Deposit and balance
- One third; balance 8 weeks before
- Cancellation
- 56 days or more: deposit; 28 to 55 days: 60%; 14 to 27 days: 75%; 0 to 13 days: 100%
- Source
- Classic Cottages dogs and pets page
- Type
- Booking agent, Kingsbridge (Devon) head office
- Bournemouth page shows
- 124 results, mostly in Sandbanks
- Booking fee
- Not stated
- Dogs
- £30 per pet a week (or part week)
- Deposit and balance
- One third; balance 6 weeks before
- Cancellation
- No refund unless re-let, then less a £50 fee
- Source
- Toad Hall Cottages booking conditions
- Type
- Booking agent, Chester head office (Forge Holiday Group)
- Bournemouth page shows
- 168 cottages within 10 miles
- Booking fee
- Non-refundable, amount shown at booking
- Dogs
- Where the listing says so; any charge shown at booking
- Deposit and balance
- 30% of rent plus booking fee; balance date shown at booking
- Cancellation
- Before balance date: deposit lost; after: full cost
- Source
- Sykes Cottages booking terms
- Type
- Booking agent, Weymouth office (Forge Holiday Group, Sykes terms)
- Bournemouth page shows
- 23 properties
- Booking fee
- Non-refundable, amount shown at booking
- Dogs
- Where the listing says so; some free of charge
- Deposit and balance
- 30% of rent plus booking fee; balance date shown at booking
- Cancellation
- Before balance date: deposit lost; after: full cost
- Source
- Dream Cottages booking terms
- Type
- Booking agent (Awaze)
- Bournemouth page shows
- Count not stated; includes Christchurch, Wimborne and Poole
- Booking fee
- Non-refundable, amount shown at booking
- Dogs
- Only where the advert says so; a charge may apply
- Deposit and balance
- Deposit amount shown before booking; balance date on confirmation
- Cancellation
- Sleeps up to 9: more than 71 days: deposit; 57 to 70: 50%; 43 to 56: 60%; 42 or less: 100%
- Source
- cottages.com booking conditions (PDF)
- Type
- Booking agent (Awaze)
- Bournemouth page shows
- No Bournemouth page (redirects to Dorset)
- Booking fee
- Non-refundable, amount not stated
- Dogs
- Only where the advert says so; a charge may apply
- Deposit and balance
- Deposit amount shown before booking; balance date on confirmation
- Cancellation
- Sleeps up to 9, booked and starting from 1 Oct 2026: 71 days or more: deposit; 57 to 70: 50%; 43 to 56: 60%; 42 or less: 100%
- Source
- Hoseasons cottages booking conditions (PDF)
- Type
- Listing site: you book with the owner
- Bournemouth page shows
- 9 properties, including Wareham, Highcliffe and Poole
- Booking fee
- None
- Dogs
- Set by each owner
- Deposit and balance
- Set by each owner
- Cancellation
- Set by each owner
- Source
- Independent Cottages about page
- Type
- Listing site: you book with the owner or agent
- Bournemouth page shows
- 28 beach and sea view cottages, including Swanage and Poole
- Booking fee
- None added by the site
- Dogs
- Number of dogs shown per property; fee set by owner or agent
- Deposit and balance
- Owner or agent terms
- Cancellation
- Owner or agent terms
- Source
- Simply Sea Views terms and conditions
"Bournemouth page shows" is the count each agency's own Bournemouth page gives. Most of those counts take in a wider area: Sykes searches 10 miles around the town, Toad Hall's results are mostly in Sandbanks, and none of the 14 cottages on Classic's Bournemouth page is in Bournemouth itself (they are in Christchurch, Studland, Corfe Castle, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight).
Which agencies are based in Bournemouth?
Of the ten, only Bournecoast has its office in the town: its about page gives a registered office at 26 Southbourne Grove, BH6 3RA, and says the business was established in 1960. Its listings cover Southbourne, Boscombe, Westbourne, Alum Chine, Poole, Christchurch and Mudeford. It acts as booking agent, so the rental contract is with the owner.
Bournecoast is also the only agency here with a fee table you can see before booking. A property page states that a rental of £100 or more carries a £25 booking fee, £500 or more a £45 fee and £1,000 or more a £65 fee. Its payment terms (a third plus the booking fee as deposit, the balance six weeks before arrival) apply to bookings made with it directly; a Bournecoast property booked through another website follows that listing's terms.
The nearest of the larger agencies is Dorset Hideaways, whose team is based in Dorchester. It groups its local houses under "Bournemouth and surrounding villages", with separate pages for Southbourne and Christchurch.
See cottages around Bournemouth →
What do holiday cottage agencies charge on top of the rent?
Three charges come up across the terms: a booking fee, a pet charge and something to cover damage.
- Booking fee. Seven of the eight booking agents charge one. Only Bournecoast publishes the amount. Sykes, Dream Cottages, cottages.com and Hoseasons say it is shown during booking and is non-refundable. Classic includes it in listed prices, and Dorset Hideaways folds its own fee into the rental fee. Toad Hall's booking conditions do not mention one.
- Damage. Dorset Hideaways' damage waiver page says most of its properties are in a scheme covering accidental damage up to £150 for one or two bedrooms, rising to £500 for eight or more; where a property is outside the scheme, the owner may ask for a refundable security deposit. Classic applies a non-refundable damage waiver and can reclaim up to £350 for damage that is not accidental. Sykes and Dream Cottages hold a "Good Housekeeping Bond" at some properties only.
- Changes. Sykes and Dream Cottages charge £30 to change dates, cottages.com £35 to change dates and £60 to change property, and Toad Hall £50 to rebook.
The two listing sites work differently. Independent Cottages says owners pay it an annual fee and guests pay no booking fee, and Simply Sea Views says it adds nothing to the owner's price. In both cases the deposit, cancellation terms and any pet fee are the owner's.
Dog-friendly holiday cottages in Bournemouth
At every agency here, whether dogs are allowed is set property by property, so the listing is the rule that counts. Two agencies publish a flat charge: Classic Cottages at £42 per pet a week or short break, with no more than two dogs unless the listing says otherwise, and Toad Hall Cottages at £30 per pet a week or part week. Both say dogs are not allowed in bedrooms or on furniture.
Sykes, Dream Cottages, cottages.com and Hoseasons all say a pet charge may apply and is shown at booking, and Dream Cottages has properties where pets go free. Dorset Hideaways charges for pets but does not publish the amount, and registered assistance dogs stay free at all of its properties. Bournecoast needs permission before arrival and says a pet supplement may apply.
Kittiwake, a Dorset Hideaways house at Highcliffe-on-Sea, takes one small to medium dog for an extra charge and sleeps 8, according to its Dorset Hideaways listing. For where dogs can go on the sand in summer, see dog-friendly beaches in Bournemouth.
Short breaks and changeover days
No agency here sets one minimum stay for all its properties: each listing has its own. cottages.com says most of its short-break cottages take bookings from 2 nights, with some asking for 3 nights over bank holidays and peak school holidays. Bournecoast shows, season by season, whether a property takes short breaks, and some of its properties take Saturday-to-Saturday bookings only during school holidays.
Changeover days also vary by house: Classic and Toad Hall show each property’s changeover day (Friday, Saturday or Monday) on its card. Arrival is from 4pm and departure by 10am at Dorset Hideaways, cottages.com and Toad Hall; Bournecoast gives 3pm and 10am.
Cancelling a holiday cottage booking
The cancellation scales differ enough to matter if plans are uncertain. Cancel 30 days before arrival and you lose half the rental fee with Dorset Hideaways, 60% with Classic, and the whole cost with cottages.com or Hoseasons (for a property sleeping up to 9). With Sykes and Dream Cottages, cancelling after the balance date means losing the full cost; before it, the deposit.
Bournecoast and Toad Hall tie refunds to re-letting the property. If Bournecoast re-lets it, it keeps 10% of the deposit when you cancel more than 84 days ahead, 30% between 84 and 28 days, and all of it inside 28 days; if it cannot re-let, the full balance is still owed. Classic and cottages.com sell optional flexible-cancellation cover at an extra fee.
Frequently asked questions
Are there holiday cottages on the Bournemouth seafront?
Yes, though few are labelled as such. Beach View, on the Southbourne seafront, sleeps 8 and has sea views, according to its Dorset Hideaways listing, which also says no pets. Simply Sea Views lists 28 beach and sea view cottages on its Bournemouth page, though that includes Swanage and Poole.
Is a holiday cottage or a holiday park better for a family?
They suit different trips. A holiday park adds pools, clubs and evening shows, and the nearest are in Christchurch and Poole: see holiday parks near Bournemouth and Poole. A cottage gives a whole house in town, with Southbourne and Christchurch houses that sleep 8; for hotel family rooms, see family hotels in Bournemouth.