Kip Hideaways | Staycations with style
Holiday rental boutique Kip Hideaways is the new word in planning picture-perfect staycations. With foreign travel pretty much off the cards, 2020 has been the year of rediscovering all the UK has to offer, and the perfect time for this membership site to really come into its own. Founded last year by Sarah de Vere-Drummond and Liz Simpson, Kip Hideaways curates the very best rentals across the UK, all utterly unique and, even more pleasing, delightfully affordable. Here co-founder Liz gives her insider insight on what makes a staycation in the UK so special.
It’s about style and substanceWe felt there was a real gap in the market for a website that only focused on incredible great-value small boutique rentals; a really niche edit of the very best properties on the market.
Style is the most important criteria - we only include really beautiful places. Some are quirky, others are high-end, all have to be incredibly special. We also look for places where the owners really care about the guest experience, and fill their rental with thoughtful, personal touches. To us, this is money-can't-buy quality.
Keep it under-the-radarA lot of the places in our collection are brand-new to the market; we always have our ear to the ground for amazing new openings! And the others we've found via hundreds of hours of research; they're not easy to find, which is why Kip works as a concept. Some don't even have a website. My favourite recent discovery is a brand-new treehouse which has completely blown me away: https://www.kiphideaways.com/hideaways/epping-forest-treehouse/
There’s so much to discover in the UKThe UK is home to some breath-taking coastlines, secret beaches, wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands, and people are rediscovering all these places now that international travel is so limited. Staycationing has become increasingly popular over recent years anyway due to eco reasons, and it's fabulous that you can zip to these places so quickly and easily, by car or train.
The trend to disconnectOur secluded hideaways are the most popular right now. Many sit in their own field or woodland, without a neighbour in sight. This is obviously reassuring from a COVID point of view, but quite apart from that our users love being really immersed in nature. Places where you can slow down, digital detox, even go completely off-grid. It's what a lot of us are craving right now - a complete escape from the pressures of everyday life, and a reset for your soul.
Don’t forget the essentialsWe've tried to make planning as easy as possible with the information we provide on Kip. Our reviews tell you the best things to do in the surrounding areas from a local's perspective, not just the obvious highlights. And we include a 'Remember to pack' for things you may not have thought of. My top three essentials are always my cosy Sheeper slippers, a great book and shoes/wellies to go walking in.
