Having a preset itinerary encouraged us to relax and not stress about timing like will we be too late or not have enough time. Nathan had that all figured out for us and made sure we experienced the best cross-section of their part of the UK. Additionally explaining the historical significance of the many towns and villages we traveled to and through helped with perspective. A wonderful way to visit a country for a first time. We would do it again even spending a bit more time walking the ‘downs’.
Testimonial by:
John and Marsha Haskovec
Our Trip Advisor Reviews
Posted onVerified An unbelievable experience delivered with panache! My husband and I spent two week with Nathan and Laura at English Cottage Vacation with a friend joining us for one of those weeks. We have traveled independently throughout England, but chose to book this vacation because we had a bucket list of Dorset sites to see and things to do. We did them all in great style and without any hassles. How often does that happen? But the best part of our vacation (well, besides Laura's fabulous food) was Nathan's enthusiasm for Dorset and his willingness to share the interesting nooks and crannies. Would you believe an archeological museum in a shepherd hut? We saw more and experienced more than we could have done on our own AND it is truly the only vacation in thirty-five years of traveling that we returned home more relaxed than when we started. Do not hesitate to make your own adventures with Nathan and Laura!Posted onVerified Great cottage, great hosts, great vacation, great experience! Everything about our vacation was great. Laura and Nathan were friendly and knowledgeable, and provided superlative service. I'm always impressed by folks who provide a unique and well-planned experience for their guests. Let me say that Laura and Nathan were first-rate in ever aspect of our vacation. Nathan picked us up at Heathrow and drove us to the cottage, which was about a two-hour drive. It was a great way to get an introduction to the area. The cottage is beautiful and the yard around it was beautiful and there was comfortable seating outside (and a swing hanging from one of the trees in the yard that I would use every morning for about five minutes - it made me feel like a kid again!) We'd start the day around 8:00 with a breakfast prepared by Laura. A delicious and an excellent start to the day. Then we'd leave with Nathan on our daily excursions around 9:30. All of our daily trips were fun and interesting. My wife and I enjoy walking and working out and each of the locations we saw allowed us to get plenty of steps in seeing the sights each day. The evening before each trip, Nathan would give us a summary of what we'd be doing the next day and give us background information about the location. Then he would continue to give us information as he was driving us to that day's locations. Nathan's vehicle was the most comfortable one in which I'd ever travelled. In addition to Nathan, there were five adults in the van and we had more than adequate space. The van would have held at least two more adults comfortably. He's also a great driver so we could sit back and relax on our daily trips. We'd arrive at our morning location and would have an hour or two to walk around the area and/or do a tour of a particular castle, building or specific area. Nathan would let us know where we'd meet him mid-day. When it would get to be lunchtime, Nathan would find an area outdoors for us to eat. He'd set up and table and chairs and we'd have a lunch that Laura had prepared for us including snacks and drinks. He was obviously very familiar with each of the locations we were touring and the areas he'd find for us to have lunch were really relaxing and comfortable. After lunch we'd be on to our next location to visit for the day. After we toured what was on the schedule for the afternoon, Nathan would drive us back to the cottage and we'd have a couple of hours to relax, have a drink and snacks before dinner was served. We would usually have dinner around 7:00. The dinners prepared by Laura were all fantastic! All of them were as good (or better) than we'd experienced at high level restaurants. Every night after dinner (except one night when we were doing an early evening tour of Stonehenge - which, by the way, was superb - smaller group and we were allowed to walk around and through Stonehenge itself) some of us would go for a walk on the roads in the hamlet surrounding the cottage. Beautiful countryside, quiet and interesting, and (once again) Nathan would make sure we had flashlights (called torches in England) and one night when it was a bit rainy we wore yellow vests so we'd be more noticeable to drivers. We rarely saw any drivers because the area surrounding the cottage has no commercial businesses and any drivers we encountered were going slowly and safely. Then we'd retire for the evening in our separate bedrooms. Ours was very comfortable with its own bathroom . Then the next day, we'd do go on another excursion and do it all over again. Our only disappointment was that we had to leave after a week. I would have been fine doing another week of daily excursions!Posted onVerified A Holiday at Well Cottage Holidays at Well Cottage are splendid!! The trips, food, service and other guests have all been wonderful, so much so that I visited again this year after a hiatus of five years. Everything was exactly as I remembered and I was able to pay more attention to details at the castle ruins, the grand homes, gardens, and coast than I had the first time through. It is truly an experience that you won't forget, I promise!Posted onVerified Vacation of a lifetime Make your reservation NOW. You will not regret spending a week at English Cottage Vacation with Nathan and Laura. From the time Nathan picks you up at the airport until he drops you off again, you are expected to do nothing but relax, sightsee and eat. Laura is a true treasure in the kitchen. Each meal or picnic is designed and prepared down to the last detail, including the lovely table scapes. Her menus are well thought out, and the final product delicious. Nathan has an abundance of knowledge pertaining specifically to the excursion of the day…lots of tidbits you would not hear from a tour guide. He is very patient and drives with great care. There really aren’t enough words to describe the experience of this all inclusive vacation.Posted onVerified Best of the UK is here We are experienced Travellers, so have a lot of experiences to compare, but our stay here at Well Cottage was over the top wonderful. From the pretty cottage, delicious gourmet meals, and beauty of the English countryside to the variety of interesting excursions and hospitality of Nathan and Laura, we absolutely loved our stay. Pictures don't do the scenery justice nor can words describe the meals. These guys really know how to treat their guests like royalty. Just go...Posted onVerified Quintessential English Cottage Vacation We just returned from the most wonderful English Cottage Vacation at Well Cottage. Laura and Nathan are truly remarkable hosts. Attention to detail was quintessential to the experience. They provided a perfect balance of relaxation and excursions to see incredible sights. The VIP sunset inner circle tour of Stonehenge is a once in a lifetime experience. From small country lanes to Motorways, Nathan navigated us each day with precision as we were provided ample opportunities to explore independently and join in guided tours each day. Laura was incredible as she sent us on our way each day after savoring a gourmet breakfast, enjoying a wicker basket picnic lunch that she prepared and returning after the day’s activities to cocktails and canapés followed by a 5 star dinner that was incredible and only outdone by it’s presentation. We did arrive as guests and we feel like we left as friends whom we look forward to visiting again. Kathy and Jerry KPosted onVerified A Vacation Beyond our Wildest Dreams! We are so blessed to have celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary by experiencing the ultimate English Cottage Vacation of a lifetime and stay at the home of this lovely couple, our hosts, Nathan and Laura! We knew this would be a special holiday, but it far exceeded our expectations! We recognized the genuineness of Nathan and Laura that came across immediately when we first met them. Our first impression was the charm and welcoming smile of Nathan when he arrived in London to collect us at the hotel. Nathan immediately went into tour advisor mode and narrated the points of interest that London is known for. We loved hearing Nathan’s depiction of the beautiful countryside, and his excitement to show us a new area to explore each day, from the quaint hamlet he and Laura live in, to the villages, towns and cities that have their own charm and uniqueness. When Nathan isn’t driving, he puts on a few more hats—waiter, bartender, gardener, etc., and occasionally shows his skills at unique napkin folding designs. When we reached the cottage, Laura was outside greeting us with her warm and inviting smile and exuberant charm! Laura’s mouthwatering meals were not only incredibly savory, but exquisitely presented with imaginative plating and description. Her personality continued to shine through with her decorative skills that makes Well Cottage so warm and inviting. Laura is always on cue video taping by descriptively narrating her guests daily happenings, showing the gardens, the cottage, gardening tips, and if that isn’t enough, she recently published her own online recipe book! Nathan and Laura’s effortless attention to detail is spot on as shown by the passion and devotion they put into making sure we were always comfortable. It truly shows that they genuinely enjoy what they do, and they both complement each other so well. The stunning gardens surrounding the cottage with the most spectacular palette of colors are not only attributed to Laura and Nathan’s hard work, but also to Laura’s Mum’s personal attention. You can tell they all put a lot of love into making Well Cottage an enchanted, fairytale-like setting. Thank you Nathan and Laura for creating this wonderful experience, that was beyond our wildest dreams, to ensure our 50th Anniversary would be so very special and unforgettable! Love and Cheers!❤️ Tony and Donna N.Posted onVerified Unbelievably wonderful! One of the best weeks of my life. All my expectations were exceeded. The service, knowledge, care, and personal touches are something I have never experienced. Nathan and Laura know how to read guests needs and desires and by the end of your stay you feel like you are friends. Nathan and Laura know how to create a balance of vacation and experiencing local life. You have opportunity to experience as much as you are willing to or have the energy to participate in. For example, walking with Nathan to a local farm to get eggs or taking a different hiking path if you can't handle the incline of another route. Staying at Well Cottage was one of the best weeks of my life. Unbelievable experience. I can't believe I actually got to do it!Posted onVerified Incredible vacation! Don't hesitate to book:) We spent a week with Laura and Nathan, traveling with in laws who are in their 80s, my husband and I in our 50s and our two young adult kids. Laura kept us fed with the most incredible meals (and her desserts!) while Nathan toured us around the countryside and made special accommodations for the less mobile folks. They were kind, attentive and spoiled us. The cottage is so beautiful, cozy, and comfortable, the countryside is gorgeous. We will be talking about this trip for the rest of our lives.Posted onVerified Perfect English Vacation Our stay at Well Cottage was absolutely wonderful! Nathan and Laura went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Definitely a trip of a lifetime. And the food was amazing! The gardens are beautiful and the cottage is a perfect country get-a-way. Highly recommend.