When you’re planning a holiday for a large group, catering for a wide range of needs and wants can become overwhelming. While resorting to a hotel may seem like the safe option, you might think differently after reading this. Whether it’s a family reunion, creative retreat or birthday celebration, staying in your own private and well-equipped self-catering lodge can tick all the boxes.
Our large holiday homes, dotted around the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore, sleep 12 to 23 people. They are all dog-friendly and come with comfy communal spaces indoors and out. Plus, breakfast in pyjamas? Yes please.
If you’re still not convinced, read on to discover the ten reasons we think luxury lodges trump hotels for large group accommodation, every time.
Ditch the communal lobbies and hotel room limits: when you’ve finally managed to gather your tribe for a group holiday, you want to keep everybody together. With spacious kitchens, lounges and outdoor seating areas at each one of our lodges, you can enjoy quality time reconnecting, cheering on board game battles or planning your next adventure around the breakfast table.
Our lodges are all tucked away in their own unique environment, but adventure awaits right outside the door of each one. There’s no need to navigate stuffy corridors or fight over the toaster at the breakfast buffet either – simply step outside with a morning coffee in your hand and breathe in the fresh Highland air.
Trade a row of identical hotel rooms for a stay brimming with Scottish personality. Each Highland Hideout lodge is steeped in character, with handcrafted touches everywhere you look. The lodges intertwine with their settings thanks to locally-styled interiors using classic Scottish textiles, artworks and furnishings. And we haven’t even got started on the squishy sofas yet!
Ever been woken by your fellow hotel guests noisily banging doors late at night or somebody flushing a toilet above your head at 3am? Us too. Contrast that with the experience of staying in a remote lodge: unwind in the private hot tub, snuggle up in comfy bedrooms with fluffy duvets, and wake up to the chirping of birds – not the rumble of lorries. These holiday houses are a sanctuary of seclusion.
We suppose you could go for breakfast in your pyjamas in a hotel…but at least in the privacy of a self-catering lodge, you won’t attract any strange looks.
A Highland holiday house offers the ultimate setting in which to unwind and press pause on life’s constant demands. Eating out for every single meal can become tiresome, but with a well-equipped kitchen at your disposal, you can whip up a hearty breakfast with ingredients sourced from local markets or enjoy a cosy dinner by the fire.
One of the joys of staying in a holiday home is the freedom it provides. Couples will love the privacy while outdoor-loving families can let the kids run wild without worrying about disturbing other guests. Forget rigid hotel schedules – here, you set the pace. Whether you’re exploring nearby attractions, embarking on a spontaneous adventure or simply lounging in your cosy hideaway, you’ll be bonding and making memories to last a lifetime.
Hotels can often feel like generic spaces with little connection to the local culture. Choosing a Highland Hideout chalet opens doors to local interactions, allowing you to connect with locals, experience the warmth and hospitality the Scottish Highlands are famed for, and discover hidden gems that might elude traditional tourists.
By booking a stay in one of our lodges, you’ll be collecting memories, not receipts. Picture cosy evenings playing games by the fire, stargazing from a hot tub, and sharing laughter around a homemade feast. A stay in our lodges is all about simple moments – and there’s no room service bill for that.
Our lodges welcome you with tempting tastes and textures to ignite the senses. Inhale the nutty aroma of burning log stove embers, or savour a sunset whisky from a local distillery on the deck while wrapped up in a wool blanket. Crunch through pine forests studded with juicy wild blaeberries, then warm up with a bowl of creamy porridge drizzled with heather honey. You’ll be truly immersed in the iconic sights, sounds and flavours of this ancient landscape – a far cry from a bland, stuffy hotel.
If we’ve managed to convince you that a holiday home is the best option for your next large group holiday in Scotland, you can find your perfect accommodation by browsing our lodges. Can’t choose? Have a read of our helpful guide.