Covid Policy - What you need to know
This information details the steps that Holidays in Croyde have taken to help reduce the risk of COVID 19 infection for guests and staff of Holidays in Croyde.
Using the Professional Association of Self Caterers (PASC) cleaning protocols and risk assessment guidelines we have reviewed all our activities and each of our properties. This work enabled us to develop new cleaning standards and protocols that meet the government requirements to maintain a COVID secure environment.
All staff have been trained in the new protocols and their work will be checked on a regular basis to make sure that we are getting it right.
We have had to make some difficult decisions, and if you have stayed with us before, you may find that there are some small changes. Probably the most difficult decision has been to change the check in and departure times for guests. You will now be able to self-check into our properties using a key lock box from 5pm on your arrival day and we ask that you vacate the property by 9 am on the day of your departure.
This was a necessary decision, in order to accommodate the additional time needed to safely clean and prepare a property and we hope that you appreciate it has been taken in the best interests of our guests and cleaning teams.
A summary of the other key changes is provided below. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch, we are all learning this new world together!!
Contact Information
We will ask you prior to arrival to provide the names and addresses contact information of all members of your party. We collect this information to comply with test track and trace government guidelines. You will be asked, for names, addresses, contact phone number and email address. Please email all of this information to sarah@holidaysincroyde.co.uk in advance of your arrival date.
Arrival and Property Information
We have taken the decision to remove all paper copies of property information packs (as well as the ever-increasing pile of information leaflets) and instead will send these to you via email in advance of your stay. We hope that this will have the added benefit of allowing you to start planning your stay and familiarise yourself with the property before you even arrive!
Your arrival information will now be included in this pack, so please keep your eye out for an email from us.
Preparing the properties
We have fully assessed the risks in each property and have made changes to the layout and decoration of the properties where we believe this will help to reduce the risk of infection. This has included the removal of all non-essential soft furnishings, such as throws, cushions, and spare bedding. If you need additional bedding, then please let us know, it is available.
We have also removed any decorative items in high traffic areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways. This enables us to focus on cleaning the areas that really matter! Whilst this will have had a small impact on the aesthetics of the home, we hope that you will continue to enjoy the property and its facilities.
Cleaning the properties
The property will have been fully cleaned prior to arrival. The cleaning process will focus on high use areas and in particular frequently touched surfaces. This includes, light switches, bannister rails, door handles, remote controls, bed rails, entry keypads and keys etc.
All of our staff will wear gloves and aprons when cleaning the property and masks where appropriate.
We have reviewed all our cleaning protocols and developed checklists which will be completed at the end of each changeover by a supervisor, who will check the quality of cleaning and presentation of the property.
Our protocols aim to lower the risk of the virus surviving within the property. In the unlikely scenario that a guest falls ill when staying at a property we have developed enhanced cleaning protocols to address the increased risk of the virus in the property.
Cleaning will follow a two step processes
- Pre clean with general purpose products and hot water.
- Disinfection – Electrostatic Mist Disinfection
What is Electrostatic Mist Disinfection
Proper disinfection is immensely important in helping to eliminate the spread of the virus. There are lots of different ways that you can disinfect a property and we have chosen to use an electrostatic misting spray to do this.
Electrostatic Disinfection – This method uses an electrostatic spray to discharge positively charged disinfectant droplets which then ‘stick’ to surfaces. We believe this is the best solution for our properties because;
- It enables large surface areas such as walls and floors to be evenly treated.
- The mist is very fine and does not leave surfaces wet or damp.
- It can treat soft furnishings such as bedding, cushions, and curtains.
- The virucidal disinfectant has a prolonged efficacy, so it carries on working after it is applied, tackling any viruses that it comes into contact with.
Bedding
With people being the main carriers of Coronavirus (the virus that’s leads to COVID-19), we must pay particular attention to how we treat our bedding and towels, to make sure that the virus is removed. Heat is extremely effective at eliminating coronavirus.
Our bedlinen and towels are cleaned by a professional laundry service. All laundry is washed at above 60 degrees Celsius, as per recommended guidelines it is then dried and pressed between superheated rollers.
Bedding and mattresses will have been sprayed with a virucidal disinfectant mist, and mattress protectors will have been changed between each booking.
If you need additional laundry during your stay, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Two towels per person will be provided. Beach towels and hot tub towels will not be provided.
What is provided
We have reviewed what we provide for you during your stay, to make sure that it does not present any additional risks to you.
You will find the following items in your property to help you settle in;
- Holidays in Croyde Welcome pack, including tea, coffee, milk and a sweet treat. PLEASE NOTE; Where previously you may have expected a small selection of kitchen basics such as salt pepper and oils, these are not provided.
- Starter kitchen pack including, washing up liquid, sponge, dishwasher tablets, tea towels and oven gloves.
- Starter Bathroom Pack including, hands soap and 2 toilet rolls in all the bathrooms.
- Cleaning box, with method cleaning products, including antibacterial spray, bleach and disposable cleaning cloths. This will be located under the sink. Please note: There are no child locks on the sink cupboard doors, and method cleaning products are very ‘pretty’ (and environmentally friendly). If you have curious children in your party, you may want to relocate this box to a higher cupboard.
- If your property has a wood burner or real fire it will be laid, and a small supply of logs will be provided.
Hot Tubs
If your property has a Hot Tub it will have been cleaned, the water changed and treated prior to your arrival. As such it may not have reached maximum temperature, until the evening of your stay. There is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread by hot tubs. The chemicals used to treat the hots tubs ensure the water safety, and that viruses cannot survive in the water. We would remind you of the need to maintain social distancing at this time, and therefore you should not allow anyone who is not using the holiday accommodation in the Hot Tub at any time.
For stays of 7 days or more we will attend the property to test the water at around the mid-point of your booking. We will notify you in advance of when we will arrive and would ask that you refrain from being in the outside area when we attend the property. It only takes 10 minutes.
More Information
If you would like more information, then take a look at our other information resources
- COVID -19 – How you can help
- COVID 19 – Departure guidelines
- Things to do – Out and About
- Things to do – Eating out.
If you have any questions, comments, of feedback for us please do contact us, as we are happy to help, as always.
We look forward to welcoming you to Croyde, very soon!
