Aah, Christmas… such a wonderful time of the year! When the house is looking all lovely and the tree’s even more amazing than last year, with lots of twinkly lights and glistening baubles, presents beneath it, stockings by the fireplace ready for Santa to fill on Christmas Eve. How can anyone be all bah humbug, especially when the young ‘uns are so excited?

If you missed the boat this year and won’t be spending Christmas in a luxury large group holiday home with your nearest and dearest, well, more’s the pity, because that certainly is a fantastic way to celebrate this wonderful time of year, especially if you have children in your party; they just make it all so magical, don’t they? It’s such a joy to be a part of their excitement and to remember how we were all like that once upon a time….

If what you really wanted was to spend Christmas in a gorgeous big house with your nearest and dearest all around you, you probably think you’ve missed the boat for this year, but maybe we can help. Just last week our team went over to the New Forest to have a look at Ortus House in Lyndhurst and this place knocked their socks off! We’re absolutely cock-a-hoopie to be adding this fabulous holiday home to our portfolio of luxury self catering accommodation for large groups. It sleeps up to 15 guests, has an indoor AND an outdoor pool, a steam room, gym, games room and play area – and wow factor by the bucket load! Get in!

12. What a nice round number for a large group holiday, be it a whole week away, a weekend stay or a cheeky midweek break. That could be six couples, three young families, a big family group of two or three generations, 12 friends on a hen weekend, or a posse of 12 for team building or corporate hospitality. Whichever it is, we’ve got all possibilities covered at Group Stays and you’ll find there really is something for everyone, plenty to keep everyone entertained regardless of their age – and do you know what? That even includes the family pooch as most of our large holiday homes are dog friendly.

If you live in a big town or city, a large group holiday in a country cottage has a lot of appeal – the peace and quiet for starters, no noise from traffic and sirens, far away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets, it’s the perfect way to spend time with your nearest and dearest, to unwind and recharge any flagging batteries. Whether it’s a family holiday, a reunion of old friends, a hen weekend, a birthday celebration, or a corporate team building break, you’ll find the country cottage ambience just adds to it all and makes your stay so much more special.

When it comes to renting a house for a large group weekend away Group Stays has quite a choice. We’ve got luxury timber-clad lodges, fabulous barn conversions, gorgeous old farmhouses, English country cottages, a striking townhouse, a historic chateau, and fine country houses. How does that last one appeal? A handsome country house, set in its own private grounds, all yours for the weekend? No one to bother you, beautiful surroundings, stunning views, and all the facilities you need to keep you all amused….

If there’s one sure way to unwind from the stresses and pressures of modern life it’s getting away with a bunch of your favourite family or best buddies for a large group holiday where you know you’re going to have fun. It’s like a tonic, a pick-me-up; head off, leave your worries behind and put your feet up somewhere where none of that stuff matters, just enjoy that large group break, whether it’s for a whole week or just a few days. Make the most of it.

It’s always fun to get away with a big group of friends or family, but sometimes organising it can be quite a bother, especially if you’re talking about a week long holiday. If you’ve got kids you can only go out of term time, when the roads are busier and the world and his wife are out and about visiting the family attractions! If you fancy something a little quieter, something where you can go at your own pace, that takes less organising, the answer is to have a group weekend break instead.

Somerset. What do you think of when you think of Somerset? Let's guess – tractors, cows, cheese, cider…. ooh-aaarrrr! Well, yes, things like that might spring to mind but it’s not all like that you know, we're not all carrot-crunching wurzels, we’re actually quite sophisticated round these parts these days! We’re biased of course, we live here, but the fact that Somerset is a popular holiday destination speaks for itself – it’s a beautiful county, a wonderful part of the West Country, and because it’s bisected by the M5, it’s easy to get to.

Finding the perfect holiday home isn’t always easy, especially with all the choice there is these days, and if you’re a large group looking to go away for a week or a few days, it can be even more of a trial because there’s so much that has to be just right - the sleeping arrangements, the bathrooms, leisure facilities like swimming pools, hot tubs, and games rooms, and if you have children in your group you’ll be thinking about the garden – is it safe and enclosed, is there play equipment. So much to think about!