Gift vouchers
Holiday Let Gift Vouchers and How to Sell Them
A simple voucher page can bring in cash before winter, if the amounts and rules are clear.
You’ve got a few quiet months ahead and a site that only takes bookings for specific dates. Gift vouchers fix that, because people buy them in November and December without picking a date. The simplest set-up is a voucher page on your own website, fixed amounts, a clear expiry and a short list of redemption rules.
Holiday let gift vouchers also bring in cash months before the stay happens. That helps when the hot tub still needs servicing and the bookings calendar looks thin. Here is how to set them up, price them and sell them yourself.
Why holiday let gift vouchers suit the quiet season
Vouchers turn gift-buying interest into cash now, and a booking later. The buyer pays in the run up to Christmas or Valentine’s Day, and the guest often stays in spring or summer, when you’d rather be busy.
They also bring new guests. The person who receives a voucher may never have heard of you, and a good stay can lead to a repeat booking at full price. A voucher spent on a Tuesday in March also fills a night that might otherwise stay empty.
Value voucher or stay voucher
A value voucher is the easier choice for most small owners. It’s a set amount in pounds that goes towards any stay, and it stays fair if your prices rise.
| Value voucher | Stay voucher | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | £100 towards any stay | One midweek night in the shepherd’s hut |
| Easy to redeem | Yes, deducted from the booking | Only if the dates and rates still match |
| If your prices go up | The guest tops up the difference | You may lose money on the night |
| Good for | Most sites | A single standout unit with a set price |
Stay vouchers feel more like a present, but they tie you to today’s rate. If you want that feel, sell a value voucher and name it after the stay it roughly covers.
What the bigger brands do
Large holiday cottage agencies mostly sell fixed amounts that run for a year or more, and you can follow the same pattern with smaller numbers.
| Business | Amounts | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Retreats | £25, £50 and £100 | Valid for 24 months from issue |
| Premier Cottages | £50 to £250 in £50 steps | Expire 3 years after purchase |
| Forest Holidays | £25 to £500 | Delivered by email |
For a glamping site with a handful of units, three or four amounts is plenty. Pick one that covers roughly a midweek night, one that covers a weekend, and a small one for extras.
Write your redemption rules first
Clear rules stop arguments later. Decide each of these before the voucher goes on sale, and put the same wording on the voucher and the buying page.
There is no UK law that sets a minimum life for a voucher, but you should make the expiry plain to the buyer. Anything beyond that, such as refunds and how the money is treated in your accounts, is worth a quick chat with Trading Standards, a solicitor or your accountant.
Ways to sell your vouchers
You can sell vouchers through your booking system, a simple form on your website, or a third-party voucher service. Each works, and the right one depends on how many you expect to sell.
- Your booking system. Some booking systems include vouchers. The code then redeems at checkout, which saves you tracking it by hand.
- A form and a payment link. Take payment online, then email a PDF voucher with a unique code. Keep a simple spreadsheet of codes, values and dates used. This is fine for a few dozen vouchers a year.
- A third-party voucher marketplace. It takes work off you but you pay a fee and the buyer’s details sit with them. Check the fee before you sign up.
Whichever you choose, put the buy button where people look. A banner on the homepage from November, a link in the main menu and a mention on your booking page all help. Guests who found you on a listing site often search for your own website afterwards, so a voucher page there catches buyers who would never go back to the listing.
If you’re planning a new site, our holiday let website design page covers what a good one includes.
Christmas and Valentine’s campaigns
Two dates matter most, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and the work is mostly about timing.
- Christmas. Launch the voucher page in early November and email past guests with it. Set a last order date for printed vouchers and say it on the page. Email vouchers can go out until the last few days.
- Valentine’s Day. Aim at couples. A romantic midweek in a hut with a hot tub is the obvious picture. Put the page live in January and keep the Christmas buyers’ list for a reminder.
- Photos. Use one clear picture of the unit and one of the view. Guests browse on mobile, so the buy button needs to be easy to tap.
What to do with the money
A voucher is money you’ve been paid for a stay you haven’t yet delivered. Keep track of the total outstanding, and don’t spend it as if it were income. How vouchers are treated for VAT and in your accounts depends on your set-up, so ask your accountant.
Voucher amounts and terms above accurate as of October 2026.
FAQs
How long should a holiday let gift voucher last?
Most owners pick 12 to 36 months. Rural Retreats uses 24 months from issue and Premier Cottages uses 3 years from purchase. A longer window gives the recipient time to find a date that suits them. Whatever you choose, state it clearly on the voucher and on the page where people buy.
What amounts should I offer?
Fixed steps are easiest to manage. Rural Retreats offers £25, £50 and £100, and Premier Cottages offers £50 to £250 in £50 steps. For a glamping unit, a round figure close to the cost of a midweek night works well, plus a smaller amount for a hot tub add-on or a breakfast hamper.
Should vouchers be printed or sent by email?
Offer both if you can. Email is instant, which matters in the last week before Christmas. Printed vouchers feel more like a present and some buyers prefer to hand one over in a card. Some big cottage agencies offer both a printed and an e-voucher, and it costs little to copy that.
Can I refund a gift voucher?
That is up to your terms, and you should write it down before the first sale. Many owners make vouchers non-refundable but transferable to another person. Ask Trading Standards or a solicitor if you are unsure what your terms can say, as this article is general information, not legal advice.
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