insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 14 - April 2016 | Page 88

BUSINESS

CoolStays

find somewhere special
to stay on your next trip away
Before the internet found its place in our lives as something as normal as lunch, most of us probably
felt we didn’t have enough choice, and now it’s likely we feel we have too much – especially where
travel’s concerned. Every other online travel site seems to be touting ‘the most unique’, or ‘hidden
gem’ accommodation options, but what if you want all of the best features in one place to stay?
CoolStays; that’s what. Dreamt up to encompass the sheer amount of exceptionally cool rental, B&B
and hotel choices out there, Brighton-based CoolStays handpicks the cream of the extraordinary
crop for you. Founders, Tim and Claire Wills, let us in on the secrets behind their business brainwave.
Withyfield

Hi Tim and Claire! What was the
inspiration behind CoolStays?
We love to travel, and what we love even more
is to find properties that have both a great
location and something really memorable
about them, but there just wasn't a travel
brand offering that. Our aim was to create
a beautiful website; something really visual,
where you don’t have to trawl through lots
of bland properties before finding something
extraordinary, and we really feel we’ve done that.
What makes CoolStays different from
other businesses of its kind?
I think it’s the time and care we put into selecting
the properties we feature as well as how we
present them. We handpick them, which means
you’re not inundated with thousands to choose
from, and we’ve added a lot from our travelling
past too! Every property offers something unique
and has a wow factor, and we really value the
property owners who make their places so
memorable; there are some really innovative
owners out there offering some amazing services
to their guests who really put their hearts into their
businesses. It’s great to be able to showcase that.

Belle Tout

Do you think more people are holidaying in
the UK now that it’s easier to find places
that are a little bit different, but not too
tricky to get to?
There is no doubt that the UK has an amazing
selection of cool places to visit. The country’s
rich history combined with a fantastic diversity
of landscapes means there are some fabulous
places to explore. The recent recession has
made holidays in the UK a necessity for a lot
of people too, and sites like ours have made
it easier for people to find great places to stay
within their travel budget. That said, we have
properties all over the world for people who are
wanting to travel more widely.
What next for CoolStays?
To continue growing and making it our mission
to find those hidden gems, and for CoolStays
to become much more widely known as the
go-to travel site for the discerning guest! We
have just launched our ‘Deluxe’ inspiration on
CoolStays, which consists of 50 beautifully
luxurious properties, from a 11-bedroom
chateau in France, to a boutique cottage in one
of Cornwall's prettiest fishing villages.

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Where’s your favourite CoolStay in
Sussex?
Withyfield Cottage in Horsham. We celebrated
our 10th wedding anniversary there with
friends. It’s the perfect luxurious eco cottage
and a replica of a property we loved watching
being built on Channel 4's Grand Designs. 
Any other favourites?
Belle Tout Lighthouse has an iconic Sussex
location at Beachy Head and serves possibly
the best breakfasts you'll find anywhere. We
love Treetops Treehouse in Devon too; it's just
magical. Further afield, the Fogo Island Inn in
Canada is incredible; it’s remote with stunning
architecture and amazing food.

www.coolstays.com

@Cool_Stays
/CoolStays