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Self catering half board hacks help please!

30 replies

Etino · 03/08/2019 15:43

We’re away next week half board and hot. Also in a hotel today and remembered how DH can happily miss meals as I’ve made myself tea and biscuits for ‘lunch’. I turn into a weedy weakly weepy wreck if I go for more than half an hour without food, it’ll be boiling hot, but we’ll be 5, all adults, so really don’t want to sit down and eat expensively every day. So... what can I take which will male catering in the room doable without annoying the hotel? We have massive luggage allowance so will take kettle and picnic hamper- what else?

OP posts:
zebra22 · 03/08/2019 15:45

Just take some cereal bars or super noodles

Why are you taking a picnic hamper and kettle? Surely the room will have a kettle

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/08/2019 15:47

Can’t you just get some snacks once you’re there?
Fruit
Cereal bars
Cheese and biscuits
Crisps/dips etc

Etino · 03/08/2019 15:48

Room definitely doesn’t have a kettle. Don’t really fancy noodles all week, I was thinking more watermelon, nice bread cheese etc. The picnic hamper was because it’d be nice to eat on the balcony civilised rather than getting crumbs on the bed!

OP posts:
titchy · 03/08/2019 15:56

Isn't part of the fun of going on holiday eating out? Doesn't have to expensive, especially if you have a substantial breakfast and know you're having a cooked meal later. Or just me?!Grin

Why the kettle? Tea and coffee will taste like crap as there'll only be uht milk. Picnic hamper - to carry your bag of supermarket bread and cheese from bed to balcony.....? Errrr.... Buy food. Put into carrier bag. Use carrier bag to transport to balcony.

Just because you have a huge luggage allowance doesn't mean you have to use it. You'll have to carry it at both ends you know...

ILiveInSalemsLot · 03/08/2019 15:58

Go to a local supermarket and buy some rolls, croissants and fruit.

MyDcAreMarvel · 03/08/2019 16:01

You won’t need lunch with a buffet breakfast and dinner.

LesLavandes · 03/08/2019 16:18

Don't take a watermelon in your suitcase 😮🤣

Etino · 03/08/2019 16:20

@MyDcAreMarvel I can’t go breakfast- lunch without eating. I’m in a hotel now and had a good breakfast, eating a packet of biscuits because I was feeling so ill is what prompted me to start this thread.
@titchy 5 adults each having a salad and coke will be €30/ day. For literally refuelling. Kettle definitely coming as we happily drink redbush without milk and black coffee.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 03/08/2019 16:21

Oh are they not all you can eat breakfasts cereal , croissants, cheese ham yogurts etc plus full English?

whingeygingy · 03/08/2019 16:25

Everywhere I went everyone filled rolls at breakfast and snuck them out🤣

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 03/08/2019 16:25

Oat cakes (cheese ones are nice)
Hard cheese (ok for 24hrs out of fridge, longer in a cool box)
Celery, grapes, apples
Naice chutney
Peanut butter (used to stuff dates is divine)
Vegetarian pate (tartex, granovita) is nice and fine not refrigerated
Some bread rolls
Jam
Small amount of proper butter in a Tupperware is again fine unrefrigerated unless it actually melts

Cool box and ice packs (if you can freeze a 2 litre bottle it will keep cool for a couple of days)

CocoLoco87 · 03/08/2019 16:26

A packet of biscuits as in 20 biscuits? Or one of those little packets in hotel rooms? might be missing the point

I would have things like brioche, cereal bars, bread, cheese, quiche, naice ham, fruit. But I would buy this all out there rather than lugging it with me.

Does the room have a fridge?

Dairymilkmuncher · 03/08/2019 16:27

If that was me I'd go mental buying tuk biscuits/sandwiches which keep well, crisps, breakfast biscuits/individual packed cakes and pastries. Make in your suitcase pack a biscuit tin. They don't weigh anything and will be able to keep a nice stash of snacks from the beasties.

But say to day just grab a portion of chips on the go or a club sandwich at a seaside cafe. Doesn't have to be formal eating out.

mummmy2017 · 03/08/2019 16:27

Just pack some biscuits and breakfast bars.
If you just buy fruit when on holiday you should be fine....
The reason I say this is by the time you pack and take loads with you it comes out to nearly as much as cheap meals.....

Etino · 03/08/2019 16:28

@MyDcAreMarvel
They are buffet, but if I try and go 10-7 without eating I will faint.
@LesLavandes I have a mental image of peasants flying for the first time with chickens in cages and went off down a rabbit hole trying to find a picture. Grin

OP posts:
Etino · 03/08/2019 16:30

@CocoLoco87. I have been known to eat a full packet, but today was sort of pain d’épices, 2 slices, so as not to spoil my appetite.

OP posts:
IggyAce · 03/08/2019 16:33

Sounds like you would have been better off booking AI. Have you had your blood sugars checked? I can normally skip lunch if I’ve had a substantial breakfast, or just have a snack such as banana or apple.
How about mugshots or take some pastries from the breakfast buffet just wrap in a napkin.

Etino · 03/08/2019 16:42

@IggyAce. I do like AI for this very reason! But with five adults, the cost of AI isn’t to be sniffed at. Last family holiday was skiing SC and we often camp, just trying to work out how to avoid food related meltdowns this holiday. I think I have a fast metabolism, apart from eating constantly I’m ok Wink let’s not mention the tubes of condensed milk last week staying with friends
I think I’ll take some food but not be too rigorous.

OP posts:
Coffeeandchocolate9 · 03/08/2019 16:42

It's also worth taking flasks - one or more for hot drinks, one for keeping a pint of milk cool in. Sat in cold water in the sink also helps if not. Buying a pint a day should be possible and still way cheaper than buying mugs out - get everybody to bring thermal mugs and all take a mug full out for the day, plus flasks.

Bonus points if you can get hotel to give you a scoop of ice from their machine breakfast and night for the milk. If you explain your prefer fresh milk in t&c in your rooms they'll often offer you a small jug to take upstairs anyway.

But if cost and convenience when out and about is the main concern, I'd find a local shop or supermarket and start the day popping by there for a loaf of bread, pack of cold meat, cheese, butter and multi pack of crisps. Maybe a 2L bottle of coke . Put cold things in cool bag in car until wanted, then use picnic plates etc (take sharp knife for cheese!) And have, well, a picnic!

You can mix it up each day - say ham, gouda and tomatoes one day, corned beef, cheddar and pickled onions the next.

Loaf of bread £2
Packet of 5 slices ham £2.50
6 pack crisps £1.50
Butter block £2
Chunk of cheese £3
Bottle of pop: £2
Pack of tomatoes, apples or pickles £2.50
I make that £15.50 or half the cost of what your said buying it all out would cost Smile

Pro-tip yes I have self catered in hotels and B&Bs a lot why do you ask take a small container of washing up liquid. I refill a mini shampoo bottle.

Etino · 03/08/2019 16:58

@Coffeeandchocolate9 brilliant hacks, thank you.
Heading off for supper now and feeling shaky after so little food!

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 03/08/2019 17:46

They are buffet, but if I try and go 10-7 without eating I will faint.
Ah ok we normally eat dinner at five due to young kids. I would be pretty hungry by 7.

CarafeOfTheFinestWine · 03/08/2019 17:51

I can’t go from breakfast through to dinner without earring something. I’d be horrible.

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 03/08/2019 18:04

Oh, and Tupperware. Take Tupperware!

AtleastitsnotMonday · 03/08/2019 20:19

If you hope to get cheese, baguettes, fruit etc out there (which would make more sense) take a decent sharp knife. Most airlines permit kitchen knives in hold luggage provided the blade is wrapped. We always find sandwich bags handy too.

Doubleraspberry · 03/08/2019 20:26

Won’t you be able to take things from the breakfast buffet to have through the day?