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Original poster

If you are self-catering abroad, what do you pack by way of food?

187 replies

Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 05:50

Single parent two children

Usually we do all inclusive or half board. This year our big hol is in Feb so I’ve booked a simple air bnb for a week in Spain. There’s a full kitchen. I’m looking to only eat out for dinners. So planning to “cook” for breakfast and lunch.

Lovely town. No big supermarket close by. A large corner shop that does phenomenal fresh fruit salad and veg. But limited in terms of dried goods.

We are no foodies. And I’m not interested in cooking elaborate dishes or sourcing local specialties. We are very active and eat to fuel and it’s a lot of veg, fruit, salad, avocados, salmon, chicken, Greek yoghurt etc and i will get these locally.

However, I’d like to take the kefir yoghurts that I love that I know won’t be available and also some cream cheese. Can I pack these items in a cooling lunch box with an ice pack in it - and do you think ok for a total of 7/8 hours door to door (transfers flight etc)?

Planning on bringing some packets of microwaveable rice, tins of Wild salmon and also tins of tuna - so then I can mix eg rice, tin of tuna, tinned sweet corn and a splash of soy sauce (my children LOVE this!). Also I’ll bring some tortillas and then I’ll fill with cream cheese and ham that I’ll buy out there and they can have but the pool. I’ll get a load of salad from the shop and have with the tinned tuna I’ve brought from home.

Breakfast - I’ll bring porridge sachets (so then I just need to buy milk) , dried apricots and dates for topping. And we will also have lots of fruit and maybe some toast.

I drink almond milk - I’ll pack the long life version as wont be able to get there

So my question is re whether possible to bring a small amount of refrigerated food if backed in hold luggage in a cooking bag with cooking packs inside?

And then curious about what you bring by way of dried food for self catering abroad holidays?

OP posts:
HopHoppityHop · 09/08/2019 05:52

Are you allowed to fly with cream cheese and yoghurt?
I wouldn't take anything except tea bags if I was flying somewhere.

CountFosco · 09/08/2019 05:59

We self cater and I've only taken condiments and possibly food for the first meal) when driving in the UK. But if you want to take a small amount of food to another part of the EU with you in a holdbag then I don't think it'll be a problem, checking with theairline is probably sensible though in case they have any restrictions. What you are suggesting will certainly survive for 7-8h in a chill bag (I'd freeze anything that can be to keep it cool longer).

Basilandparsleyandmint · 09/08/2019 06:04

I have had self catering holidays in Italy/Spain and France where we have flown.
Only take things like dry marinades and herbs as have always shopped in local supermarkets as we always hire a car.
We tend to buy baguettes there and fill with cheese/salami/ham for lunch with fruit/ bags of lays crisps etc
Sachets of porridge are easy to transport but not sure how well refrigerated items will transfer in a suitcase. Suitcases do get rather chucked about. I personally wouldn't take as am sure you can get something that might not be the same but just as tasty.

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General food
TheWashingMachine · 09/08/2019 06:04

I only ever take coffee plus a cafetiere as you never know whay other people have, tea from home as many places in Europe have ghastly tea and dishwasher tablets because they only ever seem to have about three.

TheWashingMachine · 09/08/2019 06:06

and condiments

Original poster
Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 06:15

I’d forgotten tea bags etc

And I’m obsessed with my tea!

So thank you

Good to know that you think it will remain edible after 6/7 hours. I’ll only be bringing two pots (450/500)

It’s a lovely kefir yoghurt that I know won’t be available.

OP posts:
Nanamilly · 09/08/2019 06:16

Op, I often travel from the Uk to the Middle East with a suitcase full of perishable foods and they do really well packed in a suitcase with frozen ice packs. The hold of an aircraft is very cold and I think you’ll be surprised by how cold your supplies still are when you open your suitcase.

I’ve also brought perishable items from Italy and Switzerland using the same method and family who are air crew do so as well.

It will be fine.

Submariner · 09/08/2019 06:26

Carrefour and other supermarkets do online shopping in Spain. Just done it for a self-catering holiday. They have quite a range on there. Lots of the things you mention are readily available where we are and even the local spar has a fairly good range. Definitely lots of tinned fish etc.

BillieEilish · 09/08/2019 06:26

Surely you're near a 'Mercadona' or similar.

Every single thing you mention is available there.

Just do an online food shop if not nearby/don't have car. (Like me)

Every week I buy almond milk/cream cheese/ greek yog/teabags.

Every.single.week.

Tinned tuna! my god, it's amazing here and cheaper than UK.

You sound slightly crazy. It is not a war zone in Spain, with rationing.

BillieEilish · 09/08/2019 06:32

I bought Keifer yogurt yesterday Hmm

Original poster
Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 06:34

@BillieEilish
I sound crazy?

I am a single mother of two children under 9.
I don’t drive.
We are staying in a little village that I have stayed in before and there is absolutely no supermarket or similar close by. A large corner shop.

I am just trying to make mine and my children’s lives a bit easier so that we enjoy this precious week together before I’m back to working etc. I don’t want to waste a day getting a bus to a supermarket, lugging it back to the apartment etc. Nor will our food needs justify an online shop. Three of us are very skinny, small appetites and as I say - just eat to fuel.

I know Spain well. Spent 8 weeks out there during my university years when I was studying Spanish as a unit. I certainly don’t think it’s a war zone. Do I think the local shop will sell my kefir yoghurt I love. Nope. Just as my local one in SE England doesn’t!

Thank you others, especially Nanamilly. Genuinely helpful.

OP posts:
BillieEilish · 09/08/2019 06:35

Yes, Spain has the best coffee in the world, IMO better the Italy even, so bring a cafetiere.

Lord.

BillieEilish · 09/08/2019 06:38

I live here, without a car, with a DC.

I am giving you sensible advice? Where are you going? There MUST be an All Campo/Mercadona/Carrefore nearish. They will deliver.

It is 45 degrees ATM, do not transport yogurt. Tinned fish etc, yes, it sounds crazy to me.

It is available here. As is porridge Hmm

BillieEilish · 09/08/2019 06:40

8 weeks years ago is not like current advice from a mother in a similar situation who eats the same food, day in and day out.

But crack on and ignore me [shrug]

Original poster
Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 06:41

Will do!

OP posts:
PullingMySocksUp · 09/08/2019 06:42

I’m not sure many people would book a holiday in a place with no supermarket if they have no car. So I’m not sure you’ll get many helpful answers.
I’m in the ‘take tea bags’ camp and that’s only because I prefer earl grey.

Original poster
Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 06:53

Oh for goodness sakes! Grin

It has a large corner shop
We are not interested in food! Eat to fuel
All I was asking was whether ok to take perishables on hold-all
And then a nosy question re what people bring if self catering abroad

I’m not least bit concerned about no supermarket! I’ve been to the area before. I know the shop. It’s lovely - wonderful fresh fruit and veg.

All good. And thanks for help

OP posts:
Tonnerre · 09/08/2019 06:55

Surely you can manage without kefir yoghurt for a week?

Original poster
Lovemenorca · 09/08/2019 06:59

Sure

But I absolutely love it!

OP posts:
Nanamilly · 09/08/2019 07:04

Op, you could fit everything into a carry on suitcase but put it in the hold instead. What I do though because of the amount of stuff I have is to pack things into various Tupperware like boxes within a large suitcase in order to stop them rattling around and being damaged.

Honestly, there’s nothing unusual in what you’re doing. Almost everyone I know takes difficult to get food items from one country to another.

DearTeddyRobinson · 09/08/2019 07:15

If you speak Spanish I would be very tempted to have a look at the online supermarket option as PP suggested. Don't forget that these food items will probably add a couple of kilos to your luggage weight and you could be charged depending on the airline. We were 4kgs over on EasyJet this week which cost us 60 euro!
If you could get the lot delivered the evening you arrive it would save a lot of time and hassle. I've done this when the kids were babies so I didn't have to carry a weeks worth of nappies, formula etc, just did a Tesco Ireland order when we were going there for example. Have a lovely holiday anyway!

vampirethriller · 09/08/2019 07:17

Nothing, I get whatever is in the shops where I go.

Antigonads · 09/08/2019 07:25

I don't take anything except teabags.

But then I'm a fat bitch who eats for pleasure and likes to enjoy sampling different foods.

stucknoue · 09/08/2019 07:34

I take teabags, ketchup and herbs/spices plus a knife unless I'm driving. If there's a small carrefour market then you can buy all of this there. When driving I've thrown in pasta, noodles, rice etc but not flying

BarbaraofSeville · 09/08/2019 07:37

If we have a no Deal Brexit you may not be able to import foodstuffs into the EU from outside.

The sort of stuff you are wanting to take will make an awful mess if it gets damaged by the baggage handlers so you'd need it to be well wrapped in a sturdy suitcase with multiple wrappings.

But I think it's an odd thing to do - if you're not interested in food you just make do with what the local shop has, manage without special yogurt for a week, just have whatever yogurt they sell or maybe pick some up when you're out and about, I assume you plan to leave the village during the holiday, maybe take a small coolbag that fits in a rucksack.