Self catering in a Premier Inn?

[Mrsemcgregor]

So in a moment of somewhat madness I’ve booked a Premier Inn in the Peak District for 3 nights in October half term. We are an outdoorsy family who love to walk in all weather so I’m not worried about that side of things.

We will eat out of course but I’m not sure I want to eat out for every single meal and the hotels own restaurant is currently closed (may be open again by time we go).

So what are your best hacks for eating in the room? There is a supermarket very close so supplies won’t be an issue. I’m thinking pastries for breakfast, what’s the best way to get a decent cup of coffee using a hotel kettle? Can I buy milk the night before and pour it directly into a thermos? What can I take from home to make it easy?

I fully intend to ensure the room is left completely free from our food stuffs and won’t be doing anything smelly and will be taking all rubbish with me.

Can you take a mini fridge if they don’t have one in the room? They can be really cheap to buy and should fit in a bag for life. Then you can buy enough for 3 days without spending your holiday in the shops!

Presumably you'll buy rolls ham and cheese for lunches out rather than going back to your room? You can get those porridge pots where you just add water. That only leaves dinners, you can pick up a takeaway or go to the supermarket for cold chicken, olives, salads etc for two nights meaning you would need dinner out once.

I'm in a premier inn even as I type and I bought a pint of milk with me and it is fine this morning. I also saw downstairs that you can have take aways delivered! So that may be an idea?

Yeah then just mug shots, cup a soups for snacks, hot chocolate. Take your own big mugs, forks, spoons.

We've just stayed in a Premier Inn with a closed restaurant but the breakfasts were still happening as normal - maybe call them to check? That way you can fill up at breakfast, lunch becomes less of an issue and it's only the evening meal you really need to worry about.

For coffee, if you don't want instant, I would take an aeropress along with some filter papers & ground coffee. Tastes amazing, doesn't take much room, easy to clean & not breakable

www.aeropress.co.uk/

Plug in cool box for milk? Take bowls, spoons and cereal? Eat out at lunch times and make sandwiches, crisps, snacks to eat in the room in the eve? (Or make pack lunches to take out)

I hadn’t even considered getting takeaways delivered! Fantastic!

Yes to making up sandwiches to take out for the day, and maybe a cheeky pasty or two

Can you get coffee pods to use with a kettle? Rather than instant. Will be taking many Yorkshire tea bags also!

Fill the sink with cold water and put the milk in there overnight. Add ice if you can get it.

Just don’t do what 13 year old me did when asked to do this, and pour the milk into the ice and water. How was I meant to know my mum meant for me to put the bottle in the sink?!

Individual coffee filters for coffee - you can get them in supermarkets, about £2.50 for 10 and they make surprisingly good coffee! I use them for work where instant is all that’s on offer. A pint of milk will keep for a day especially if you put it in a tub of cold water so you could buy new each day and have variety pack cereal.

You can usually order takeaway to the room as well.

[quote confusedofengland]For coffee, if you don't want instant, I would take an aeropress along with some filter papers & ground coffee. Tastes amazing, doesn't take much room, easy to clean & not breakable

www.aeropress.co.uk/[/quote]
What is this magic?!?

You can get Percol coffee bags, they're really nice. Taylors do them too but IMO they taste like shite.

@Greenandcabbagelooking

Fill the sink with cold water and put the milk in there overnight. Add ice if you can get it.

Just don’t do what 13 year old me did when asked to do this, and pour the milk into the ice and water. How was I meant to know my mum meant for me to put the bottle in the sink?!

13 year old me would have done the same!

Just buy an electric cool box, surely?

Pastries and fruit for breakfast - Uht mini apple juice cartons for kids

Apples, bananas, breadsticks, granola bars you can take with you from home to take out each day as snacks.

Buy some chocolate, popcorn and hot chocolate sachets that you make with hot water for in the evening on return to hotel room whilst watching film before bed.

Take some cutlery In case you end up picking up a takeaway depending on eating out restrictions at the time

They serve the food to you now at Premier Inn so less chance of smuggling supplies. I'd do PI breakfast, supermarket take out lunch and pub or takeaway dinner.

Love a good Premier Inn.

We have a porridge pot for breakfast, and take a cafetiere for coffee using UHT milk. We also take things for snacks that add up like crisps, chocolate, nuts, fruit etc.

Loving all the tips, thank you! Especially the coffee ones, it’s very important

I did think about an electric cool box but wasn’t sure if that was an ok thing to do? I do have a tendency to worry a bit too much.

My Premier Inn experience is either rocking up at midnight rather wobbly after a wedding or a quick night away when going to football/rugby/various concerts. I’ve never used the room beyond collapsing on the bed and having a shower. Im quite excited!

Aeropress is fabulous.

We once lived in a Premier Inn room for several weeks, paid for by my insurer after a house fire. We were utterly broke anyway at the time (so glad I kept up the insurance as considered cancelling it - cautionary tale for MNers there!). Eating out was not an option as we had to pay up front and claim it back.

We borrowed a microwave from MIL and put it in our room - you'd be amazed what you can make with a microwave and kettle! Haute cuisine it was not, but it worked for us temporarily. Premier Inn were fine with it, but not sure if that was just because they knew our circumstances?

As others have said, you can order takeaway to your room no problem if carting a microwave with you is a bit extreme I'd take some plates and cutlery with you, whatever you chose to do.

@Mrsemcgregor

Absolutely fine!

We often take one as DS is little and still likes milk at bedtime/in the morning with cereal

Take a microwave!

[quote ScarMatty]@Mrsemcgregor

Absolutely fine!

We often take one as DS is little and still likes milk at bedtime/in the morning with cereal [/quote]
Fab, my DM has one I can pinch!

Premier inns have always let us keep milk in their fridge at reception. Take a strip of labels to write your name on to stick to the bottle.

You can get coffee bags now and they are amazing! Just like a tea bag.

We did a premier inn last week and they served breakfast but we did our own, and yes they do takeaways like said above.