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.

Premier Inn is our hotel of choice whenever we are away from home.

I have seen loads of people hang carrier bags out of windows with milk in overnight (winter of course)

We have a plug in cool box that gets plugged into the socket in the car in the boot, then we would transport it into the hotel room. It does stay cold for hours without being plugged in inside the room. But these days camping cooler boxes are amazing. My sister camps a lot, they have either the Igloo or an Icey Tek.

Very easy to keep mayo, mustard, butter, ham, cheese, fruit, yoghurts etc in a cool box. The Aeropress is an amazing bit of kit for travel, lots of Dh's work colleagues use them at work. Pot noodles also a great idea. Just see this as an adventure!

I use these on camping trips etc when I need very good coffee.

brew-company.com/collections/coffeebrewers

Pot noodles

Little Cafetière and ground coffee in a tin
Toastie sandwich maker if you have one. Good, cheap, warm lunches
If you want to be really cheeky, take a plug in slow cooker

Or if going for cold stuff only - nice french bread, cheeses and grapes always feels a treat,

Lots of wise advice here! We've done this loads, we have one of those two ring electric tabletop hobs that's really handy. One thing I'd suggest is a collapsible bucket/sink - great for doing the washing up in the tub, and plenty of tea towels. Definitely the plug in coolbox but take along some slim coolbricks, too, that have been frozen.

We have an Aeropress as well, but on longer trips I take our actual coffeemaker.

We always take porridge pots (3 for a pound in Home Bargain) bananas, cartons of O.J and Alpro milk and coffee bags. Uber Eats very often have a discount and will deliver to the hotel, we use our Tesco Clubcard vouchers or Meerkat Meals to eat out once a day, then a supermarket meal deal if we need to top up.

Kids eat free for breakfast in a premier inn. £8.99 for an adult and 2 children for cooked breakfast.

£4.49 with eat out to help out!

I’m excited. I want to come too.

@Bollocksitshappenedagain

Kids eat free for breakfast in a premier inn. £8.99 for an adult and 2 children for cooked breakfast.

£4.49 with eat out to help out!

She already said the restaurant at the one they're staying in is closed.

If the local supermarket has rotisserie chicken that works well, pastries or cereal for breakfast (my water bottle keeps things chilled for 24 hours) but I would get takeaway myself or see if there's a local supermarket with kids eat free after 4pm for a cheap meal out

1. Ikea kids plastic plates and bowls
2. Cutlery including a knife sharp enough to cut bread
3. Mugs / travel cups/ water bottles
4. Washing up liquid and tea towel
5. Food and bing bags

I’d do PI breakfast or croissants, tiger bread, ham and cheese and mini cereals. Plus Cartons of OJ.

Lunch out or general supermarket picnic

Takeaway dinner.

I generally pack squash, crisps, cereal bars, chocolate and popcorn as a matter of course. Cous cous, mug shots / cuppa soups / instant porridge are good too. Anything you can make up with boiling water.

We always travel with an electric cool box and never had an issue.

A certain Premier Inn we go to had a rank restaurant so we go to Tesco for breakfast and pic up bits got lunch

For your coffee, either an aeropress or a V60 filter would be very easy. The V60 is just like a little cup that sits on top of your coffee mug, you put a paper filter and coffee in it, and pour over boiling water. The coffee then drips through into your cup

My suitcase always has a stash of plastic plates and cutlery for this very reason! I have heard of people boiling eggs in the kettle, ironing bacon etc but I have never attempted that, we tend to do the cooked breakfast, snack for lunch then a picnic kind of tea with a supermarket hot chicken and salad plus bread. I have just tried out keeping milk cool in the sink with a bag of ice, but I am loving the idea of hanging a bag out of the window with milk in - we always have the window open.

I do love a cheapo premier inn stay

You can get UHT milk in small multipacks, so you can just use as much as you need in one go without needing to refrigerate.

I took my 2 DC to a Premier Inn a few weeks ago for a few days to see family. Previously I've only ever really stayed there prior to an early morning flight or whatnot, so it was unusual for us.

We had the breakfast at the restaurant there. Primarily because the kids ate free, so essentially I was just paying for me. And I could get a proper coffee!

There was a supermarket nearby and I went there to buy what we needed each day rather than trying to keep anything cool. I had a cool box, tupperware and cutlery and bought a cooked chicken, bag of salad and a baguette for dinner (and an individual size bottle of wine which I'm not ashamed to say I chilled in cold water in the bathroom sink!!). We had a large breakfast and I bought a sandwich for lunch. We ate out the other night. If I'd stayed longer we might have had a takeaway. I took lots of fruit with me in the coolbox, and also some crisps, rice cakes and a box of apple pies - which was basically what I had in the cupboard when we left.

Have already seen most of my own hacks here.

Before anything else though - I am not pleased with all the people suggesting taking electrical cooking devices. Please don't. I'm happy for the hotel to take responsibility for my safety by ensuring everything has been thoroughly and regularly checked. I don't want to have to rely on you and your twice a year camping stove ...

If I'm staying for more than one night I usually take my manual coffee grinder, beans, and a drip filter that doesn't need paper.

Plates and cutlery. Definitely your own mugs.

Washing up supplies.

Wine. Etc ...

Fresh milk is always fine overnight between the window and the curtain.

Quite often, apart from whatever event I'm attending, I've found the room so cosy I'm quite happy to eat out for lunch and then stuff myself silly with bread, cheese, wine, chocolate and tea (my own teabags) in the evening.

Happy days!

Kenco do instant coffee that tastes ok. Might make it easier. Milk not required.

decent coffee - lyons coffee bags
meals - couscous & tinned veg/fish
instant porridge

take salt & pepper & bowls/cuttlery

the last premier in I stayed in didn't have a fridge.

We did this for a week a few years ago, and we managed by having their cooked breakfasts, buying sandwiches etc for a packed lunch and then either buying salads and cold meats for the evening or eating in their restaurant. I think one evening we went to the local McDonalds.

Although their restaurant may be closed, you should be able to manage for a few days absolutely fine. Just do your homework re nearby supermarkets and takeaways, and see if there are any restaurants open. If you talk to the hotel reception, the staff will be local and are bound to have some suggestions.

Oh yes, and take your own tea, coffee and mugs, and a mini fridge.

Have a Google and see if there are any shops nearby, for example on PI we used had a little Sainsbury's across the carpark. Recently we stayed, I took bowls and spoons etc and little variety packs and we ate in the room. (It was only overnight so the milk stayed cold in a little cool bag) I then just washed up in the sink.

Before anything else though - I am not pleased with all the people suggesting taking electrical cooking devices. Please don't. I'm happy for the hotel to take responsibility for my safety by ensuring everything has been thoroughly and regularly checked. I don't want to have to rely on you and your twice a year camping stove ...

. Whatever. I'll continue doing it if it suits. I don't leave it unattended anymore than my DD does her hair straighteners or her fuck off expensive Dyson hairdryer or anything else that needs charged.

It works for us and has done for years. We also take an electric coolbox for milk and cold meats.

Take your own full size kettle.

I also happen to have a small nespresso, so I'd be packing that.

Take cutlery and plates, napkins, any seasonings and sauces you like to use frequently.

I'm also a bit shocked at some of these unsafe and stinky suggestions! A hob, Jesus Christ. Tinned fish....
What's wrong with fruit, pastries and sarnies. Plus the odd takeaway, meal out and snacks.