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Original poster

Self catering welcome pack - yes or no?

201 replies

Malteser71 · 09/05/2021 22:50

So I’m wondering about our holiday let in Cornwall and ether it’s worth continuing to provide a ‘welcome pack’ of goodies.

It generally costs us about £15 per changeover. We include tea/coffee/milk/sugar/biscuits and crisps.

Thing is, when I’m a guest myself, I dont drink tea and I don’t take sugar. Lots of people have food allergies/intolerances.

What do you all think? Do you appreciate these welcome gifts on arrival? What goods do you like ?

OP posts:
Laquila · 09/05/2021 22:59

I appreciate it when I arrive at a holiday let, but understand it's slowly eating into your profit margin at £15 a time! Having said that, how is it costing you £15?! I get that you're buying new packs each time for hygiene but surely with the smallest branded packs of those things (or supermarket own-brand if you're happy with that - most guests would be, I think), it could be done for closer to £8ish?

Original poster
Malteser71 · 09/05/2021 23:02

Our housekeeper does it. She can do a £10 one or a £15 - the £15 contains Cornish products, which I’m keen to support.

Just reflecting whether it’s really worth doing.

OP posts:
EversoDelighted · 09/05/2021 23:02

Milk's handy but we bring our own tea, coffee, biscuits etc. We don't take sugar. How about making it an optional chargeable extra, eg breakfast pack with bacon, egg, bread, orange juice. Or an afternoon tea pack with the tea, coffee, cakes, scones.

EasterBonnet · 09/05/2021 23:03

Where we stay its small tea and coffee, sugar , milk plus fresh bread and butter.
The thing the hosts do that I think is really lovely is a bottle of prosecco if you are a repeat visitor.
I'm not sure you need biscuits /crisps as it's personal preference

Laquila · 09/05/2021 23:03

Thinking about it, I think these packs broadly fall into two categories: 1) practical essentials, to save people being inconvenienced when they arrive without having done the grocery shop yet; and 2) tailored welcome hampers made up of local, artisan produce that makes guests feel you've really gone the extra mile (and that you'd usually charge a bit of a premium for).

I think the former is always appreciated and can be done cheaply without guests perceiving that you're being cheap, IYSWIM, but the latter should really only be done if you're charging enough that you can easily cover the costs and make it worth it.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 09/05/2021 23:03

I do it as optional.

CrackersDontMatter · 09/05/2021 23:05

I love a welcome pack and I would especially love one with local products.

Xmasbaby11 · 09/05/2021 23:07

I think it's worth it especially with local products. These thoughtful gestures stay in your mind and feel v welcoming, as well as being a practical help. Assuming you make a good profit from letting, £15 seems like an OK amount to lose, expecting it will increase satisfaction and get good reviews.

WildLadyLucy · 09/05/2021 23:09

£15 Shock Shock Shock
Bloody hell!
I would provide a packet of Cornish biscuits (surely that couldn't cost more than £4?) and a pint of local milk (£1) in the fridge. Then just a few teabags or sachets of coffee and sugar. You don't need to give then enough for the entire week, just for a cup on arrival.

Elouera · 09/05/2021 23:11

If its self catering, as a guest, I'd prefer cooking essentials like salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar etc. I do drink tea, coffee, milk, but often bring my own basics as I hate cheap, instant nescafe coffee. Crisps aren't really needed in your welcome pack and don't go with the tea/coffee items IMO.

I too wonder why your basics are costing £15 per booking which seems excessive- even for Cornish products! Your housekeeper has a nice mark up on those!!! Hmm

BackforGood · 09/05/2021 23:12

What Laquila said.

I've been fairly staggered on MN at the list of demands people think ought to be in every holiday let. Therefore, I presume they must be paying for a much more 'high end' let than me.
I guess if you are charging £2000 for a week then some fancy Cornish biscuits and jam isn't going to break the bank, but if you are at the more affordable end of the market, then a pint of semi-skimmed in the fridge is generally appreciated I would think, but people would be bringing tea / coffee with them anyway.

I think crisps sounds a bit strange, and we don't use sugar either.

I don't expect a 'welcome pack' and don't miss it is it isn't there.

Original poster
Malteser71 · 09/05/2021 23:13

Thanks for your feedback.

The cleaning is already costing £110, linen £50. You can see how profit margins are eaten away by a £15 welcome pack.

I might install my Nespresso machine with a few pods, plus milk and biscuits. A kilner jar of sugar and tea bags.

I’ll bet there’s some health and safety rule that says yea bags must be sealed

OP posts:
IdblowJonSnow · 09/05/2021 23:15

I love a welcome pack and I'm disappointed when there isnt a little something at least.
Just increase your prices slightly?

Original poster
Malteser71 · 09/05/2021 23:18

We are on with an agent, so the prices are already fixed

OP posts:
AntiSocialDistancer · 09/05/2021 23:19

@Malteser71

Thanks for your feedback.

The cleaning is already costing £110, linen £50. You can see how profit margins are eaten away by a £15 welcome pack.

I might install my Nespresso machine with a few pods, plus milk and biscuits. A kilner jar of sugar and tea bags.

I’ll bet there’s some health and safety rule that says yea bags must be sealed

This was my recommend. The Tassimo machine has tea pods as well.
Palavah · 09/05/2021 23:19

The worst thing is not knowing what will be provided and what will, so if you aren't alreasy providing a detailed inventory by email in time for me to pack then please start doing that.

A welcome pack of local produce is a nice touch, last year we had biscuits, crackers, cider, and milk (all local) plus a note to tell us they were also available in X farm shop, and a few sachets each of coffee, tea and sugar.

Palavah · 09/05/2021 23:19

You could have milk available on request to reduce wastage where people don't drink dairy.

lobster12 · 09/05/2021 23:20

I love a welcome pack and wouldn't be happy if there wasn't one. The first thing I do is make myself a tea or a coffee and eat the biscuits. Could you do them yourself. Buy cheaper produce. £15 each seems a lot.

Elouera · 09/05/2021 23:21

Catering suppliers and brookers/costco/bestway sell sealed teabags, along with many catering supplies that you need for individual packs.

MsMartini · 09/05/2021 23:21

I think fresh milk in the fridge is really handy as it doesn't travel well. We stayed in an airbnb this week, no milk in fridge, no shop in village.

It is nice if there is other stuff but as you never know quite what there will be, you can't plan around it anyway. I'm fussy about wine and tea and coffee, so take my own and would rather choose my own biscuits. A few teabags in case we forgot might be good. And what I really appreciate is loo paper, washing up liquid, j cloths....the really dull stuff!

Elouera · 09/05/2021 23:23

Another option is to monitor the usage. If X isn't ever taken or used, then don't buy again.

EversoDelighted · 09/05/2021 23:24

If there are going to be biscuits etc its nice if they are local. Definitely no to prosecco or other wine though, we wouldn't drink it.

womanity · 09/05/2021 23:24

I have never arrived at a holiday let without enough groceries to get me through at least the first evening/morning.

WeeM · 09/05/2021 23:29

£15 does seem an awful lot. I really appreciate a welcome pack even if just tea/coffee/milk/sugar. Oil would also be hugely appreciated for cooking.

I think your idea of a tassimo type machine sounds a good one too. I know I’d really appreciate a couple of pods of nice coffee over the instant.

AntonMeyersNo1Fan · 09/05/2021 23:35

The best ‘welcome pack’ I’ve had was at I think a French CentreParks 10ish years ago.

The things I remember liking in it were: small salt and pepper pots (still in use), small bottle of olive oil and half a dozen dishwasher tablets. There were other bits too but they were the things I’d forgotten and it was useful to have on arrival. If there’s a dishwasher I’m always grateful to have a couple of tabs that will do until we make it to a shop.