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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:
Puffinhead · 10/05/2021 18:59

@WildLadyLucy

£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.
I love a hearty welcome pack but agree that this is all you probably need to do. £15 is way too much.
caringcarer · 10/05/2021 19:17

In a welcome pack I like half a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, fresh juice, T bags/coffee, milk, butter and a loo roll. That makes first breakfast the next day and toast before bed too if arriving late.

MintyMabel · 10/05/2021 19:45

Tea, coffee, sugar and some proper milk. Beyond that we rarely use any of the stuff in these packs,

Cipot · 10/05/2021 19:48

I think just a couple of teabags and sachets of coffee is fine. I don't think you need to provide £15 worth. It's just until the visitors get to the shops.

Tulipomania · 10/05/2021 19:56

You can buy packs where the teabags are sealed inside little paper sachets, also ones where the you get a couple of wrapped biscuits in cellophane.

A bit too much waste but gets around Covid angst.

Landmark trust always leaves a tea tray out (with tea & coffee) and a pint of milk in the fridge. It's lovely because sometimes the first thing you want to do when you arrive at a new place is have a cup of tea, before you have to start unloading and unpacking.

CadburyCake · 10/05/2021 19:58

I will use milk if it’s there, but I’m not at all bothered about having a “welcome pack”. It makes no difference to how I think of the place or if I’d rebook. It’s self catering, I’m probably showing up with a full weekly shop or getting one delivered imminently anyway.

Honeylemontea · 10/05/2021 20:00

I’m a host on Airbnb and our welcome basket includes:

  • 4 fruits (2 bananas, 1 pear and 1 apple) (£1.5)
  • Some “fancy” biscuits (£3)
  • Mini kilner jar with 5 UHT milk pots (£0.5)
  • 4 Nescafe soluble coffee satchels (£0.5)
  • 4 Individually wrapped tea bags (0.50)
  • 2 150ml mini cokes (£1)
  • 2 St.pellegrino small water bottles (£1)

Our guests seem to love it! It is always mentioned in the reviews...

In the kitchen we always have salt/pepper, a sugar pot, bin liners, plenty of dishwasher tabs, etc

Overdueanamechange · 10/05/2021 20:05

I don't think a welcome pack of essentials is necessary. I would never turn up for a stay without tea, coffee, milk etc anyway. Many places I have stopped at have left a bottle of wine and some locally made biscuits or cake, which goes down a treat.

Catslovepies · 10/05/2021 20:46

I would be really disappointed to find fresh milk that was going to go off during my stay as I'm vegan. Same with eggs. I think these things should be optional extras but if not at least ask people if they'd like it. A lot of people don't drink milk nowadays.

Kezzie200 · 10/05/2021 20:50

I would supply sugar, tea, coffee in ceramic jars rather than individually (unless covid rules stop you). And I would leave a bottle of prosecco and fruit juice and a handwritten card wishing them a lovely holiday.

Original poster
Malteser71 · 10/05/2021 20:56

See, cat loves pies (great name), you would be actively disappointed if I left milk because you personally are vegan. Most people aren’t vegan, it’s either cater for the masses or the minorities

OP posts:
DuesToTheDirt · 10/05/2021 20:59

We turned up at one holiday cottage having shopped on the way, but planned to get milk near the cottage for freshness. We were staying in one of the bigger villages on Lewis/Harris, so we were shocked on arrival to find that the nearest shop to get milk was a garage 10 miles away. I could have cried! Luckily the owners, who lived next door and had answered our question about shops, gave us some of their own and saved the day.

I still remember the trauma of arriving at our cottage in Crete at 10pm on a Saturday night after a long trip, to find zero supplies - even just instant coffee or something would have been so welcome. I think providing nothing is more common abroad though.

Catslovepies · 10/05/2021 20:59

Glad you like my name Smile. You could leave long-life milk or ask first?

UnluckyMe · 10/05/2021 21:02

@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

I'm not sure i'd use tea bags and sugar from a kilner jar. I'd think what if it hasn't been changed and someone put their grubby fingers in the jar!

I'd go with it as an optional extra as another poster suggested, if it is eating away at your profit.

DenisetheMenace · 10/05/2021 21:02

Yes!

Our daughter and son-in-law’s welcome on their first holiday with their new little family was a bunch of Cornish daffs, a quarter of loose tea and a home baked Victoria sponge. They will rebook next year just because of that lovely, personal touch.

LemonRoses · 10/05/2021 21:10

We only let to ‘known’ people as we don’t have availability generally. We do cupboards empty as I dislike and distrust half used packets and communal foodstuffs.
We do leave coffee pods (not restricted and sufficient for a few mugs a day), a fresh pint of milk and salt/pepper mills.
We also leave household basics - bin bags, washing up liquid, cloths, multipurpose cleaner, lavatory rolls, dishwasher tablets and laundry tablets as it seems silly expecting people to buy some to use fewer than half a dozen.
Most people have an online shop delivered and don’t want lots of bits and pieces from us.

Original poster
Malteser71 · 10/05/2021 21:15

I’ve got a cupboard containing Waitrose staples (olive oil and the like, oxo cubes, mixed herbs, Salt, pepper, vinegar). That’s possibly as far as I’ll push communal leftovers and I like them scrupulously clean.

OP posts:
Ollinisca · 11/05/2021 02:28

This reply has been deleted

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starfishmummy · 11/05/2021 10:58

As a guest I'm with a pp. Any communal leftovers are put where dh we won't accidentally use them. That said the cottage we use rarely has anything that has been left, I assume the cleaners have been instructed to remove it (even pre covid).

SwimBaby · 11/05/2021 11:02

I’d hate to have anyone’s leftovers in my accommodation.

HeronLanyon · 11/05/2021 11:15

I wouldn’t use anything open - including herbs/spices, oil, sugar, any condiments.
Salt and pepper grinders excepted oh and vinegar (but not balsamic for some bizarre reason).

looptheloopinahulahoop · 11/05/2021 11:31

I think those saying they bring all their own stuff are assuming that everyone staying in UK cottages is from the UK. They won't be, in normal times, and they may have flown and even got a train to the property, so they won't have shopping with them.

I think a small welcome pack is essential.

I don't think you need to provide bottled water unless tap water tastes disgusting, which it does in some areas, but do leave a note saying the tap water is safe to drink - people are a bit funny about tap water.

Wideawakeandconfused · 11/05/2021 11:45

We love a welcome pack and would be very unhappy if one wasn’t included - it would reflect as cheap and it would stops booking again.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 11/05/2021 11:51

TBH I'm not bothered about a welcome pack. Even when travelling overseas we scope out where there's a shop en route. I find that I don't use a lot of what's given, so it can seem a little wasteful. And often they're not itemised beforehand, so we have ended up with duplicates of one thing and none of something else.

Honourable exception goes to the N.Yorks cottage company we use - they leave a pint of milk, decent teabags, and homemade fruitcake.

reluctantbrit · 11/05/2021 12:09

@looptheloopinahulahoop

I think those saying they bring all their own stuff are assuming that everyone staying in UK cottages is from the UK. They won't be, in normal times, and they may have flown and even got a train to the property, so they won't have shopping with them.

I think a small welcome pack is essential.

I don't think you need to provide bottled water unless tap water tastes disgusting, which it does in some areas, but do leave a note saying the tap water is safe to drink - people are a bit funny about tap water.

We stayed at several sc accommodations in various countries and apart from one always stopped en route from the airport to stock up on essentials.

The one exception was a housekeeper where you could order food in advance and pay at arrival when you get the keys. It was helpful as we were severely delayed but we learned and always get a flight so early that we arrive during daytime hours.

I thought that was the norm? Not saying that I didn’t appreciate the wine or biscuits or water but I wouldn’t rely on anything.