Self catering caravan. What to pack. Don't want to forget anything

[UselessAtPacking]

We go away in 2 weeks in a static van.

When we previously went it was pre dcs.
I remember buying Pegs to hang towels on the window airer ( was windy so draping them didn't work) paid over 5 quid for 24 Pegs that were honestly so crap i didnt bring them home. Worse than poundland! So will take them

Cooking we only plan to take minimal and buy meals out even if burger King etc i will maybe cook 3 out of 7 nights.
So quick pasta with sauce garlic bread
Meatballs or carbonara
Egg bacon chips

We want a quick easy week.

Apart from that i cant think what we'd actually need other than clothes towels etc

Prob not the advice you want but we take planned meal ingredients.. Never spend at the campsite shops! Save a fortune. Use that money for activities! Much better use of cash!!

Cooking oil/olive oil
tin foil
hand soap
washing up liquid
(food/meals)

Something to hang over the windows so it's dark in the morning.
Cards/games for if it's wet.
If they're smaller, something quiet (and a treat) for them to play when they wake invariably far too early on the first day.
If they're older, lots of 2p/10p pieces for arcade games.

An extra towel to be a bath mat. Had to buy an extra thick tea towel from Tesco one year!

Loo rolls and kitchen towel. Tea towels. Beach towel.

Salt, pepper and sauces etc.

Sharp knife
Own cutting board
Ketchup/mustard ect
Salt and pepper
Sugar
Teabags/coffee
Tea towels
Dish soap/dishwasher tablets

I cook something the day before we leave like a lasagna, Mac cheese or fajita chicken to reheat and eat the first evening.

Bath mat
Tea towel
Washing up sponge
Washing up liquid
Rubber gloves
Loo roll
Kitchen roll

Invissimamma that's a great idea

Favourite large mug for tea. Most places have tiddly cups and saucers.
An all purpose squirty cleaner for sticky surfaces.

A proper sharp kitchen knife

Seasonings
Stock cubes
Cooking oil
Sauces if you use them
Cereals and milk if you eat them
Kitchen roll
Tea
Coffee
Squash?
Drying up cloths
Washing up liquid

Insect repellant
Suntan lotion
After sun
Savlon
Plasters

Soap
Shampoo
Shower gel

What age are your kids? Games maybe useful, and DVDs if you have any, if the caravan has a DVD player? (Lots do). Also frisbee, football, stuff like that?
Pens, pencils, colours, paper....

Does the caravan site have a table tennis table? Many do, so maybe take bats and balls if you have them in a cupboard somewhere.....

Torch or camping lantern in case you need to cross the campsite when it's dark?
Nightlight for the kids' rooms depending on age? Even if they are usually fine in the dark at home, strange places are scarier.....

Wellies or crocs in case you go outside early morning when still damp?

Possibly fold up camping chairs for sitting outside?

That's all I can think of for now! Apologies if loads of this is bloody obvious! I have gone on different versions of self catering holidays more times than I like to remember, and pretty much everything on this list I think I have forgotten and wished I had with me at one point or another.....

Hand wash

It depends on how well stocked the caravan is but my staples are

Bath mat
Hand towels
Hand wash
Washing up liquid
Anti bac spray
Cloths/ washing up sponge
Tea towel
Tin foil / cling film
Bin bags/ carrier bags
Clothes wash stuff
Extention lead
Tissues and loo roll

Books /games incase of rain
Snacks
Breakfast stuff, cereal pancakes
Fruit
Tea/coffee/ squash
always extra towels
Alcohol

Do they provide bedding ?

I love a self catering holiday but always find im more relaxed if I know I'm prepared.

Enjoy

Decent cork screw and tin opener if appropriate.
And don't forget that most places you go, you can get a supermarket delivery after your arrival. It saves money compared to buying locally, plus you don't have to take it all with you.

Tin foil and sellotape put it over bedroom windows to black them out
curtains badly fitting and thin don’t block any light out you’ll be up at the crack of dawn

mugs, caravan cups like all holiday cups are often small

Thanks so much for starting this thread OP! We are also going to a static since having DCs .

Great suggestions everyone .

Agree with supermarket delivery if you can and cooking first meal to reheat.
Decent bin bags (but don't leave them outside for the sea gulls)
Sound machine for kids room
Extra bag for life to organise dirty clothes from the rest.
Beach shoes if rocky beaches
Bum bag or similar to keep valuables with you.

If the weather warms up you might want to take a fan.

Can you find a proper supermarket that's not too far from the site? That'll save you the high site shop prices without having to schlep everything from home.

Toiletries and cleaning products are good to bring because you won't use a whole pack in a week. And check whether you need to bring bedding.

Check exactly what is included in the way of bed linen.

Oh yes, if you're anything like me, extra pillows!!

That's what we do - there's one about 20 minutes' drive from the site where we stay. I take a shopping list and we stop off on the way - so no need to worry about food overheating in the car. Then we'll do a mid-holiday visit at some point to top up both petrol and shopping.