Haven holiday - things you wouldn't think to pack

[Givemethesworrrrd]

We are going on our first Haven holiday this year.

I was just wondering what people would recommend packing that you wouldn't necessarily think of, even for a self catering holiday! 🙂There's an essential packing list on their site, however, I'm sure people will have their own suggestions too.

I always take a small reading lamp because otherwise you have to have the bedroom lights either on full blast or off. We also take our coffee maker but we do that for every UK holiday!

Washing up stuff, iron and my clothes airer. I never cook much though so no advice on that 😂

Veg peeler!

I've spent many a haven holiday scraping the edges off carrots cursing the lack of a peeler.

Tin opener
Corkscrew
Cloths to wipe and wash dishes
Kitchen roll

In my childhood we always took Fray Bentos pies in tins, and tins of Grant's minced beef and peas. I'm sorry to say that I remember almost nothing else about the holidays except how much I enjoyed these two delicacies.

https://grantsfood.com/products/minced-beef-peas?_pos=1&_sid=070a89e60&_ss=r

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fray-Bentos-Mince-Beef-Onion/dp/B004G8YI5U

I do remember going at Easter and receiving an almost lethally enormous chocolate egg every year too. OMG the suger high.

@ItIsntReallyLikeThat oh my goodness, I've not had a Fray Bentos in years! Might have to get one for nostalgia purposes 😂🤔

This thread is one example of why I love MN. I have never been on a Haven holiday and I almost certainly never will, but I have very much enjoyed reading your essentials lists. And thinking of a a few of my own but not posting about them because obviously that would be weird and not very helpful.

So - thank you!

When we stayed in a haven caravan last summer we were all wide awake at 5am as the curtains were so thin the light was streaming in. We were trying to pin towels up over the windows in the end.
So if the light bothers you I would take black bin bags and sellotape or something to put over the windows in the bedrooms!
Obviously it might have been unique the the caravan I was in last year but it's something I would think of if I went again.

An extension cord because they used to be never enough sockets in the right places!

A tin opener and decent tea bags and coffee!

My tip was extension leads but I can see a couple if people have mentioned it.
For our first eve meal I freeze cottage pie or similar, it defrosts on the drive down, then put it straight in the oven to cook while you unpack and wait for the supermarket delivery.

My husband always takes his toolbox when we go self catering....always something needs fixed or a screw needs tightening....in said tool box he takes his knife sharpener and sharpens all the knives in the kitchen....must be great to come after us.

I've just come back and ours had reading lights over the bed.

Not sure if it's been mentioned but dishwasher tablets as we had a surprise dishwasher in our caravan.

Tin foil, sandwich bags, bin bags, a large saucepan if you'll be mostly catering and toilet rolls. Oh, and kitchen roll. Oh, and sponge scourer things and washing up liquid. Tea towels, proper towels, erm, think that should have you covered. No!! A bingo dabber pen. You'll need one of those too.

I loved all the Haven holidays I took my DC on. So many of them. We did win the bingo one night and I wasn't well, had lost my voice, so the tables near me and DC all shouted the claim!

We always book a tesco delivery for first night (when you book put a contact number on your delivery plus a booking reference and they'll deliver to your caravan.
Not haven but just got back from a self-catering holiday on a park and there were no trays for the oven. We had a chicken to roast as it was Easter Sunday. There was no potato peeler or tin opener. There were loads of some cutlery and not enough of others. 12 wine glasses for 4 but only 3 normal tumblers.
Yes I always order toilet rolls, take extra towels etc.1

We were on a haven holiday over the bank holiday weekend and took:

Tea towel
Dish sponge
Foil
Washing up liquid
Tea bags and coffee
Squash

The only thing I forgot and needed was hand wash for the bathroom.

The great thing about holidays in this country are you can over pack (as long as your boot is big enough) so I took half my wardrobe as I didn't know what the weather was going to be like. Honestly 3 nights in a caravan and we took as many suitcases as we do a week abroad.

However, do not allow your DC to follow this rule. Ds1 packed a backpack with enough books, switch games and other tech to last a month. And then LEFT THE BLOODY BAG IN THE CARAVAN ON DEPARTURE. Haven were awesome though, found it and arranged a courier to have it delivered back to us. But because it was so heavy and packed with £££ worth of stuff cost us a pretty penny to return.

I agree with all of this. This year I packed all the kitchen and bathroom bits and pieces into a laundry basket (although i use an ikea bag as the actual laundry basket, because then I can carry it to the washing machine if I need to).

This was better than a bag, because it means that the bottles stay standing up, the knife couldn't poke into anything etc.

One of those over the door hangars. There is never anywhere to hang wet coats.

Bath mat & towels & pegs. (There is often a washing line but no pegs).

Washing up liquid & tea towels & pan scrubber/foam thing.

Sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers-I prefer my own.

Cheese grater.

Salt and vinegar.

A big pan if you're going to cook pasta or similar, there pans are never big enough. Same with a big oven dish.
A corkscrew
Tea towels
Washing line and pegs
A mini speaker for music

Oh and camping chairs if you want to sit outside

Cafetiere - I can't risk not having decent coffee.

My holiday treat, an assortment of ready mixed cocktails. I know they are expensive and full of sugar, but I do enjoy choosing from a row of little cans in the fridge.

We went to Caistor last year and it was filthy and needed a wipe down before anything else, so anti bac wipes and cleaning products are a must.

We didn't cook there, but it seemed fairly well stocked.

There have been so many good suggestions on here, so thank you everyone. I will compile a list of essentials 😁
@Eminybob oh jeez, that's an incentive if anything to make a reminder to check if we have all their stuff!!

What are you planning on cooking? A better idea would be to ask for meal tips so you don't have to cart half the house with you.

I'd usually do jackets with cheese and beans, hot dogs, frozen pizza (purchased near site), take a katsu curry sauce cooked at home to do with breaded chicken and microwave rice, some sort of pasta etc.

We usually eat out at lunch though and no one is too hungry at night so noodles, bread, cereal and yogurt are always a winner.