How to make self catering feel like a holiday?

[bumchic]

To squeeze in two holidays this year we went away self catering at half term and will do the same in August but I found myself seething the whole time at still having to produce lunch and dinner every day. We had two lunches in cafes and two dinners in restaurants but the rest of the time was shopping and cooking. These are U.K. breaks so there’s no cheap plentiful local seafood or produce etc and just a trip round a different branch of our usual supermarket with a slightly different layout for a bit of exoticism.

Anyone any tips? Don’t want to spend our August hol feeling annoyed

Tell your DH to shop and prepare meals.
This is why I refuse to do self catering, it's just a change of venue.

Always self-cater/Airbnb, if not in camper van, tend to eat a good lunch out (look out for good set menu deals) and then just have bits & pieces to assemble rather than cooking from scratch in the evening. Lunch is very often better value than an evening meal out.

Each adult takes care of an equal amount of the catering surely - or are you a single parent?

Take 2 meals with you ready prepped from double up and freeze options the week before. Go out 2 nights for food. Then split the rest and do bing in oven easy stuff

lunches = bread,cheeses meats fruit etc every day so no cooking required.

I think you are making it more onerous than it needs to be tbh

We always self cater (apart from a couple of times when we've been on cruises), never had a hotel holiday with the DCs. It's not on budget grounds, we like having a caravan, house or apartment to ourselves. As others have said, farmshops, picnic food, eat out / takeaway, Cook ready meals. We usually go to the supermarket once when we arrive to get things like bread and cereal but then it's day to day, we don't do a big shop as we like to be able to change plans on the spur of the moment.

We can't eat out due to awkward disability issues so always self-cater. We take some prepped/frozen cooked meals, ingredients for others and occasionally get a takeaway.

Who’s in your family?
Older children can cook. Do you have a partner to share cooking with?
I actually quite enjoy having the time to cook a nice dinner, with a glass of wine, not clock watching. I don’t have a dishwasher at home so I always book accommodation with one. That’s a treat in itself!

We tend to eat out at lunchtime when we are out and about, and then in the evenings we’ll open a bottle of wine and have a cold platter on the coffee table while we play a board game/ watch a film. Could be crudités and dips/ bread and cheese/ antipasti selection etc. Something different each night and minimal prep and washing up. Feels quite festive!

^This. Are you the only adult? If not, you need to share the cooking.

Try also not buying from the usual supermarket. Use small, local shops instead. It will help it feel different and avoid you cooking "the usual meals". Also, be creative - have snacky plates, random meals, foods you've never tried.

This is why we go away, 3 all inclusive holidays and 1 B&B holiday 🤣🤣 it’s a holiday for everyone!

My top tip?
Dont cook. DH does it all on hols, I think I make the coffee in the morning sometimes.

As the OP said, they could only afford to go away twice if they self catered. Most people have to make some sort of compromise in life and 3 all inclusive holidays a year is out of the reach of many. But good for you!

The only thing I cook on holiday is toast

That is not a holiday id like. I hate all inclusive.

I get a Hello Fresh or Gusto box delivered to wherever we are staying, plus a supermarket shop for easy lunches and treats. It's taking the thinking out of it that makes a big difference for me.

Good shouts on farm shops and delis hadn’t occurred to me not to just look up local Aldi.

I have 3 DC 6,6,8. DH wasn’t with us for half term hol but will be for August holiday and we will share.

I don’t have an air fryer or a dishwasher at home! Would be a treat to have those on holiday. I looked for free onsite parking and a tumble dryer when I was booking.

Same TBH! We’ve been AI once and I hated it.

I'm a single mum with teen DC and have only ever done one non self catering holiday since having them.

I shop ahead and take it with me, or do it all at the start of the holiday. I plan meals in advance and make sure they are fairly quick meals to cook.

I don't resent cooking as it means I can afford to go away. I find it easier than at home in some ways as I know ahead what my meals are going to be.

Why is it you doing all the meals - spread it around

do lots of very simple stuff - pizzas and salad , buffet style

splash out a little on the supermarket - get some posher burgers or something that would normally be a treat

edit to add - make a huge pot of something for the first two days that means those days are just reheat the chilli or whatever

• Supermarket delivery to your accomodation. I do not food shop on holiday.
• Super easy, minimal mess meals, sandwiches, pizzas, ready made lasagne, hot dogs, ready prepped salad ect ect keep it simple
• Book accommodation with a dishwasher
• make sure to budget to eat out a few times

We did centre Parcs recently
shop pizzas
hot dogs
frozen bolognaise and pasta

then id do:
fresh filled pasta and sauce
Chicken Kiev, chips and pre done veg
M&S dine in / supermarket takeaway
rotisserie chicken?

lunch should be simple - rolls / veg sticks / crisps / biscuits

Oh god...why? I'm taking DS (16) for a week early July (post GCSEs). It's our first AI - he wants something where everything's laid on with a nice pool and gym.

I feel your pain. We had a couple of holidays like this early on. The solution absolutely is taking turns with the cooking.

Breakfast should be help yourself.

Lunch either sandwiches you bring with you, cafe/restaurant or buffet style.

Dinner - at a minimum you and your partner alternate cooking. Children who are old enough, go on the evening cooking rota too. If they’re not old enough then one of them can sous chef to you and your DH every night so you’re training them up for the future!

Day to day I’m very sympathetic to my husband’s demanding job and long hours, my children’s studies, exams etc. When we’re away on holiday none of that applies and being the only one slaving away made me feel like a mug.

Pleasingly it had a knock effect when we got home. I no longer do breakfasts or lunches for anyone and whilst I still do more evening meals my DH and children also regularly cook these too.

This is pretty much what we do too. Plus, we find a good bakery or a Lidl nearby for warm bread and pastries for breakfast. Over a week we might do picnic lunches a couple of days and pick up take away or something that can be bunged in the oven (hello, lasagne) while we have a glass of wine and nibble on olives and crisps.

AI is really expensive isn't it? At least it seems to be when I've looked during regular school holidays.