What to take to a holiday home

[TheEndlessNight]

We are away to Whitby for a weeks holiday soon and have booked to stay in a holiday home. Whenever we go away we always pack far too much stuff. How can I pack for a week without taking everything except the kitchen sink?

What's included, towels etc? We usually just pack clothes and personal toiletries and have a look to see what's there when we get there in terms of washing up liquid, hand soap etc. We always go to the supermarket when we arrive to get breakfast supplies etc so get what we need then. There's a pretty good Lidl in Whitby and it's much cheaper than the Co Op in the centre of town. There's also a Heron Foods in the street just behind the harbour which is pretty cheap and does good slushies for the kids.

Will definitely be using your slushy place. Great to know there's a Lidl for bits and pieces, I was going to get a delivery for the night we arrive so we can just chill out on our first night. Towels and linen are provided by the owner not sure what kitchen bits. We always pack way too many clothes think that's from when the kids were babies and toddlers and I've just got stuck in the habit.

I always take Zip lock bags and the big ikea freezer bags. They come in useful for so much. If self catering I’d take a decent knife. In the uk, good waterproofs. I’m not sure what age the kids are but we normally pick up a new game for a holiday, usually some kind of card game, uno, taco pizza goat, Dobble etc.

Ear plugs, the seagulls are so so loud at 5am 😂😂😂😂😂😂
the Magpie is an essential stop for us, we’ve been going forever and it never changes at all 😊

Emmas Diner is good for a meal too. Do the open top bus tour if you get a chance, there's also a big paddling pool on the top of the cliff just along from the whale bones if you get a hot day.

How can I pack for a week without taking everything except the kitchen sink?
Make a list! That you carry forward from one year to the next, amending (adding or deleting) as you find you need or never-used things. Also, update it as the DC get older and life changes generally.
I finally took CDs and CD-player off my list last year.

I find it helps to have small-but-essential kitchen items like salt, pepper, herbs, oil, tin foil, clingfilm, etc.
Take electrical extension gangs, too.

A cd player 🤣

I like the idea of a list can start one today. Bet it still ends up like War and Peace 🤣

Will put your kitchen tips on and electrical bits.

I've just had a Google at Emma's Diner looks fun and the food looks so good. Love a bus tour does it have a lot of stops?

I didn't even think about the seagulls 🤣🫣

Fish and chips at the Magpie looks good.

@AtleastitsnotMonday what a great idea for taking games. Will get the kids to pick a couple of new games.

I like the idea of a list, can start one today. Bet it still ends up like War and Peace
Yeah, bit it's better to 'have and not need' than 'need and not have'.

I take a sharp knife and a sharpener and salt and pepper in Tupperware shakers.
I used to take quite a bit of food but the last few times we've been a short walk from shops, so took only things that we needed for breakfast or couldn't rely on buying locally.

If you are planning to do any cooking take a decent kitchen knife. We also have a charger that can charge multiple devices, which save arguments.

And a roll of medium freezer bags!

Is there a washing machine and dryer? If so you can pack minimal clothes and just wash and dry in the evening. That’s what we used to do for a beach fortnight.

I always took:
sharp bread knife
wooden chopping board (they always seem to be glass)
big frying pan (family of five)
salt and pepper and oil
Box of brownies
Couple of meals I had made and frozen - they defrost en route but just eat in the first two days

We didn’t eat out much tho hence lots of cooking stuff.

I used to live in Whitby. It’s worth looking at the lifeboat museum and also trying beaches up the coast such as Runswuck and Staithes.

A decent knife
A decent frying pan
Salt and pepper
Ketchup (your half bottle will be fine)
Small olive oil
4 laundry tablets
Chargers
Paracetamol for adults and children
Anti histamine
Nail scissors
Essential toiletries

Check the weather forecast and decide what you need to take, warmth/weather wise. Nobody takes more than two pairs of shoes.

If there’s a washing machine, you can reduce how many clothes you take and also wash everything before you come home. You’ve paid for the services there so you might as well use it!

We usually take dishcloths and tea towels as they never leave enough. Also sharp knives and a non-stick frying pan.

Check the weather forecast and decide what you need to take, warmth/weather wise.
LOL. Have you never holidayed in a British summer?
Pack for four seasons, OP!

Don’t forget to check if those slushies contain glycerol as that is poisonous for children particularly those under 8 years old.

I've never heard of this before kids are older than 8 but really don't want to be drinking poison 😕

Lots of great tips. Think I will email the owner and ask if they have things like good knifes, chopping board, large frying pan etc.

There is a washing machine not sure about a tumble dryer. Do you guys think 4 outfits each would work?

Kitchen roll , extra loo roll , little bottle of oil and some maldon - then we go to cottage unpack and go for a big grocery shop.

We take dog bed , blankets and bowls and his towel

I took my instant pot the first year we rented a cottage - DH still takes the pee out of me about it

When you say 4 outfits do you mean “going out” outfits for evenings or just day to day? My kids when younger would sometimes wear two t shirts a day because they’d spill ice cream or something down it 😂
For adults I wouldn’t take loads of going out clothes but kids tend to need more.
Most of the holiday cottages I’ve stayed in have been well equipped but I take a “holiday kit” as we like to eat in some evenings.
I bought the travel pots/mini bottles that are meant for make up and shampoo and I use them to take some mayo/oil/vinegar/spices that I use regularly. I also take a couple of washing pods/dishwasher tabs and a roll of foil for picnics.

PS. Trenchers is the best fish n chips in Whitby

i take very little! Travelling by motorcycle means you just cant. I do take washing capsules as I need to wash clothes if more than 4 days

check What’s included, they should give you an inventory

It's a 'hop on hop off' one that goes along the West Cliff through the town and up to the Abbey. But there is currently a temporary park & ride at the Abbey headland (as well as the usual one) so if you don't fancy walking up the 199 steps or paying for the tour you can also get that P&R bus for free - it goes from past the Co-op every half an hour - St Mary's church at the top of the steps is well worth a look round .

I'd second Trenchers or the Quayside for Fish & Chips - although you;ve got (at last count) 26 Fish & Chip shops to choose from in and near the centre