Slightly unhinged self catering packing/shopping list what might have I forgotten?

[HairsprayBabe]

Its only a long weekend and it isn't that serious but I do like to have my things with me. I take from my grandmother who once bought a jug of gravy on a caravan holiday, you never know what you might need!

So with that in mind what slightly mad thing do you always take away with you that I should absolutely add to my packing list?

On top of the "normal" things we usually pack:

heated throw blanket
hand held milk frother
a good knife
a cheese grater
my own tea towels
extension cable
an over radiator drying rack

I have been known to take the air fryer but I think I will cope without it for 4 days!

The 4 of us are going to Bluestone, DC are 4 and 6 if it makes any difference to your suggestions!

Oh my god. Next year I challenge you to go abroad with an under seat bag only!

@JustWalnut I went to Belgium in March for 4 days with a Ryan Air under seat bag - and I fit thigh high boots in it (for a costume)! I am a master packer 😂

Can opener? I know cans are mostly ring-pull, but you never know.

If it’s a holiday with a fair amount of cooking, a good knife is essential. I’d also have my peeler and scissors. Corkscrew or multi tool as well.
I often pop in some ziplock bags and/or Tupperware as well.

Where is Bluestone?

Good sized chopping board. Small and large kitchen knife.

A cheese grater for a Friday-Monday ? Most self catering has a cheese grater. Also what are you drying?

When we go away we take a knife and dishtowels, if we are away longer we take kitchen foil.

@AbzMoz Yes! Always take lunchboxes and foil!

Personally I would take a frying pan or wok. Normally the ones in self cater are scratched or encrusted.

@Lomonald I have been burnt with crappy cheese graters in the past in self catering, drying rack is for outdoor gear and swimming things.

Your own teatowels is a good one. They never provide enough. Maybe a couple of extra dishwasher tabs as they can be stingy on those, and you don't want to be handwashing unless you have to.

I'd take a cafetiere or coffee bags. Not all s/c places have one, and fresh coffee is important.

-oxo potato peeler
-tampons
-medicine kit- plasters, analgesia, thermometer etc

These are mainly if going overseas because the coffee and squash tastes different
-coffee
-mini, concentrated squash.

If you are going to be doing some cooking and eggs might be involved, I like my own little non stick frying pan as rental places ones are always horribly scratched

i like my own bar of soap and a nice big fluffy towel

i always take a large mug for tea so i dont get stuck with a teeny tiny one and have to refill it eleventy billion times

Fair, when I had kids with us we just bought grated cheese 😀

I think I am more interested in your Belgian thigh boot fancy dress weekend than your forthcoming holiday!

@HorseandHeron it was a great weekend! Went with a friend for a concert and we like to match the energy of the show!

@HelloCaller Bluestone is in Wales :)

I don't usually take much extra stuff. If it's a short break we'll just cope with any deficiencies and if it's a longer holiday I will go out and buy any bits and pieces that are missing once I've seen the house. The exception is if it's Christmas, in which case I take roasting dishes etc and my own carving knife as not many self catering places are really set up for cooking a big roast dinner. But I do always take a roll of kitchen roll. Even expensive accomodation is sometimes missing this and if so it's sod's law that someone spills something all over the place on the first night!

Cling film
coffee machine and pods
Nice wine glasses

@fufulina nothing worse than a stumpy stem 💀

I have taken a coffee machine before for longer breaks, considering a cafetiere this time as it is only me that drinks it and it's obviously smaller to take!

or thick glass!

Pegs, Dishcloths, dishwasher tablets, small bottle of laundry detergent, Cafetiere and coffee (I know what I like!). Some extra loo rolls and hand-wash soap, holiday places are often skimpy. I also take some food supplies like olive oil, peanut butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, which I wouldn't want to buy a whole new one for holiday but would miss.

My “self catering/camping” box is a small plastic box from Ikea built in years of trial and error - depending on what I know is there/not and how much actual cooking I want to do, I will cull it down (so if flying, I only take 2 good knives, corkscrew and a wooden spoon but the whole thing g if camping).

a small ziploc holding a handful of dishwasher tabs/capsules, and 1-2 washing capsules if longer than 2 days.
100ml squeezy bottle of wash up liquid (refill at home)
3 decent knives (each has a cover on the blade so finger safe in the box and stays sharp)
wooden spoon
corkscrew, can opener
whisk (I like making pancakes on hold, and sometimes whipping cream)
a clean j cloth for wiping counters
1 kitchen hand towel and 2 tea towels
set of silicon oven mitts - small but very functional
chalk (for blackboards or marking paths)
the end of a roll (usually 2-3 bags each) of kitchen bin liners/black sacks and small bathroom bin liners
the open box of ice cube freezer bags (I only really use those self catering as I have trays at home)
a handful of normal ziploc bags (to mix things, marinade meat, store leftovers, make picnics, use as piping bags with the corner cut off (I’ve had to do emergency birthday cake once!), gather small bits that would get lost….)
a small but proper chopping board (I hate the glass ones SC places often use)
a pack of bamboo skewers (like the ice cube bags, this lives in the box but can have multiple uses on hols, some of which are actually to BBQ kebabs)
deck of cards
matches and 3/4 tealights (to use safely)
washup brush (cheap one that I only use for hols so is always there) and a pot scrubber (new one for each trip as it usually gets used heavily)

I also either bring or buy a proper mug for my coffee - to have a decent size, not just a teacup
maybe a couple of board games
a fire log or two if there is a firepit or stove
My own pillow
DD’s fluffy blanket
tote bag to carry things there (and usually transport food etc in grocery bags that I can then use as needed also)
binoculars to spot wildlife

Oh and an extension cable with USB ports and charging cables for all devices!!!!

I have also been known to take a bottle of anti bac spray - we were going to Pontins. And I was glad I had, the fridge was rank! Though I think Bluestone is a bit more upmarket than Pontins!

Areopress coffee maker and a bag of coffee. We normally travel by train, which means I dare not book our food delivery until the morning after arrival.