Holiday cottage equipment....

[1hamwich4]

Just want a second opinion here. There is no drama, no outrage, no tragedy. We will not be complaining or anything. Yes, it is a first world issue.

We have just arrived at our holiday cottage. It is in the middle of a National Park, first week of the school hols, so not particularly cheap.

Which of these items would you expect to find in your cottage?

1. A few Tea bags
2. Pint of milk
3. Toilet roll
4. Guest soap
5. Washing up liquid/few dishwasher tablets
6. WiFi

If you can be bothered please tell me the order of likelihood that you might expect these in. I'm curious to know whether my reaction on arrival was reasonable or not...

None of them, its not a Hotel

The cottage we stay in we get,
Wi-Fi
toilet rolls
A welcome pack with tea bags,coffee,white sugar,brown sugar,4-5 little packets of biscuits(the one's that have 2-3 biscuits in each pack)the little pots of milk and cream for coffee,several thick mint chocolates.
There's usually enough to make 7 cups of tea/coffee.
A pint of milk always put in the fridge for us.
Some washing up liquid and a few dishwasher tablets.
Some tinfoil and clingfilm,a few food bags,some bin liners and black bags.
A bottle of white wine.

The only thing I would EXPECT is loo roll (and only one per toilet) and I've never rented a cottage which didn't have that. Wifi I would only expect if advertised.

I would say around 70% of the rentals I've used have had hand soap in the kitchen and bathrooms. 60% washing up liquid (and I always leave behind any I've bought). Others occasionally have left over teabags, coffe, dishwasher tabs and laundry detergent and I generally leave any excess of my own behind. about 50% have had a bottle of wine and on our fourth visit to a wonderful place there was wine, champagne, chocolates and a 'free' babysit by the owner as she had got to know us!

We have visited our favourite French rental four times now (fifth very soon) and I know that we will find toilet roll in each bathroom, hand soap at each sink, washing up liquid, a couple each of dishwasher and laundry tabs, and a crate containing a couple of bottles of red wine (the owners know us pretty well by now), some mini bottles of cognac, jam, potatoes, pasta, passata, tea, cafetière coffee, long life milk, bread. In the fridge will be Brie, pate, butter, fresh tomatoes from their garden, juice and bottled water. Basically enough to get us through arrival and overnight until we go to the supermarche. We LOVE that place, hence the multiple visits.

This is a really handy thread, because it's reminded me to add DISHWASHER TABLETS to my packing list for the holidays next month. So easy to pack 7 in a plastic bag, so annoying to have to buy a packet (although of course you can always take them home). Have also ordered a small pack of laundry tablets just in case.

I would expect all of that, with Wi-Fi only if it had been listed on the advertisement.

Just as a yardstick, we normally book through English Country Cottages or similar and pay around £800-£1200 for a week during summer holidays.

I get very annoyed when a cottage owner has provided something fancy like a gift basket or hamper including wine for example, but then you find there's only one pan in the cupboard, no chopping board and no sharp knives. We rent cottages because we have children and can't go out to eat for every meal - we need to do proper cooking even though we're on holiday!

Nothing at all unless it was a definite and even then I would have taken some...... erring on the side of caution like I do

Loo roll only.

But if you're doing a welcome pack it needs to be decent, or it's worse than not having one at all. Things to make tea/coffee for a day and to wash up afterwards.

Wiffy in a national park would depend on rural-ness/mod-cons.

Toilet rolls.
Wifi if advertised.
Anything else a nice touch by the owners.

Completely agree TheHunting, sharp knives, coffee making equipment and a bottle opener are much more important! I hate using the one pan to make pasta and then realise there is no sieve!

I always pack my own sharp knife and a couple of decent size mugs for tea because it's so common to only find doll-size ones. But I draw the line at taking my own saucepans.

To be honest, I wouldn't expect any of them, unless a welcome pack was promised.
But....I wonder what happens to all the half-used toilet rolls, used soap remnants, sugar bowls full etc that I have left behind, thinking they will tide the next guests over?

WiFi, a loo roll in each loo, and some soap at each sink (one of those hand pump ones).

We self cater in Scotland yearly and have never had less than this. Sometimes there is milk, tea bags etc, once or twice a home made cake and a bottle of wine.

We always include "basics" in our shop. We always bring a loo roll per person. We always bring a bottle of fairy liquid. We always bring laundry powder.

"I'd also be hoping there would be wifi even if it wasn't mentioned"

I wouldn't. It is a selling point and if they had it they would say so.

All of them! In a lovely holiday house at the moment. Tea, coffee, biscuits, vase of flowers, washing liquid/washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, clean teatowels, toilet rolls, wifi, toys/games/books, new liquid soap/bar of soap, face clothes, towels, amazing bed linen, fire wood, candles, gorgeous kitchen. It's bliss!! Not even awfully expensive. Loving every moment - don't want to go home! Stay in a holiday house most years - never had one this lovely.

Only a loo roll is the norm. We go to 5 a year.

Wifi, only if stated in the details.

Anything else is a bonus.

I would expect 'a' toilet roll, thats it. Its self catering.

However, if a 'welcome pack' was indicated I would have expected a lot more!

But if you're doing a welcome pack it needs to be decent, or it's worse than not having one at all.

Yes- this is my feeling really. None of this is a tragedy, I was expecting to go shopping tomorrow.

I just found it odd that a fairly decent well-equipped cottage with WiFi couldn't have managed a cup of plain tea and more than a few hours worth of bog roll..

Thanks all!

Also just arrived in a cottage today. We found all on your list except the milk. But we had a tesco delivery booked after arrival for that. I would only expect the loo roll (and wifi if stated - we do check for this wouldn't think it's a given). I brought soap, dish tabs/liquid etc in case anyway, wouldn't expect them. Are you annoyed? Have you self-catered before? We were caught out the first time too with no tea towels one place so I now over prepare each time.

Which of these items would you expect to find in your cottage?

1: WIFI because I'd have checked, double checked and probably triple checked they had it and reliably so.

2: Toilet roll - it's just bloody ridiculous & petty not to, but I'd take some anyway.

3: Dishwashing liquid/dishwasher tabs - see above

4: Guest soap - see above

5: Wouldn't notice

6: Milk - definitely not

I'd only expect the loo roll. Never expect wifi - usually because we tend to go to remote places - and the temptation to use it can ruin the holiday.

In most cottages I've stayed in there has been a welcome pack of tea, coffee, milk, biscuits, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets. I always take all of that just in case, but it's a nice touch if it's there.

The last place I stayed, which was gorgeous, had all of that minus dishwasher tablets and did have beer and wine in the fridge. All the crockery was a bit greasy and not clean so it's a bit of a false economy not supplying. Awful having to wash all the plates etc before we used them.

I did stay in one expensive cottage in the Peak District, described as luxury, where there was nothing - and no tea towel, no matching crockery, no matching cutlery. Looked like it had been furnished at a jumble sale, Didn't mention there was a boarding kennels on site.

WiFi - yes, in that I would only have booked said property if mentioned in advert!
All the rest, I'd say that if I owned and ran a holiday let I would definitely include. Sadly, my experience in UK and France is that I travel with (depending on day of week and shops open on arrival) the following: loo roll, kitchen roll, dishwasher tabs (and washing machine of course), salt & pepper (and mixed herbs if I remember). tea bags etc.

I think wifi and loo roll are expected. Anything else is a bonus, like our lovely landlady in Fowey who would leave milk, teabags, a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine and a homemade cake! Really spoiled us!

Toilet roll, thats it. Anything else has always been a bonus.
I find a lot of holiday cottages have things like sieves, juicers, coffee machine and egg slice things, but then no bottle opener/can opener.
Foreign ones are even better, you get a massive selection of casserole pots and no kettle.

Lovely cottage recently with things such as washing up liquid, soap, foil
Wash basket. Pegs
wine and cake left which was great.

We occasionally rent our house out as a holiday home when we're planning to be away for a month or more. We provide:

1. loo roll in all bathrooms and toilets
2. teabags (English breakfast plus a few mint / fruit / herbal teabags)
3. instant coffee plus some pods for the Nespresso
4. milk - 2l of full cream
5. a bottle of red and white wine from one of our local wineries
6. guest soap (liquid pump dispensers in toilets, bathrooms, laundry)
7. basic cleaning materials
8. free WiFi

No biscuits or snacks as its too risky with allergies, gluten intolerance etc.