To think there's no need to eat out every night of a holiday?

[JQuinnS]

We're going away soon and are staying in a resort/hotel that has a small kitchen in the room. We have decided to not do all inclusive/eat out at the town. There's no reason to not cook something at least a couple of needs. Is there really a need to eat out every night? Not being arsey, genuinely wondering. AIBU?

Self catering holidays work for us as a family as we have a child with special needs. I enjoy cooking and part of the fun for us is exploring the local food shops and eating the local produce. Last year we had an apartment in Lake Garda with wonderful views over the lake, I was quite happy to cook with a glass of wine in hand and eating on the balcony was magic especially as there was no need to dress up!
It's all about having the holiday you want - we are all different, my holiday would be hell on earth for some people!

Of course there is no need, it's what you want from your holiday. When our DC were younger we often self catered due to ease and budget. These days it's a mix of eating out and in depending on accommodation.

I agree Babbaganush my SIL doesn't even want to make her bed on holiday so they always go AI, to her our holidays sound awful. However they put DN to bed at 7 every night and stay in the room which sounds awful to me.

The main decider for us is money.
We've been on holidays when we have been poorer and so eaten in every night just as we would at home (caravan at butlins) or camping etc.
Last year we rented an apartment in torquay. We had a gift card for m&s so we went and bought some of their ready meal type stuff - dine in for £10 deals and kids chooses some stuff they wanted. Then we also went out 1 night for a meal and then the other night was takeaway fish and chips on the beach.
If we had more money we would eat out every night!
We went out recently for a meal and for 5 of us plus SIL it cost over £100! That's a weeks groceries for us so it's a rare treat. Even a takeaway is £40 which is a large chunk of our budget.

I cook a lot at home, so do see a holiday as a chance for a break from this.

However, we usually go self-catering, as we like the extra space. We mostly eat out at lunch-time, and then pick up cheese/bread/salami to graze on in evenings.

We used to holiday to French campsites in their very well equipped caravans. Restaurants were no close so we would bbq most nights using lovely fresh produce from local shops and fish markets. Most people did, the children played on the site safely and we sat with a bottle of wine on the veranda. It was bliss. Our worst holiday was all inclusive. I hated eating in the same place every morning, lunch and evening with the same people.We like cooking, we like our privacy and independence and having a gastronomic meal at tiny prices!

Whatever you prefer. I like cooking for myself. In fact yesterday we were discussing a holiday and what means we wanted - loads of different views from this big family. Hard to square the circle sometimes. In our case it's whether we go for the hotel's bed and breakfast or plus the dinner as last year.

If I go to my parents holiday home (and can't face driving to restaurants) then I'm happy to eat at home and eat out.

If I go elsewhere like a resort then I prefer to eat out every night.

One self catering holiday I went on with a boyfriend meant we ended up squabbling about cooking (and ended up eating out mostly anyway) so I'd always try and factor in eating out.

Giddyaunt fond memories of camping here and abroad and BBQs, can't beat that really can you?!

The other thing to think of op is does the kitchen come stocked? Plates, cutlery, pots and pans , utensils etc that you need? Based on what it's stocked with then this can dictate what you can realistically do meal wise.

I think it depends where you are staying.

If there are some nice deli type shops close by and you can eat in without too much effort to prepare a meal - a lovely spread of local cheeses, meats, fruit, bread, salad etc washed down with lots of local wine, I think it can be a lovely thing to do.

But I'm not going to make a lasagne when I could get one in a restaurant nearby.

We will eat out most days, but some days we will have a light lunch out rather than dinner, and then cook in the evening. If away for 2 weeks in a villa/campsite we may cook 4 or 5 times. Probably 2 x quick pasta, 2 x bbq, maybe omelette.
DH does all holiday cooking (i do most cooking at home),whilst I sip wine and read my kindle. DH quite likes it as he cooks with beer in hand, spotify on, with lovely ingredients.

...and if you like cooking!

This is the key thing. I cook every single day and it's a chore.

It's the simple things for me super and luckily my DH feels the same, must be awful if you're mismatched. My friend looks at me in horror as she HATES cooking and holiday for her is dressing up every night and eating out. Each to their own.

If I go elsewhere like a resort then I prefer to eat out every night.

We tend to stay in the UK, and when the DC were younger we'd definitely eat dinners in the cottage - a trip to a huge Tesco to stock up on Finest meal deals was part of the holiday experience (Londoners, so we don't ever drive to a hypermarket when we're at home). Minimal preparation and I'd never go anywhere without a dishwasher. Now they're older we can go out in the evenings as well which is nice but we'd probably still prepare a meal or two at home, either good quality ready meals or something from a local deli.

Abroad in tourist beach resorts I would worry about the choice and prices in the local food shops, so I wouldn't plan to eat in frequently.

we have one meal a day out usually on holiday- then just eat cheetos and milka for any other meal.

I definitely wouldn't cook. Eating out each night is part of the holiday for me. Especially on a hot holiday where we do very little in the day. I've never been all inclusive and wouldn't. It doesn't appeal to me either.

We tend to have our summer hols in Greece/on Crete. We'll typically stay at a hotel where breakfast is included, and where there are simple kitchen facilities in the room. Lunch will then be bread + feta + tomato effort from the local shop, and we'll go into town for supper.

There's no right or wrong to this, IMO. Whatever works for you and yours.

I love cooking, but would always eat out on holiday. We like to try regional dishes and support the local businesses. We have cruised a lot and done AI but still most days buy lunch, food from stalls, a deli picnic, coffees and cakes etc out.

We tend to eat out about half the time and have nice, but easy semi-convenience food meals the rest of the time: salmon steaks, new potatoes and salad; nice "Finest" type supermarket pizza; fresh pasta...

If thats what you want to do then its fine.

I like to go all inclusive and do nothing the whole time I am there.

What ever works for you there are no rules

I love visiting markets and supermarkets abroad and stocking the fridge with interesting items. Every country sells the basics in the supermarket so you can easily accommodate kids too

That doesn't stop us eating out too but gives us the freedom to do what we fancy

We eat out everynight...quite a few days as well

I have a particular friend who eats in 90% of the time and then has a couple of 'treaty' meals

Both of us love our holidays

But you are quite right, there is no need and it can cost a fortune!!!

Spartacus I love that sort of encounter on holiday. A tiny snapshot of every day life. Much more fun than being ringfenced inside some AI resort.

Lol they are not prisons! It's the 'got to have the real experience' now. Why do you want to spend time on holiday doing laundry? I do laundry every day at home!!