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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To enjoy self catering holidays.

47 replies

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/05/2018 07:16

I have seen a few threads lately where many posters say they hate self catering and Would rather stay home!

If course it is each to their own but I can't n alone in loving self catering surley?!

We have one DS who is 4 and generally go self catering in the UK. Did Cornwall last year and are going again but to a different area this year. We stay in cottages with 2 bedrooms.

I love not having to go to eat at certain times, relaxing mornings, the space and being away from hustle and bustle.

We have a relaxing breakfast and then tea out for the day, usually with a picnic. A do eat out sometimes but generally we prefer eating in.

Both myself and DH did caravan holidays as children so maybe that's why we like it.

So, am I alone or do any other mumsnetters like self catering hols?

OP posts:

Original poster

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/05/2018 07:17

Please excuse typos - on my phone!

OP posts:

Raven88 · 19/05/2018 07:20

Me and DH go self catering all the time. We go to Cyprus and it's nice to eat on the balcony and have late breakfasts. I enjoy the freedom

0hCrepe · 19/05/2018 07:20

Yes I do as long as we have a few meals out. I like the idea of AI but I have a feeling I’d get sick of it after a few days, I’m not keen on all you can eat buffet places and self service- it’s all a bit Canteeny. I like being able to make sandwiches for remote places and sometimes just want something easy for the kids they’re used to.
I think some on here do it all though, it does need to be a team effort.

Childrenofthesun · 19/05/2018 07:21

Yep, I much prefer them too. I don't like noise and being round lots of people so we always self-cater somewhere rural with a garden. Suits us perfectly and the kids have somewhere to run around. We don't even eat out but I don't mind cooking simple meals at home. It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but it's our ideal type of holiday.

Chasingsquirrels · 19/05/2018 07:26

I enjoy them too, have never seem them as "different place same shit".
We used to do cottage in Cornwall when the dc were small, Owners Direct type places in Spain, Portugal, France.
Breakfast in - wander to the neaby bread shop and have bread and jam.
Lunch depending on what we were doing (UK with day trips would be a pasty or cafe, foreign hot holiday would be a snack in the apartment).
Evening meal would depend on what lunch had been but in general lots of eating out.

I like having more space in the apartment, having a washing machine for hot holidays - put that days clothes & beach towels on which out for evening meal, hang out when get back and dry by the morning.

Having said that ice done a few all inclusive and enjoyed those as well, but in different circumstances.

Had some lovely caravan holidays with my kids.
My grandparents had a caravan on Anglesey and we practically lived there in the holidays as kids.

ItchyBites · 19/05/2018 07:27

We prefer self-catering too. We don't like to stay in hotels, and prefer to book a cottage or apartment instead, so we always self-cater. We like to go to more out of the way places, often where there isn't the option of places to eat out, so usually I just cook as I would at home. I don't mind cooking so it isn't a hardship. We're off to Greece this summer and have booked a villa, so we're self-catering there too. We will probably eat out a bit more though as there are a couple of tavernas within walking distance of the villa.

vampirethriller · 19/05/2018 07:30

I like them. My best holidays have been camping or caravan in Cornwall.
I like all inclusive too but sometimes don't want to eat when it's time to eat.

BrutusMcDogface · 19/05/2018 07:30

Of course yanbu; different strokes for different folks! We do self catering and eat out once a day- this could be breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the day's plans. The other meals are eaten at the cottage. Suits us fine (3 young children).

plum100 · 19/05/2018 07:31

We are the same - especially abroad - we like to explore and eat in different places every night , and our kids all wake up and different times so we can’t be waiting round for them to wake up to go and eat.

Monny · 19/05/2018 07:34

Prefer self-catering. There is no pleasure in telling a starving 4 year old (clawing for breakfast at 6am) that there is no food served for over an hour. Repeat for every meal time... for a week. Actually repeat that to me too (person that would have been up with the kid and also hungry).

Yogagirl123 · 19/05/2018 07:34

Yes self catering all the way for our family, cottages in the UK are fab, more space than a hotel, eat what you like when you like. DH does all the cooking like he would do at home anyway. As long as there is dishwasher and washing machine I am happy!

Happinesss · 19/05/2018 07:35

I’m happy with both. As a child we went on lots of holidays abroad that were self catering but we ate out every single night, we used to walk along the beach front looking at the restraunts etc and picking which ones do eat it that night or the following night. I used to love it as a child.

As an adult with kids myself now if we go abroad we go all inclusive as it’s what my partner prefers and I don’t mind, we still eat out a couple of times and do day trips etc.

I have no problem doing a long caravan self catering holiday but it’s because we would still mostly eat out and I don’t have to cook on a evening. I wouldn’t want to go abroad for a week and cook every evening so unless it’s in the budget to eat out a lot I’d rather not go. I don’t find the times restricting on all you can eats as it’s normally a few hours in which you can go down.

MsDugong · 19/05/2018 07:39

I prefer them too. We get to eat what we want, when we want (completely agree with PP and 6am starts!!). I don't have to worry so much about the food allergies in my family either. And the accommodation can be as isolated or as close to others as we choose, with bedroom arrangements of our choosing, unlike hotels. Just greater flexibility all round.

We usually mix eating out and making/packing a meal. Anything cooked is generally pretty quick and simple.

Eolian · 19/05/2018 07:40

I've rarely been on a holiday that wasn't self catering. When you get fed up with cooking, you can go out for a meal. I don't like hotels even now my dc are older because I don't like not having private space (living room, garden) to hang out in. I don't want to spend my holiday with a load of random strangers.

CuppaSarah · 19/05/2018 07:40

I love self catering holidays with the kids! Just do easy, bung it in the oven food for dinner, like pizza, or order in, or go out. Lunches and breakfast are easy. It's much more relaxing than taking my toddler to a busy room with set meal times. While he would be ok, he would also be loud and I'd be mildly on edge the whole time. Plus DD doesn't handle loud busy places well and would get anxious about meal times.

I'd much rather have our own meal times, in our own quiet accomodation. It's good down time!

BrutusMcDogface · 19/05/2018 07:40

We haven't been abroad with our kids yet, but would probably eat out of an evening and do breakfast/lunch ourselves. It's part of the experience to sample different foods imo.

Branleuse · 19/05/2018 07:42

if I didn't like self catering holidays I don't think I'd ever be able to go on holiday at all.

SabineUndine · 19/05/2018 07:42

I like them because I get sick of eating in restaurants.

givemesteel · 19/05/2018 07:43

Think self catering is different in the UK though. In the UK can order a supermarket shop, take nice Cook or M&S ready meals, you've got your car so can take a few herbs/spices you need or cooking utensil you need for a recipe etc. You know what supermarkets will stock as you're on home turf. I don't mind SC if it's a UK holiday.

Don't like SC abroad as you often have manage with a pretty basic mini market, dh therefore has no idea what to buy (other than loads of cheese and salami) so I have to do all the meal planning and shopping as well as the cooking.

I don't mind cooking at home as I've got all the things I need but I guess I'm not that good at improvising with basic food, and basic utensils etc, so I find it a chore working out what to feed everyone for a week.

KentishLady2018 · 19/05/2018 07:43

YANBU. We’ve got 2 holidays booked this year - an American road trip staying in hotels all the way and a 1 week cottage holiday in the UK.

I can honestly say I’m looking forward to both equally.

I love SC holidays and wouldn’t do a holiday in the UK any other way.

I normally arrange a Sainsbury’s delivery the day we arrive then we buy lovely bread and meat from local bakeries, butchers and farm shops throughout the week. There’ll be a throw away bbq one day if the weather’s good.

It’s like being at home but without the stress of housework, work, etc. I love it!

givemesteel · 19/05/2018 07:45

Oh and you can use apps like Just Eat to find local takeaways to deliver in the UK.

Haven't found the equivalent abroad, maybe it will come, its a good business idea.

AutoFilled · 19/05/2018 07:48

Well this is vague isn’t it? Self catering doesn’t mean cooking. I just eat out all meals except breakfast. DC and DH aren’t into cooked breakfast. They are a cereal and bakery type. The only thing I definitely need is a cleaner.

So you are just saying you don’t like AI?

GreenTulips · 19/05/2018 07:48

Monny

Lots of all inclusive have self catering apartments so you can feed a 4 year old breakfast.

We go all inclusive with the kids as they all eat different things so a pizza restaurant would leave DS hungry or a Chinese DD hungry- not worth the arguments every night on where to eat - it's just food!!

Kids love the free icecream and pop etc so we don't have to fork out.

WipsGlitter · 19/05/2018 07:48

We do them. There were maybe a few where the kids were really small I didn't enjoy. One where they woke at 5.55 every day as the room was so bright was a highlight.

Now I make sure and pick a really lovely spacious house. As nice or nicer than our own. Will reject loads - no knick-knacks, sofas hidden under throws, smelly looking carpets.

We eat out and bring M&S meals with us too.

Original poster

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/05/2018 07:49

Glad it's not just me!

Yes to the early rising children! My son gets up around 6.30am so not being able to eat for another hour or so would be like torture to him

Being in a cottage with a garden means he can play out early without disturbing anyone!

I like the fact that a can be a bit spontaneous as well - e.g. deciding we will eat lunch at a nice pub and just have cheese and crackers later.

9 weeks until we go and I can't wait!

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