What the heck do I take on a self catering holiday?

[DancingWithYourDog]

Just that really. Going for a week in the U.K. with DS (11) on a self catering holiday. There’s just the two of us. Super excited but quite overwhelmed trying to think what to take. Obviously clothes and toiletries.

What about food? Can’t afford to eat out much but kitchen facilities look limited. Menu planning for the week feels risky until I’ve had a poke around the kitchen.

Games I suppose. Feel quite nervous I’ll get it wrong.

Top tips would be great!

If you plan to watch Netflix etc on a phone/iPad make sure to download some programmes or films onto the device before you go. The wifi in holiday places can be terrible and not enough to stream.

I think we have casted before from a tablet, we took home plugs i think.

I would not have taken loo roll and we would have had a problem. I am so glad I asked, your lists are fantastic.

An empty Tupperware or two for leftovers/open packets.

We find a reusable shopping bag (one of the wide, shiny type ones) useful for recycling when abroad in countries where there is centralised recycling in the town/on the street rather than in the property. Assume this won’t be needed in the UK though.

Ask exactly what kitchen equipment there is so you can meal plan before going.

For meals we usually 'cook'

Frozen pizzas
Pasta pesto
Chilli made at home & brought with us with microwave rice
Fish & chips on the sea front
Quiche, salad etc.

Ditto bringing stuff like cling film, tea towels etc. if you have it in the accommodation use theirs but you have back ups.

We've never had more than 1/2 loo rolls so always take a big pack

And charity shops

Cant believe some of these lists

We take clothes and toiletries. The blurb about the cottge should have a list of what it provides, you shouldnt need bloody towels and kitchen towels and loo roll, where on earth are people going thats self catering, a bloody tent??

We buy our food local when we get there, but eat out a huge amount to be fair.

My top tip for saving money on a self catering holiday is to buy a box of lollies/magnums/cornettes whatever rather than Mr Whippys or Marshfields. Even if I end up with 6 in the box and only the three of us I can generally spend max £2 on a box we have ours if close enough to the house I take back if not I give away to randoms on the street as soon as we come out of the shop. Never had to put spares in the bin yet! Plus not spending £5+ on ice-creams. We also have a rule of not before 2:30 so less likely to ask for more than 1 a day.

DS is old enough to help cook, let him plan a meal - can be super simple pasta and sauce/pesto and cheese. My 7 year old loves to get involved and then let them “play mother” and do the serving.

disposable bbq and s’mores- £1 marshmallows in two chocolate fake Aldi hobnobs! Best holiday dessert

Most places in the UK have these incredibly useful things called shops…

I usually bring 2 or 3 frozen batch cooked meals with me, a pizza night and try make anything you've to cook from scratch super simple. I'd bring a colander because they never have them and have never thought to bring a sharp knife and consequently spend a lot of time angry that I don't have a sharp knife. I only copped that I could do an online order to the house recently- also a game changer.

I premake and freeze a bolognaise although you could take a chilli, cottage pie instead. It keeps in a cool bag for the journey, defrost in the fridge once you arrive for second night's tea. Also take a homemade quiche, serve with beans

Posted too soon - quiche with beans first night then you can have it cold for picnic lunches. You also have the cool bag then for picnics throughout the week. Enjoy your hol!

Not exactly what you asked but do you have the meerkat app? - 2for 1 meals out if you do

No wonder theres so many threads about holidays being stressful. Im mega stressed just reading all of this

Why on earth are people acting like they're going to the moon or something?

“Shop” in your own house - before leaving.

we are currently on holiday and have brought everything from home including stuff already in fridge freezer larders so have very easily saved loads of money on breakfasts (pancakes!), brunches (those baked beans from the back of cupboard and frozen sausages and has browns from freezer), snacks, lunches (the tuna cans, spaghetti we had left and mayo tubs came in handy) - meaning plenty money left over for actual proper holiday spends.

As well as many of the items already listed, I also take sharp kitchen scissors, a grater, a sieve for draining rice and pasta and a measuring jug.
When we go to France we also take a kettle (purchased there on a previous trip), mugs and hi ball glasses.

Most kids food is super cheap if you have it at home, so stock up on pizza, nugget, chips ty9e food. Also morning cereal/croissant type stuff and lunchtime bagels with fillings (or whatever). And that's most of your food taken care of. Also near the site stop off and buy ice lollies and snacks.

Yes but you can spend a fortune buying things you only need a little of and already have at home. For many self catering holidays are seen as a cheaper option but not if you need to spend £20+ on basics that with a little bit of forward planning you could have taken from home.

We always bring a decent knife. Knives that aren't sharp are a safety hazard, and so often they are terrible in self-catering.

You'll probably have shops close by so I wouldn't load up the car too much. Take Hand soap as that's really irritating if there isn't any. I think part of the fun of somewhere new is exploring the local shops.
Charity shops are good for cheap DVD's and maybe games etc. Some properties have some anyway. Or take some small bits/travel games from home if you have any - encourage your ds to get off his phone and interact with you! We like card games, pass the pigs (or pugs!) puzzle books maybe.
Which area are you going to?

Find out the size of the freezer and fridge. I would do a few home made pasta bakes, marinate meats, curries or whatever you like and take them as frozen. It will be super easy to put then in the oven and no cooking. You can't do a small food shop locally for the fresh stuff.

I always take a sharp knife and a peeler. Also a few tea towels. Just have loads of sandwiches. You're on holiday -eat what you fancy. Have a fab time x

Loads of good advice above. Yy to online grocery order to the house on 1st day as I don't fancy doing a shops after a long drive. I also took the airfryer and a cafetiere this year.

Blimey I don’t do half that! I guess it depends on the type of place, but all the holiday cottages/apartments I’ve stayed at in the UK have kitchen basics like salt and pepper, tea and coffee, cooking oil etc. and some have tons of stuff. There’s always been cleaning products too. I’d also definitely expect there to be loo roll and there’s often toiletries but generally it’ll say in the details of the booking. A couple of places haven’t had tea towels though! We generally go and do a supermarket shop once we’ve arrived to see how well equipped the kitchen actually is, and buy more or less stuff depending how close the shops are. We’re just back from a week by the coast in an otherwise great place which didn’t have a freezer. Good call on the sharp knife though.