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!

We recently did self catering in Cornwall and whilst I had washing up liquid and brush I was actually pretty unprepared! Hadn't realised there was a dishwasher or washing machine (it was a caravan and wasn't in the details!!) so we ended up buying dishwasher tablets and some kitchen roll.

Couldn't believe I'd forgotten teabags and coffee!

Yep agreed, Ive never heard anything like this on here!!!

We always do a click and collect order to pick up just before we get to where we're going. We take tea and coffee because we're fussy, we buy the cheapest washing up liquid and use lots, and we take our own dishwasher tablets and washing powder/tabs if there is a dishwasher/washing machine because we won't want to buy a whole packet. We get ready meals, ready prepared veg and lots of fruit so I dont have to cook, plus bread and cheese and stuff for lunches. And I always take my favourite knife. It's sharp and the right size and weight for me. I always assume that wherever I am going is unlikely to have the things I need to cook with, and I can't really be arsed anyway, so I just dont!

I never go on a self catering stay without my trusty air fryer.
This is following trying to get to grips with many annoying cookers in previous stays.
I always take plenty of tea towels ,cleaning cloths,washing up liquid and some green scrubber pads.
I agree that a weeks meal plan with some nice lunch stuff and plenty of snacks built in is a good idea.Dont forget drinks for you both.

DVD's ask friends or family or join the library before you go.

Stuff I take;

Drinks, these are often the heaviest things to carry back from a shop, so water, juice, wine,beer etc. Plus water bottles and flasks.
Coffee/tea
sugar/sweetners
salt/pepper/ketchup/vinegar/oil etc
sandwich bags/kitchen foil
toilet rolls
kitchen roll
Washing up liquid/ washing powder and dishwasher stuff if there is washing machine/dishwasher
breakfast stuff for the children for the first morning at least.
Small first aid kit, plasters, pain killers, antihistimines etc
My 'big' mug and a decent sized wine glass for me and a small glass for DH's whiskey. Sharp knife and tin opener.
Cool bag and ice packs. Always chuck a drink each in the cool bag, so after a day out, you can get in the car and have a nice cold drink on the way back to where you are staying.
Pack lunch type snacks.
Lots and lots of books.
Pillows and a spare duvet.
I always chuck a spare teatowel in.

What cooking facilities are there? Is there an oven? Or just hob and/or microwave?

Knife and tin opener and potato peeler.

I take a box with essentials.

Toilet roll
Dish washer tablets
Washing up sponge
Tea towel
Washing up liquid
Salt
Pepper
An good pan with lid
Frying pan
Cooking oil
Sandwich bags

Foil
Water bottles
Sharp knifes
Spatula

Never go expecting self catering to be equipped. I've been in full self catering with one pan, a chopping board and a blunt knife.....
And in a designer kitchen with every single gadget.

ball ache 11

Have you ever been self catering ?

I usually get an online shop delivered to where I'm staying to arrive the first evening

This works for us. I take washing stuff, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, foil, oil, salt and pepper but everything else is delivered. I plan for breakfasts and lunches but do less for evening meals so we go out sometimes or order takeaway. It works well in my opinion.

Always take extra loo roll! And don't forget things like paracetamol, bite cream, sun cream and immodium.

Get a Hello Fresh box delivered to the property with enough for three or four evening meals.

Take pastries, bread and bacon for breakfasts. Tea/coffee. Box of cereal if ds likes it.

Grab ice cream or cake and a cuppa out during the day.

Take a couple of boardgames - maybe something new. Scattergories and Rummikub are great ones! Take a deck of cards.

Does the place have a dvd player? Maybe grab some cheap old classics from a local CEX store (very cheap second hand dvds).

Before I report your post for being offensive about my name, yes we ONLY go self catering.

We usually do self catering. We’re high earners, but the price of eating out at the moment is astronomical with three teen children. We only have one mid-price meal usually and one high price.
I meal plan and pack accordingly. So I pack tea, coffee, mint tea, sugar - tuppperware), stuff for picnics - so Tupperware, picnic bag, ice packs. Favourite cereal, honey, ham, bin bags, rubber gloves, washing pads, detox, kitchen roll, foil, salt pepper, oil.
mid you’re not used to it, go through every meal you’re going to eat and all the components. Assume no gas.

Because I find shopping in my familiar local supermarket and sticking it in the car boot a lot less stressful than finding a supermarket at my destination, trying to find things in an unfamiliar layout and wasting hours of my holiday doing it. Similarly I like knowing I have what I need instead of winging it and finding I need to buy tea towels or whatever. I don’t find the packing remotely stressful, especially now I’ve done it enough times now I know what I need and how best to pack it.

I think a lot depends on what exactly you mean as “self catering” - a nice cottage might well have salt, pepper, oil, hand soap, copious toilet paper etc. I assure you a lot of static caravans have nothing of the sort.

My own pillow.

I have had to buy a bucket to.wash wet suits in as there was no outside tap before now.

I now always do an online shop to either have delivered or click and collect. I do it for pretty much everything so toiletries etc as well as food. If I wasn't sure what to take depending on the facilities I book it for first thing day 2 and take the absolutely basics to get started. Then I could update it when I got there and had a look round.

Because I find shopping in my familiar local supermarket and sticking it in the car boot a lot less stressful than finding a supermarket at my destination, trying to find things in an unfamiliar layout and wasting hours of my holiday doing it. Similarly I like knowing I have what I need instead of winging it and finding I need to buy tea towels or whatever. I don’t find the packing remotely stressful, especially now I’ve done it enough times now I know what I need and how best to pack it.

This^

Is there a barbeque at the self catering place ?

There was a charcoal barbeque where we stayed in Devon. I love a barbeque on our first night self catering.

I'm on holiday with my teen. We brought basics from home: bread, cheese, milk, cereal, squash etc. Then went to Tesco when we got here for fresh stuff and snacks. I know the cottage is well equipped so just brought a mug and teatowel and my Aeropress for coffee. Sandwich bags are useful.
Meals wise we just have simple things, tuna and pasta, stir fry/packet rice, etc.

@DancingWithYourDog
Take yours and DS favourite snacks, drinks and breakfast basics at the very least.

Take games, DVD's colouring stuff, swimming stuff, a Mac each, Towels for the pool and to wash.

Check to see if bedding is included.

Enjoy

Some places have loads of extras like washing up liquid, teabags, loo roll etc so there's no need to buy them. Others literally nothing

From my spreadsheet I apparently usually take:
Tea towels, lots
Bin bags
Good knife
Wooden spoon
Non-stick frying pan
Small, non-stick pot
All purpose cleaning spray
My own pillow (Best thing ever, really)
A couple of my own blankets or throws
Pre made frozen meal in glass dish (cottage pie or similar) for first evening
Liquid detergent for clothes

My list may seem over the top, but it is the result of experience!
Anything food related is usually bought there.

But you’re holidaying in the uk? The supermarkets you go to will be there wherever you are, especially if you have a car? Just do what you’d do at home?

Take store cupboard essentials and then buy the other items locally.
Download some movies from Netflixs for the evenings.
Make a spag bol at home and split it freezing two meals. One for the first night after travelling and the other for the night you return. Easy meals after you've been driving.
Don't forget a flask, lunchboxes and cooler bag for cheap homemade picnics.
If you freeze small water bottles these will chill food in warmer weather and provide a cool drink afterwards.