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’ve just had a week self-catering.
Suppers were pasta, fish and chips (twice and not that good), burgers, lamb mince kebabs from Tesco with naan and salad, and pizza.

For lunch we had wraps with salad and chorizo, crisps, fruit and home made cake.

Basically as easy as possible.

I find U.K. SC holidays hard to pack for as you need to pack for all seasons

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

We can't afford to eat out much, maybe one proper meal out. Everyones budget is different.

A flask for picnic lunches, you don't want to be paying for teas and coffees when out and about everyday.

I can't believe how much stuff people are taking. We self cater probably 4 - 6 times a year and apart from clothes and toiletries, we just take enough food to see us through the start of the holiday. If we're staying somewhere remote then we'd probably take more food, but that's it.

Loads of snacks:
Microwave popcorn
Marshmallows + tealights + skewers and toast over a tealight!
Choc biscuits and make s,mores
Nice ready meals for the microwave
Pizzas + bag of salad
Crisps
Charity shop for dvds
Card games such as Uno or small games like pass the pigs, exploding kittens. Charity shop likely to have options! Sometimes people leave things like that in SC accommodation.

I don't think lists are OTT. Last thing you want to do is traipse round a big supermarket when you're supposed to be relaxing! You can always take things home with you like loo roll if it turns out it's not needed. I hope you have a wonderful break and enjoy!

In my experience the owners provide an itemised list of what's there, down to the last deck of cards and teaspoon.
In the last place I stayed I found a cake and a bottle of wine along with the welcome note when I arrived, which was nice.

I agree the ready meals are a good idea. Cooking in someone else's kitchen always seems so difficult, doesn't it!

And yes, the kettles are always full of scale! Why oh why!?
I woldn't bother to bring my own though.

I do draw the line at bringing slow cookers, air fryers etc as suggested here though!

I take a sharp knife but I wouldn't bother with cooking equipment like kettles, slow cookers etc.
And would prob take small amounts of condiments but not loads of food.
One place we went to didn't have a corkscrew or bottle opener! It was an air bnb and we were their first guests. I gave them a (quite a long) list of things that might be helpful....like a bottle opener, coasters, storage (one room had 3 beds and nothing else in it!!) a mirror. One place had no wine glasses but I wouldn't consider taking my own!

We always took at least one good knife, even to the US where we would buy stuff for lunch etc., self-catering places anywhere are usually poorly equipped with knives.

Take basics with you eg bread, cereal, milk and spread in a cool box, perhaps sandwich fillings and plastic tubs for picnics. Bag of pasta and jar of pesto is a good standby. Washing up liquid and tea towel. Work out where the nearest supermarket is

Not sure about some of the explanations of why you bring things because the cottage is somewhere remote, having driven 3 hours and then go out again to drive 20 mins to a shop

We always look up where a supermarket or farm shop is on the way, we dont get there and then suddenly wonder where a shop is, we make sure we route our sat nav near a shop on the way so that we grab it and arrive with it.

Dvds are so cheap in charity shops.

Have a great time!

Don't forget to grab a handful if your bags-for-life stash for when you do shopping at your destination.

Check if you get a list but washing up liquid, washing powder, tea towels!

I’d ask your DS if there is anything he fancies eating - and relax any usual rules about junk food/sugar/veg. You could even give him a budget in the coop - he might enjoy it. Eg my DC would be delighted with cheese on toast for dinner.

Like I said earlier, we self cater loads. I've never stayed somewhere without a tea towel, soap/handwash, bin bag or a sponge/brush to wash up with. Nor have we ever needed a plug extension. Am really surprised that places are being rented out without basic supplies or sufficient plug sockets.

There may be some DVDs there, but that will be pot luck. Charity shops usually have plenty of DVDs.

But you don't know, until you get there, what is missing!

Also, it is better to cover all bases and take essential items from your home store cupboard. It's daft (and not good cashflow) to buy a whole new pack of something when you already have some of it at home.

I'm prepping for a long weekend away and as a matter of habit I've prepped
Teatowel
Sharp paring knife
A few laundry tablets
A small tub each of tea and coffee
I'll chuck in a spray oil

There's no guarantee the house will have these/have enough of these and if they don't get used its fine - they'll come home with us.

I like to bring a stack of frozen casseroles. Kitchens are so hit or miss and I’m on vacation so don’t really want to be cooking to being with.

Hi Op
I really hope that you & your ds have a fantastic holiday !
As lots of others have said - keep the food v v simple & easy for you to do.
I would do something like Iike:
Day 1 - pasta, nice jar of sauce, garlic bread & salad
Day 2 - supermarket pizza & the rest oh rhe salad
Day 3 - buy a cooked rotisserie chicken in the supermarket & have with potato salad / coleslaw & bread rolls etc
Day 4 - the other half of the chicken as a sirfry using prepared bag of veg & noodles & sachet of sauce
Day 5 - burgers in brioche buns with oven fries
Day 6 - quiche & salads
Day 7 nachos

Breakfast- cereal / toast/ brioche / jam / eggs / bacon

Lunches: tub fresh soup & rolls if it's a cooler day / cheese on toast /beans OK toast /bacon rolls / sausage rolls / bagels

Lots of treats/ snacks - posh ice cream & a pack of cones & box of flakes
Popcorn / nuts / crisps
Giant bar of chocolate
A nice cake / posh biscuits for cups of tea

Tea / coffee / hot chocolate/ squash/ bottle of fizzy drink/ ice /wine or beer for you in the evenings

Basically I would make each meal easy but like you're spoiling yourselves!

You will have a ball

Beware of Air bnb listings saying they have towels & tea towels, they are the same option on the amenities list but ours had towels & not tea towels so we had to buy some.

Yes there are shops which sell these things but we don't need more tea towels at home so I'd have preferred to bring some than spend £4 on some we'll probably never use again because they are crap