Holiday rental essentials

[AitkenDrum1970]

Would you expect some essential supplies in a holiday rental? For information it sleeps 6, cost £1900 for a week in August. On arrival there was one loo roll in each of the 3 bathrooms and no kitchen supplies (e.g. no salt or pepper, no milk or tea bags or coffee). We did arrive with tea bags, but no milk as we travelled 300 miles. The property is close to shops (15 minute walk). There was a bottle of wine!! I’ve never stayed in a holiday rental before where there weren’t at least a few basics to welcome you on arrival.
So AIBU to expect a few basics?

In ours we leave 4 loo rolls, tea, coffee, milk, eggs, jam, butter, bread. Also, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotions (All new small bottles) plus slippers and robes.

Honestly that's good to leave wine and toilet rolls. Was there any soap? Tbh apart from a small pint of milk and some washing up liquid if expect nothing else. Wouldn't for one moment expect salt and pepper.

Any I’ve stayed in it’s been the norm for there to be nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️ I thought that was pretty standard. Normal for there to be a loo roll in each bathroom I’d say. Some leave hand soap but probs about 50/50.

Sometimes a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates as a welcome gift from the owner - and one time we had a fresh homemade loaf of bread and homemade jam which was very much appreciated and a lovely touch.

Surely you stop at a supermarket close to the rental and stock up on all your bits for the stay before you arrive? That’s what we’ve always done 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought you were going to ask what kitchen equipment to bring. I have added a frying pan and a decent kitchen knife to the list as they were really ropey this year.

I wouldn't expect any supplies - maybe loo roll.

No problem with popping to the supermarket but was surprised by there being nothing considering the price we’d paid. No soap (I had brought some with me), no dishwasher tablets (there is washing up liquid).

This drives me mad. Especially when they leave like ONE dishwasher tab and ONE washing machine tab. Just charge an extra £20/£30 or whatever and leave some basic supplies and enough dishwasher tabs for a week.

Exactly, these things only cost pence compared to the cost of the house.

I wouldn't expect anything except for some loo roll and maybe soap. Anything else is a pleasant surprise.

£1900 per week for 6 people is less than £50 per person per night. It's a good price for August.

Did you have oven gloves though, wish I'd discovered the lack before I put the chicken in the oven

I would expect toilet rolls and soap, maybe washing up liquid/one dishwasher tab per day

Not milk/tea/coffee etc.

Yes to oven gloves and some very fancy kitchen equipment and an ‘event’ oven (not sure what that is) 🤣

We used to run a holiday cottage for 2 people, and there would always be 3 toilet rolls left in the bathroom. Dishwasher tablets for a week, as not everyone has a dishwasher at home, so wouldn't get to use a whole pack, if they had to buy some just to have enough for their holiday. There was always condiments, and then an additional 'Welcome Basket' with bread, butter, milk, eggs, tea, coffee, sugar, a variety pack of miniature cereals, and a packet of nice biscuits. We didn't provide wine, as it's actually against the law, and also, you can bet your life if you provide white, they drink red, you provide red, they drink rose or white, etc. We figured that what we provided meant that if someone arrived late, there was sufficient food for a basic meal, whether it be toast, or scrambled eggs, or cereal of some sort, and if they didn't like that, they could at least have tea/coffee, and some biscuits to take care of any hunger pangs until the morning when they could go shopping.

I'd be horrified if I turned up to find one measly loo roll!

We've stayed in many holiday cottages over the years, and we've had some cracking 'welcome' baskets (bread, butter, eggs, cheese, milk, jam, biscuits, scones, crisps) but also some very empty cupboards. We always make sure we take enough to get through the first evening and breakfast the next day and go from there.

That sounds wonderful!

Where we stay (similar price) they leave 2 loo rolls in each of the 3 toilets, hand wash at all sinks, then a thing in the kitchen with sachets of tea, coffee, hot choc, squash, sugar and some biscuits. There’s also salt, pepper and oil. We do a Sainsbury’s shop for just after we get there for everything else we need.

edited - forgot to add they also leave enough dishwasher tablets, some washing up liquid, clean tea towels and a sponge, some clean oven gloves and a kitchen roll. And there’s usually foil, cling film and baking paper in the drawer.

The last place we stayed it had everything including a freshly baked fruit cake!

I’ve experienced absolutely nothing to a well stocked store cupboard! If they are leaving fresh food like milk, usually they tell you in advance. Last place I stayed had noting food wise but provided washing up liquid, cleaning supplies and 2 washing tablets for laundry (this might have not been standard, she knew I was arriving by motorcycle and needed to wash)

That’s definitely what we’re used to. However, having youth hostelled for many years as a child I’m usually pretty prepared. Just surprised at this place, nothing we weren’t able to sort easily but would have been good to know in advance. Thanks for all the replies!

I stay in 5 or 6 holiday cottages per year and it varies wildly. Some go for a gift type offering (wine/chocolate), others go for more practical stuff (milk etc). Condiments is a difficult one as a lot of people wouldn't use them because they don't know how long they've been there, (I would never use open food in a holiday let). Toilet rolls, dish washer tablets are usually regarded as a starter to get you going rather than to provide for your whole holiday.

These days, most people order a supermarket delivery for check in time so things like milk, eggs etc are just duplicates (this is the reason, cottages increasingly go down the gift route than practicalities). You can't keep everyone happy I suppose. For me, milk, bread, eggs juice, butter etc is a waste of money and generally goes in the bin as I've brought my own stuff. Good quality wine and chocolates however are very welcome! I also appreciate flowers which I've seen a few times recently - usually picked from the garden. That's a much more personal touch than a loaf of bread and a pint of milk.