minimising food costs whilst away in hotel

[kindbutnotrich]

Have a weekend away with DCs relating to an activity which already costs an arm and a leg. Usually the weekend is at a self-catering venue, so we can at least keep food costs down whilst there. This year is in a hotel. Evening meals we will probably have time to go out and find somewhere to eat. But during the day/breakfasts we won't have time. Am a bit funny about food hygiene, so just thinking through what we can take to minimise expense. Any thoughts? Assuming that margarine will keep ok in a cool bag for the duration but not feeling very confident about ham/cheese - so thinking take rolls/teacakes etc and tins of e.g. tuna for sandwiches, & fruit/cake/biscuits/crips but then am stuck. Any thoughts please?

What about something like flapjacks for breakfast and some individual cartons of fruit juice? You could take some tinner ham for sarnies.

why take anything? if you don't want to eat hotel food why not buy from a supermarket locally? most hotels have a small fridge in (minibar).

Croissants/pain au chocolat/cereal with uht milk (Moo skimmed is really good imo) plus juice for breakfast. Try a few of those jarred sandwich fillers/spreads ahead of time and see which you like - then no need for marg either

no time to buy locally dropdead, sorry if I didn't make that clear. We might well have some meals at the hotel but given the nature of the weekend, we have to flexible on when we eat and might not be able to have large meal during day, might need snacks. Will def take fruitjuice yousank and flapjacks are good idea for snacks during day as well as breakfast. Will also take croissants for breakfast now I think about it

x-post CMOT

good idea re sandwich fillers too, thanks

Lots of fruit for snacks then. especially bananas...bags of dried fruit too..apricots, raisins etc
Boiled eggs in their shells will keep for a couple of days in a fridge.
perhaps cook a piece of gammon then slice it off for sandwiches as and when you need it?

not sure if there's even a mini-bar type fridge. But good idea re dried fruit. ALso thinking some of those mini-rice puds/custard which don't need fridge.

Banana sandwiches, nuts for nibbling (high in protein), pot noodles, custard/rice pudding pots (the ones that aren't chilled) with fresh fruit. Anything pickled - gherkins, onions etc

You say you're strict on food hygiene, but cheese etc would keep happily for at least a day if you pack it up in an insulated bag with ice packs. Ditto boiled eggs, pepparami etc.

thanks Iheart. Not sure I'd trust eggs in a cool bag but maybe cheese. Had a bad food poisoning experience once (courtesy of someone else's picnic) hence being a bit over-cautious. Happy for people to tell me to wise up!

bumping for the evening crew.. any ideas gratefully received and thanks for all the suggestions so far

Cup a soup - if there is a kettle you could make some and the sachets are light to take, also instant hot chocolate. Dare I suggest a pot noodle type of thing? Probably not.

Breakfast- variety pack cereal straight out of the box (open the inner bag carefully and pour in uht milk) with spoon, croissants.
Lunch cous cous (AInsly Harriot or own brand) made in a mug, eaten with spoon. Fruit, rice pudding pot, biscuits.

Take lots of freezer cool packs and ask the hotel staff to freeze them for you over each night and during each day while you are out, then you will always have cold ones for your coolbag and can keep milk/cheese/ham chilled. We always do this and it means DC can have cereal and yogurt for brekkie and we take sarnies out for the day.

Also recommend making some pasta salad the day before you go (just with a tomato-veg sauce), this keeps for ages and can be eaten cold or room temp

Dont forget to pack cutlery! especially a sharp knife (and a corkscrew/bottleopener if you are planning a little drinkie after those long days..!)

Go to asdas cafe. They do really cheap breakfasts, lunches and snacky things. If there's an asda nearby that is. Sains is more expensive.

Why don't you go along to the supermarket and have a wander down the snack/dried fruit aisle and see what's there. There are probably loads of things which don't need refridgerating which we haven't thought of!

Even if there is a mini-bar you might not be able to use it for your things - the last time I saw one it automatically charged you if you took something out. Must've been on pressure pads or something! So there was no room to add anything and you can't take stuff out to put yours in.

You can get fairly small UHT cartons of milk so that it would do you all for one breakfast without too much waste.

thanks everyone. Yeah, have been in hotels where you can't use mini-bar without charge and IME they're not that cold anyway. Scootergirl, will do just that, am sure I'll come across some things not mentioned yet. Fluffycloud, as per previous posts, won't be able to get out during the day, so this isn't just about saving money, it's about not having much choice re eating in hotel; Filthrich, this hotel has about 500 roooms so not sure they'd be up for freezing coolpacks, but worth asking I guess.Cereal, cup-a-soup, cutlery and OF COURSE bottle opener on the list!