Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

What do you expect to find in a self-catering apartment?

16 replies

DitaVonCheese · 16/05/2011 13:03

Just got back from a lovely week away in a self-catering apartment. It was a fab week but wondering if I'm BU in being mildly miffed about not being provided with some basic things eg there was a dishwasher but no tablets and when I asked the owner he looked a bit put out and eventually brought us four so not really enough for a week; also no binbags, only a dribble of washing up liquid etc.

We don't go on holiday a lot so perhaps this is completely normal, but as we were the first week of the season it felt as though if we stocked up on all these things then they'd be used by everyone else for the next few months which seemed a bit unfair I would have thought that if they were all in the flat at the start of the season then they'd run out at different times, so each tenant would only have to buy one item if that makes sense.

What is the norm? Just interested so I know whether to take eg binbags with us next time!

Hope this makes sense, DD is clamouring for lunch and making odd noises in kitchen so am rushing ...

OP posts:
HarrietJones · 16/05/2011 13:28

I usually take those sort of things with us. Though IME there is usually 1/2 uses worth there.

jenpet · 16/05/2011 14:20

I think you are perfectly entitled to expect such basics!
We own a hoilday cottage in France, and we put full boxes of everything (cleaning products etc) as well as full, unopened basic groceries (olive oil, tea, coffee etc etc)
I think to not do so is a false economy - what's a few euros extra on the shopping bill compared to happy guests who book again and again?
We also send out an inventory when people book so people know what's in there for them...

ImeldaM · 16/05/2011 14:24

Usually if it's a private owner (someones holiday home) then these things will be there but if its, for example, a block of apartments owned by hotel then they are less likely to be provided.

cat64 · 16/05/2011 14:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 16/05/2011 15:03

I stayed in one self-catering place where there wasn't even any salt or pepper. Shock Won't be going back.

Original poster
DitaVonCheese · 16/05/2011 23:35

Thanks for the replies, interesting reading :)

I think I might be proper stingy and take our own tea and coffee next time :)

There were cleaning things (but we weren't expected to clean), old salt and pepper, old stock powder, old herbal tea bags and some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which I was very grateful for as we used them for most meals and probably wouldn't have bought our own. That was about it I think. Apartment was under/part of owner's house. I was a bit surprised but will be better prepared next time :)

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 18/05/2011 23:23

The clue is in the word 'self'.

Our experinece is similar to Cat64's. I have been amazed at the things which were left and the things which werent. If I am expecting to find a dishwasher then I will bring tablets. We normally will bring washing up liquid. We wont bring much in the way of toilet paper for gites as specialist toilet paper is required for septic tanks!

Original poster
DitaVonCheese · 18/05/2011 23:58

You wouldn't take your own pans etc though presumably, so there must be limits Wink Think this was the first time we'd gone s-c since I've been an adult (we usually camp, so really do take our own pans etc) so just wasn't sure what to expect. Will be better prepared next time clearly :)

OP posts:
Original poster
DitaVonCheese · 18/05/2011 23:59

Oh and we were planning a supermarket shop on the way from the airport to the accommodation, so actually getting stuff wasn't an issue, I was just mildly annoyed that all the stuff we got would be used by all the paying customers who followed us, so we would really need to take a week's supply of eg dishwasher tablets, binbags, etc rather than just enough for the first couple of days, if that makes sense.

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 19/05/2011 20:36

I guess I would assume that there wouldnt be consumables. Sorry, I was being facetious!

Though we expect there to be pans we dont assume that these will be all we might want so a few times we have bought additional things while there (paella pan for example). Two things we always take: a good sharp knife and a knife sharpener. Self-catering knives are always blunt.

rookiemater · 19/05/2011 22:32

That's the downside of going self catering I'm afraid. Some places will provide a couple of dishwasher tablets etc but never enough for the whole week so I always bring my little pack of mini sized washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets and cleaning sponge. If in the UK and driving will also bring clingfilm ( because otherwise can't do lunches) some tea towels, kitchen roll and a cafetiere (inevitably when I bring it there is one there already) plus tea coffee and breakfast cereal.

Original poster
DitaVonCheese · 19/05/2011 23:17

Oh I would have loved a decent knife! Not sure they would have let one on the plane though (hand luggage only) ...

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 20/05/2011 13:47

Dita take a knife sharpener. DH sharpens holiday knives to the point where they could be used for surgery.

Lizcat · 20/05/2011 13:57

Our housekeeper for our holiday flat has a standard for all her properties. If there is a dishwasher you get the first tablet, washing up liquid, cleaning cloths, a bin bag and two toilet rolls. We pay extra for her to put in a welcome pack a bottle of wine, small loaf, half a pound of butter, 2 pints of milk small amount of tea, coffee and sugar. In addition I put in hand soap in kitchen and bathroom and hand cream in kitchen. We have three good knives, chopping boards, cafetiere, saucepans etc (I live there for a week each Feb and even bake so there is good kitchen equipment).
However, experience tells me that no matter how little or how much you put in someone will be unhappy. Last year I had a lady complain that there was no casserole dish - there was a pyrex one obviously she only recognises those with a le cruseut label, she also complained that there wasn't enough stuff to cook properly 3 saucepans with lids, frypan, 2 baking trays, roast tray, mixing bowls etc etc what did she need?

NorbertDentressangle · 20/05/2011 14:06

IME they vary massively.

The best equipped one we ever stayed in was in Portugal where there was even washing powder for the washing machine. The kitchen had tea, coffee, sugar, washing up liquid , salt, pepper, herbs etc. Good selection of kitchen equipment including a coffee machine and plastic plates etc for the children/taking outdoors.

The worst has probably been in the UK where we ended up having to buy everything from an expensive village shop which was a massive PITA and very annoying when you know you've got it all at home.

loulou4 · 22/05/2011 10:52

i think they vary enormously .... we always stay in 5 self catering properties so they are usually well equipped, but i can't imagine a 3 property would leave you anything other than a toilet roll . the best place we have stayed in was in cornwall - not only did we have a great welcome pack, the cupboards had everything we needed - cleaning products, washing equipment, clingfilm, loads of games and dvds for the children, even buckets, spades and beach tents - it was a real home from home but probably not what you get everywhere. if in doubts it's always best to ask for an inventory list before you go - that way you'll know what to expect and won't be disappointed

New posts on this thread. Refresh page