Self catering - life hacks and what to bring

[Selfcateringnotaholiday]

We're going a week's self catering in a holiday cottage in the summer. Looks nice enough but haven't done self catering for a while as it's just more cooking and cleaning.

Looking for some tips on things you like to bring like little luxuries or just practical useful things.

So far on my list are a Brita jug to save countless plastic bottles of water, my new coffee flask and some slippers. DCs have already asked if they can have the small cereal boxes - they're easily pleased!

I like to bring extra face cloths and tea towels.
I also like to bring those old fashioned toilet bags with the drawstring so everyone can have their own stuff in it.
I also take nylon duffel bags ( sold in M&S years ago). Great for compartmentalising stuff, beach, shopping.
Shopping bags.
Small tubs with spices, herbs.

I once stayed in a place with no pot lids. I did not foresee this. I usually take a silicone strainer now.
You can use a plate.
I have also found a lack of a measuring jug a problem.

Snacks? Perello spicy olives, nice cheesy pastry/ biscuits, cocktail nuts, chilli rice crackers, wasabi coated peas!

If in the UK (eg able to arrive at venue before defrost) I bring frozen meals I've prepared in advance - I'll maybe make a lasagne, moussaka, curries, pasta sauce - whatever we may fancy so we get nice home cooked food but with minimal effort on my actual holiday - I tend to have made the meals in the run up to the holiday and just doubled up so it's not even really extra effort before the holiday. Then for dinners I'm just knocking up a salad, cooking rice or pasta etc whilst there so minimal fuss.

mmost places specify what they have ie last place we went said they have a Tassimo air fryer etc they seem to be appearing more and more. if it does not say might be worth asking save taking half the kitchen
most have microwaves etc
get some quick tinnned items save too much cooking
fave mugs some still persist in cups and saucers
make sure kids have all the gadgets they need
extension cables as they do tend to not have enough plugs

mmost places specify what they have ie last place we went said they have a Tassimo air fryer etc they seem to be appearing more and more. if it does not say might be worth asking save taking half the kitchen
most have microwaves etc
get some quick tinnned items save too much cooking
fave mugs some still persist in cups and saucers
make sure kids have all the gadgets they need
extension cables as they do tend to not have enough plugs

When the kids were small we’d take those tiny compressed facecloths that open with water- part of the holiday anticipation if you can’t tell what the picture will be…

I pack a family size M&S lasagne, garlic bread and salad to have on the first night. Plus wine and chocolate/crisps. I used to make my own but we really enjoy it and it is one less thing to do. A sharp knife, our own teabags and a couple of dishwasher tablets and laundry tablets are a good idea. And a Bluetooth speaker for music and radio. We take a picnic for the journey there so we have sandwich boxes and drink bottles and a thermal cup for a hot drink. The rest I would get as a tesco order. It's easy to buy something if you really need it! There's no way I'd be taking an air fryer or a hoover or bleach spray. Extra towels for the beach are good if you are in that type of place.

Wait! Why are ppl taking their own chopping boards?! They always have them!

Are you bringing 2 - one for meat and the other for non meat?

Good idea for a thread, OP. Following with interest!

Wow people take a lot of stuff! I bring my own pillow but we're on holiday so I'm not cooking. I'll send dh our for pastries in the mornings, we eat out for our main meal and then just snacky bits, nice meats and cheese for us in the house teens generally will eat noodles pasta etc.

My own pillow, tea towels, kitchen roll, decent knife, corkscrew.

None of this! Part of the fun of the holiday rental is seeing what they have and making the most of it. And mostly they have fairly decent kitchen equipment nowadays because of the worry that people might give them a bad review if not. We have occasionally purchased a cafetiere whilst there if there was nothing to use to make fresh coffee and left it behind so the next people won't need to do the same.

My tips are re food. Whether you take food or get a delivery, I agree that tou dont want to be cooking elaborate meals, or tidying up. But you do want it nice.

From home I take salt, pepper, and my most used herbs/spices - 3 or 4.

In my order I include small jars of things like mayo, olive oil, ketchup. Always lemons doe dressings etc.

I buy copious amounts of those par baked bread loaves and rolls - takes 10 minutes in oven and you have fresh bread at any point. Also lots of ham, cheese, pickles plus sausage rolls, quiche etc for easy quick meals. And I usually buy hot dogs too - can be turned into a quick pasta or just eaten as hot dogs! Bags of simple salads.

Cooking is usually limited to simple pasta dishes. Pesto, or other preferred made sauces etc.

I do take 1 large pot and 1 large frying pan as inevitably they don't have enough or only small ones. And I agree re the board and knife.

Treats - i buy the "good" biscuits! 🤣🤣. We love the m&s chocolate chip cookies. The above food is also sort of treaty as ifs more expensive etc. We also are more relaxed on crisps, sweets etc..I do try to insist kids eat fruit but im not slaving away ensuring their usual 30 plant foods a week. Inevitably the kids will ask for some ridiculous thing too - last year it was squirty cream! They were obsessed!

I always have a pillow to hopefully snooze in the car and pack an extension lead with 4 sockets because I always have 3 things to charge and there are never enough plug sockets.
Other than that, nothing. We tend to use the place as a base, we might have breakfast in the house but are more likely to go out for a brunch/lunch (forgoing breakfast, we no longer have small children, ours wake late and don’t eat breakfast at home) and then out for dinner later on.
Packing for going away takes about 20 minutes - we are low fuss people!!
I’m in awe at the amount some people take, I had a friend who would take her thermomix away - at this point just stay at home 😂

I bring my stainless steel kettle! Holiday houses usually have cheap plastic kettles ime and I don’t like the taste of water boiled in them.

Before you do your grocery order do some googling about the local area. Is there a bakery, decent butchers, a delicatessen, a farm shop, a cheese place etc? It’s nice to support local businesses and you’ll likely get nicer stuff than a bunch of the same things you’d get in your weekly shop at home.

I would get a supermarket shop delivered, no way am I taking pans and chopping boards etc. I would maybe take as decent knife as they are always lacking, take some salt, pepper, sauce sachets with you if you are bothered about that sort of thing. But honestly I would just make do with what was provided. Have simple meals with minimal prep, some takeaways, eat out

I love reading these threads as I have a holiday house we let out to family and friends. It’s very interesting!! I think we’d score reasonably well, but did invest in a new knife after some criticism from a friend of DS. Clearly he hadn’t found our knife sharpener 😂

on the rare occasion we go s/c elsewhere I take salt and pepper, a small washing up liquid bottle and enough dishwasher tabs to the week. End of!

Salt, there’s never any salt. And extra dishwasher tablets.

are these holiday cottages or holiday CELLS you’re booking?

We’ve got a small Airbnb and there’s a plentiful
supply of tea towels, decent knives, pans, coffee mugs, enough dishwasher/laundry tabs for the stay, coffee machine, Bluetooth speaker, air fryer, fans, etc etc. As PP have said, the last thing you want is a bad review for failing to supply a colander.

That said, when we’re away I sometimes end up buying a teapot from a charity shop if there isn’t one. Got to have tea from a teapot.

Yeah some of these replies are bonkers (and nothing to do with self catering).

Look at the photos and the listing and read reviews carefully to see what is available and if anyone has pointed out stuff that is missing. Normally there is too much stuff in the cupboards to cater for everyone's whims and not enough space to store your food.

That said, I do agree with taking salt, pepper and your favourite spices or condiments. And I do always take an emergency loo roll just incase the cleaner has had a brain fart or I can't find the spares. And if there is something you're particular about (like PP with the kettle) take that.

Unless you're staying in the arse end of nowhere you can just pop to the shop if you realise anything is missing when you get there.

I always take my knives and chipping board, most SC places seem to have glass and I cannot bear it. I’m also v fussy about my knives.
charcoal bbq if allowed and not provided.

I like to take toastie bags to make a quick lunch. I also take a small foldable cool bag to take snacks or lunch out to the pool/beach. And bag clips, for the giant packs of crisps I can never finish.

I agree with this, unless you are going somewhere very remote there will be shops, there's no way I'd be pre-organising supermarket deliveries, taking already cooked meals etc. Just the few odds and ends that you might not be able to buy (DW tabs especially so you don't have to buy a huge pack and carry it home). Then go spontaneous, menu planning is a routine I'm very happy to leave at home and have a week off from.

Also - support the local shops.