Holiday tips...

[Gentlydoesit2]

Staying at a campsite in France in a couple of weeks. Someone suggested taking an air fryer because there's no oven in the lodge. With 2 young children I'm up for that...

What other invaluable tips would you give?

If you are taking your car, I’d take enough washing powder, a cleaning spray and some clothes and tea towels to last you the holiday,

I pack a big plastic box with a clip lid for any self catering holiday like this with:
Washing up liquid
dishwasher tablets
bleach
spray
antibac wipes
cloths x 2/sponge
Tea towels x 3
Hand towels x 2
Bin bags
hand soap for kitchen and bathrooms
medical kit
adaptors / electrical extension cord
matches
knife and bottle opener
salt, pepper, small oil, tea and coffee
Pack of sandwich bags

I don't think I've ever used bleach, cleaning sprays or antibac wipes on holiday.

We have a mini bottle of washing up liquid in toiletry bags, which is sufficient for the amount of washing up and wiping round that needs doing, otherwise .

A cool box or bag is very useful for days out, taking cold drinks to the poolside at the campsite, and bringing groceries back from the shop.
Take an ice cube tray with you.
Take foil, Tupperware boxes or sandwich wrap for picnics and storing leftovers.
Take a handful of pegs and some string for hanging up wet swim stuff
Take insect spray, or a fly zapper or some kind of repellant for the lodge
If the campsite is big and you have room in your car, take scooters for the dc.
If your dc are light sleepers, take white noise and perhaps even a blackout blind. We found that the lodges can be close and lots of our neighbours sat out with a beer talking and barbecuing until quite late in the evening.

Instead of taking oil, we take a spray oil. Don’t use it normally but so far they haven’t leaked, plus they take up far less room.

Bath mat for the shower room.
Foil for lining the grill pan
Clothes pegs

If there is a freezer, stock up on ice lollies and cornettos. Check out the freezer aisle for shortcuts like cubed potatoes for frying up as a quick side dish. Also ready prepared barbecue meats, and rotisserie chicken. And all the cheese of course!

If you have space, a cheap tarp or groundsheet to use as a playmat outside on the ground or decking to avoid losing bits and pieces. Or even a paddling pool.

If your DC don’t like showers, take a trug or tiny paddling pool to use as a bath in the shower.

Crocs or similar are perfect for slipping on and off. I’d invoke a no shoes indoors rule to keep the lodge clean-ish.

My best tip is to shift your day to align with others, and not try and enforce bedtime when it’s still light and all the other kids are still up.

Air fryer and an adaptor!

If I'm going somewhere self catering, I always take a vegetable peeler, sharp knife and one of those folding steamer baskets.

Salt, pepper, oil.

Washing up liquid

Citronella tealights and those pestect insect repellant bracelets.

Card games, beach ball.

I take one of those long lead multi plug extension leads. Can then plug in multiple appliances/chargers using a single adaptor. Obviously don't leave thing plugged in when you're out.

I honestly couldn’t not throw some bleach down the loos and use a spray and cloth around the bathrooms/kitchen/dining table etc for a week especially when being used by a full family.

A few years ago I stayed at a haven caravan park. Bath mat was a tip on tripadvisor and i'm so glad i took one, the shower room would have been a nightmare without it.

I always take a cheap reed diffuser (asda/poundshop) in case the place is a bit musty

Put names in your kids footwear. Some campsite pools you have to take your shoes off before you go in and leave them on racks outside. One year someone accidentally took ds' sandals and left an identical pair in a different size. It took a couple of days before we were able to swop them over!

If your campsite sells cooked pizzas, bring a pizza cutter.

Speedos for swimming as shorts often not allowed.

Blackout blinds come with us always...2 very light sleepers 🤪 Fantastic ideas, thankyou

Yes! Forgot about this...my husband was not happy when we discovered this last year. He's a big man!!

😲 how frustrating! Great idea thanks

Shortcuts for meals is a great idea 👍🏼