Spill the beans... self-catering on holiday tips

taxspider

I used to take lots of food - pasta, cereals, tins etc - on my SC hols but as I only ever holiday in the UK I now take very little, unless I know we will be in the middle of nowhere.

The things I take are mostly non-food:
A sharp knife with a sheath on the blade (you can get them cheap in TK Maxx and they are bright coloured so if camping you won't lose them in the grass and if SC in a cottage you will know the coloured one is yours. The sheath means you don't cut yourself or your stuff when packing)
A sample size bottle of washing up liquid (enough to last a week and TBH most cottages provide it these days so a small bottle isn't such wasted space)
A few dishwasher tabs in case there aren't any
Some colour wash in a small bottle (colour wash = ok for whites but white wash liquid will strip out your colours)
One toilet roll and one kitchen roll just in case, tho again these days most cottages provide plenty of each

I take some herbs/oxos/seasoning in a couple of those free plastic containers you get with chinese takeaways these days. They then double up as picnic boxes and you don't mind leaving them behind at the end of the week.

I do take some basics such as bread, marg and so on but t'internet tells you exactly where the nearest shop is to your destination and what time it is open so unless you are likely to arrive in the middle of the night you should be able to sort something out. My son only drinks soya milk so like those with medical issues then it makes sense for me to take a carton to tide us over, but I like to shop locally to try the local produce. Booths supermarkets in the NW and Lake District are fab at stocking local produce for example. Even Tesco stocks local stuff in each of their stores but that probably wouldn't be available on your online shop so you might miss out on regional delicacies.

We're off to the Gower this year so I'm looking forward to seeing what Welsh Tescos, Asdas and all the rest have to offer

C._J._2-2

For self-catering in Greece we usually take scented nappy bags (for toilet tissue), £1 shop perfume as air freshener, washing up liquid in a small travel bottle, a scourer/sponge, tea bags, coffee and 'coffee mate' powdered milk. During the year I save the sugar portions I don't use when having my elevenses in Mc Donalds. and put them in my case. We have found a Carrefours supermarket in the town where orzo pasta, and filled pasta, is cheaper than the u.k. In fact we bring this home with us! Another tip for the airport; save the Mc Donalds loyalty cards to use at the airport as the coffee is usually more expensive there.

Amontylado

Not exactly self-catering but as so many hotels outside the UK do not have tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms I always bring a travel kettle with tea, coffee and milk sachets inside. It's great to be able to make a hot drink when I feel like it and I don't have to pay hotel prices for a cuppa. There are also sachets available for hot chocolate, cappucino, soup, etc. and when broke and hungry in Japan I used it to make pot noodles.

whitesatin

C._J. wrote: »

For self-catering in Greece we usually take scented nappy bags (for toilet tissue), £1 shop perfume as air freshener, washing up liquid in a small travel bottle, a scourer/sponge, tea bags, coffee and 'coffee mate' powdered milk. During the year I save the sugar portions I don't use when having my elevenses in Mc Donalds. and put them in my case. We have found a Carrefours supermarket in the town where orzo pasta, and filled pasta, is cheaper than the u.k. In fact we bring this home with us! Another tip for the airport; save the Mc Donalds loyalty cards to use at the airport as the coffee is usually more expensive there.

We are self catering next week in Crete. I was interested that you mentioned a Carrefours supermarket and wondered if it happened to be in Crete.

Thanks for the brilliant idea of using scented nappy bags, I really hate having to put toilet tissue in a bin, unwrapped.

vchidzey

we often sc (Sun hols) holidays in uk and always make up a holiday box,buy something each week n put in box.saves having to buy while enjoying our holiday.cant always afford to eat out.

flopsypurple

We are off to france for 2 weeks in a tent and we also have a holiday box which each week i buy a couple packets or tins to put in. It makes shopping over there much easier as its only for fresh food. Cant beat cous cous and packet pasta with something from a bbq.

saversadie

We take a frozen pack of smoked salmon and frozen pack of small pita breads to the airport. By the time we arrive they are thawed and fresh. + plastic knife & fork, kitchen roll and box of cherry tomatoes and cucumber. We make our own snack while waiting for the flight, and for eating inflight. We usually buy 2 mugs in the local (super)market - they make nice souvenirs. We take instant porridge individual packs, which makes up well in a mug with boiling water and are good for breakfast, or a welcome hot snack on a winter city break.

chrisjw37

We go away for a lot of short cheap self-catering trips.
My tips:

1. Look up supermarkets and petrol before you go - especially Asda fuel, always the cheapest for the drive back.
2. Consider going to Weatherspoons or a supermarket for a cooked breakfast, much cheaper (~£2.99) than buying it and no cooking or washing up - plus you get to read the newspaper that morning!
3. Bring a fan if its hot and stuffy, makes it easier to sleep, plus static caravans get really hot. Brilliant for children.
4. Mattress made of rocks? Travelodge was and so are all Static caravan mattresses - so we bought a really cheap duvet and put it under the bottom sheet. Luxury ensues. Use a 7.5 tog, about £8 or take one, they screw up really small if you try. Place in small carrier bag to take home.
5. Torch, bring one, had mains failures at 2 hotels, fir alarms at 3am, or an entire area without mains for 4 days due to idiot builders with JCB. Keep by bed for comfort.
6. Google a few local interest places, then write down their postcodes for use with the Sat Nav. I make a list of dry days and wet days venues, give them family the options at breakfast. Hassle free.
7. Bog rolls, those provided are often as thin as cling film. Say no more, oh and a bar of soap.

Things optional but may be life saving:

• Small sharp knife and scissors for vegetables etc (often theirs are blunt)
• Aluminum foil, to avoid having to clean the grill, just tear off a bit at home!
• Chargers and spare AA batteries
• Air freshener for shared toilets. It really helps!
• Cool bag for shopping and picnics, if you don't have a freezer, a bag of supermarket ice is £1 and will last 2 days, wrap a few times in carrier bags to avoid spills.
• Take an empty gym bag for dirty laundry and take home stuffed.
• Pump car tyres up to heavy weight pressures, check oil and windscreen washer - many fat bugs on the windscreen in rural areas.
• Beware of idiot boy racers (BMW & AUDI usually) on congested roads, they might not die, but you might! (Professional advice here, trust me)

Enjoy your holiday, if you can't be bothered to take stunning photos, buy cheap postcards and take home, much cheaper than printing anyhow!

archerywidower

When we self cater abroad (quite often) we always take: a cheap non stick frying pan (sometimes the ones in the apartment are like velcro), several packs of supermarket bacon (sealed), some decent cheese (sealed) and the makings for a curry (various packets available in supermarkets but NOT jars). Also we take a 4 x gang electric plug lead as this converts one adapter to 4 x UK sockets - handy for hairdryers, phone chargers, etc.Other odds & ends include a potato peeler, tea bags and a sharp knife.

dizzybet

Most Spanish countries have local markets on Sundays which are great for excellent fruit and veg. Travelling with a baby I have found its best to take formula from the UK as it's much more expensive locally. Nappies I by in the UK from Lidl anyway, but in Spain nappies are generally more expensive and Lidl is around the same price as pampers are here, but pampers equivalent are more expensive. I find plastic reuseable steamer bags (for the microwave) really useful. Sandwich and ziplock bags are really handy and its always worth taking a penknife too.