Find out everything you need and nothing you don’t with our ultimate self-catering checklist.
What To Pack For A Self-Catering Trip: Your Self-Catering Checklist
Self-catering is a well known phenomenon here in the UK but, according to Google, not everyone is yet on board.
So what does it mean? Self-catering accommodation is when you rent or hire a place with kitchen facilities, by and large.
Now, these can be gorgeous, luxurious affairs, with staff. Or they can be rather more stark and you even need to pack your own loo roll.
But the overall idea is that you have your own space to cook, wash and hangout in a way that’s very different to a hotel.
As a result, you need to pack differently, especially for family holidays.
What you need to pack
To save you the hassle, we’ve come up with the ultimate self-catering checklist for you. Better yet, you can print it out for free.
Truthfully, every year, despite being a professional travel writer, I have a bit of a panic and end up with the wrong kit and missing some tea bags, dishwasher tablets or a sharp knife.
So, for my own good, if not yours, I have decided to write this all down and create a printable checklist so that this year, I will not be caught without!
That said, let’s get on with it.
What To Do Before You Start Packing
First things first, you need to work out what you need. In our ultimate travel packing checklist, we talk about personal essentials like medication, prescription sunglasses etc.
When it comes to self-catering cottages, you need to know what the accommodation will provide, what they won’t and whether or not you’re likely to be anywhere near a local supermarket.
Check the small print, particularly about bed linen and towels. It’s relatively easy to pack or run out and buy bin bags if you discover you’ve accidentally booked into Scrooge McCottage.
But it’s a whole different ballgame to suddenly try to find beach towels and a king-size set at midnight when the baby is crying and you’re twenty miles from artificial lights. It’s much easier if you’ve already packed your own towels.
So, a top tip. Specifically check the small print for:
- Bed linen
- Towels (beach towels, tea towels, normal bathroom towels)
- Over-involved check out procedures. Sure, that’s nothing to do with this packing list but it’s a good idea to find out ahead of time if they expect you to wash down the skirting boards with holy water or something equally ridiculous.
After that, you can move on to more normal things. And from here on in, I’ve divided the list into different categories, to make it make more sense to your brain.
Notes About This Packing List
This checklist is assuming that you will be driving to your self-catering property rather than flying there first. Obviously, you won’t be able to add all this to your suitcase before you fly.
If you’re flying and then driving, then use this as a checklist for when you visit the local shops.
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Your Self-Catering Packing List
Many gorgeous, friendly holiday lets will provide you with a welcome pack or welcome hamper but not everywhere does. So, get ahead of the game and create your own one to get your holiday off to the right start.
Food, Glorious Food
A great way to upset your meal plan is to realise that you don’t have all those little bits and bobs that you rely on at home. So, pack the following:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Decaf versions or herbal teas
- Hot chocolate
- Milk
- Bread
- A small bottle of olive oil
- Butter, margarine or some other spread!
- Tomato sauce, mayonnaise, mustard
- Branston pickle/chutneys
- Salt and pepper
- Herbs you use often, in our case paprika and oregano
- Stock cubes
Scrubbing Those Decks: Cleaning Supplies
No one goes to a holiday cottage to become Cinderella. But in most self-catering cottages, you’ll need to consider packing the following:
- Washing up liquid
- Tea towels
- Washing up brushes and cloths
- Hand soap
- Hand towels
- Bin bags
- Recycling bags
- Toilet roll
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitiser
- Kitchen roll
- Shower gel
- Laundry detergent & fabric softener if your self-catering cottage has a washing machine
- Dishwasher tabs
Stuff You Always Forget
There are a number of items that you never think about in day to day life which transform into essential items when you don’t have them.
They are:
- Cling film and foil
- Tupperware boxes with lids that fit (!)
- Tin opener
- Cheese grater
- Bottle opener
- Night light for kids
- Blackout blinds for kids
- White noise machine for young babies
- Children’s cutlery and a booster seat or high chair if not provided
- Plastic clips for resealing food
The Bear Grylls Touch: Survival Tools
Most holiday lets will have tin openers, knives, scissors and the like but not always. To be prepared, it’s handy to bring some kind of Swiss Army knife with you.
It’s also a good idea to pack a first aid kit. You can DIY your own one or buy one that’s already assembled like this. If you have young children, then it’s also handy to pack plasters and gel packs in case of bumps and scrapes.
Consider insect repellent and anti-mosquito coils.
Making The First Night Easy
The last thing you want after a long journey is to have to make an effort, whether mentally or physically! Plan ahead and make your first night easy by coming up with a meal plan.
What will you do when you arrive? Is it worth making your own meals in advance and reheating them? Or is that too much faff?
If you want a takeaway, will anywhere be open? Will you need cash in local currency? How long will it take?
It’s often handy to have what I call a cupboard meal ready to go. One example is a packet of pasta and a tin of tuna. Add in a tin of sweetcorn and a jar of ready-made pesto if you’re really feeling fancy. It’s not the most luxurious of starts to your holiday but the great thing is that it’s quick, cheap and nutritious. You can go wild after that.
Alternatively, some self-catering holiday accommodation offer to get your shop done in advance so that it’s there when you arrive, all unpacked and put in the fridge. You’ll pay a premium for that, of course, and it can be tricky with dietary restrictions and allergies. But it’s a lovely option if those don’t put you off.
Breakfast
Likewise, life is easier if you have breakfast sorted before you fall into bed. So, here are some ideas:
- Pack milk into a cool box and bring a bowl of cereal
- Bring bread, pastries, jam and butter
- Bring oats and milk in a cool box and make your own porridge
Personally, I avoid packing bacon and eggs in advance and prefer to pick them up at a local farm shop for later in the trip.
Little Self Catering Creature Comforts
One of the best things about a self-catering holiday is that you have lots of space when you arrive, unlike in a hotel.
So, make the most of the chance to enjoy time together by packing books, board games, perhaps some portable speakers and picnic blankets. Maybe now is the time to dust down that make your own pasta kit or teach yourself origami set you had for Christmas.
Card games never grow old and it can be fun to pack a picnic set – holidays are a great opportunity to explore the local area and dine outdoors.
If you can’t live without the right bean in the morning, then consider packing your coffee machine. You laugh but I’ve seen people take them camping, never mind to self-catering units. Likewise, some people pack a slow cooker so that they can meal prep at the start of the day instead of at the end when they’re tired.
Folding chairs can be handy for big gardens or outdoor spaces. You can find some here.
I love my big, fluffy dressing gown, so if I’m driving to a holiday property then into the car it goes, along with my slippers. Also, my own hairdryer because so often the ones on the road are lacklustre and woeful.
Finally, don’t forget swimwear if there is talk of hot tubs.
Packing For The Road
We have a full section on preparing for a road trip here, but the short version includes packing snacks, water bottles, bin bags and games for older children.
Packing For The Future
“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads…”
No, wait. Forget my dated Back to the Future travel quotes. Instead, make your future easier by setting up a packing routine.
What do I mean here? Well, for normal packing, I have a packing drawer, into which I pour my passport, travel adapters and travel size toiletries instead of dispersing them around the house.
So, now we have a self-catering box in our house. It lives in the basement and comes up for each camping, glamping or self-catering trip. It contains its own cling film, tea towels and spare herbs so that it saves time packing and unpacking. Sure, the perishables change, but it’s useful to have one bottle of washing up liquid in there at all times.
You can also print out this list of essential items and leave a copy in the box, so that you don’t have to scrabble to find it again next year!
It’s an easy thing to do, and I’m a fan of anything to save more time so that you can actually travel more! Just remember to check those expiry dates before you head off on your next trip.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, our guide to packing for a self-catering trip. Make sure to download your free self-catering checklist and have a great trip!