Ten Things I Always Pack for a Self-Catering Holiday

Packing for a self-catering holiday is a different art from packing for a hotel. With your own kitchen and a little more space, a few well-chosen extras can transform the week from merely comfortable to genuinely relaxing. Over the years I have refined a short list of items I never leave behind, and they have rescued more than one rainy afternoon.

The Kitchen Rescue Kit

Holiday let kitchens are usually well equipped, but they rarely stock the basics you take for granted at home. A small pot of decent coffee, a sharp knife if you are confident travelling with one wrapped safely, and a couple of favourite seasonings can make the first evening’s cooking far more pleasant after a long drive.

Comfort and Entertainment

• A board game or pack of cards for the inevitable wet afternoon.
• A reliable torch for rural properties with no street lighting.
• A spare phone charger left permanently in your travel bag.

Don’t Forget the Practical Extras

A small first-aid kit, a roll of bin bags and a tea towel of your own have saved me countless minor headaches. None of these take much space, yet together they remove the small frustrations that can nibble away at a break. Pack them once into a dedicated holiday box and you will never have to think about them again.