If you are looking for total flexibility and an overall cheaper holiday, self catering holidays are a great fit for you. Instead of being restricted to hotel meal times, equip yourself with your own kitchen and set your own holiday schedule.
Self-catering holidays are perfect for holidaymakers planning to spend their days out exploring, and for those looking to discover local food. If one day you’re feeling a bit lazy, simply put the pans away and dine out at a charming local restaurant. Do things your way and book cheap self-catering holidays with icelolly.com, today.
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If you need your morning tea or coffee before you start your day, self catering is perfect for you. You'll be able to pop the kettle on as soon as you wake and have a brew while relaxing on your very own balcony. Other appliances usually include a fridge freezer, hob and microwave, along with all the cutlery and dinnerware you'll need.
Spain is an ideal destination to visit on a self-catering holiday, providing the cheapest weekly shop as well as exotic foods and seasonings to try and test. A relaxing trip to Portugal won't set you back either. For dining out, you're likely to get the most value for money on a holiday to Greece or Turkey. Whether you choose to dine in or out, you'll be able to enjoy the catch of the day and sample local delicacies to use when cooking your favourite recipes.
Flexibility: All inclusive holidays are perfect for those who want to spend most of their holiday in the hotel resort, but if you’re planning on going out during the day you just won’t get the value for money that you do on self-catering holidays. What’s great about self-catering holidays is they allow you to determine your own meal times; you can come and go as you please without feeling like you’re missing out on meals you’ve already paid for.
Shop like a local: The idea of doing your weekly shop while on holiday may sound tedious, but visiting local food shops and markets allows you to integrate with local residents and experience a country’s culture. You can shop for the country or region’s tasty local products, and experiment at home with new meals; perfect for the adventurous chef.
Explore a diverse range of eateries: Instead of being restricted to the restaurants of an all inclusive hotel, self-catered holidays mean you can dine out at different places, at your leisure and not feel like you're wasting your board package.
Suited to your tastes: If someone in your group has a special dietary need, or only likes a select number of cuisines and dishes, booking self-catering apartments is the best holiday option for you. All inclusive buffets, where food is not always labelled can be a minefield for someone with an allergy, so having your own kitchen where you can pick your own meals is ideal.
Before embarking on your trip, make sure you know what kitchen equipment your self-catered accomodation will provide you with. Most come with the essentials like pots and pans, but it’s the little things like washing up liquid and herbs and spices that might not be included in your stay. There’s nothing worse than having to run out and buy a potato peeler during your trip, when you could have easily brought one from home.
One of the benefits of booking self-catered holidays is you get to have the best home comforts, like drinking your favourite tea, while being surrounded by an exciting new culture. Make sure you do your research on your chosen destination before flying over there. This way, if your host country doesn’t have your children’s favourite snacks, you can pack some in your luggage.
Bringing some food along with you for your first day (or evening) on holiday is highly recommended. Flights often arrive into your chosen destination at odd hours of the day or night, and the last thing you will want to do when you land is go food shopping.
Choose your destination carefully: When holidaying abroad, prices vary from country to country; you could save on food costs just by going to a destination where groceries cost less. Handy tools like the Post Office Travel Money Barometer can help you determine where your shopping trolley will be cheapest.
Make packed lunches: If you plan on spending the day at the beach or going on a day trip, save money on lunch by making sandwiches in your self-catering apartment and take them along with you. The same goes for snacks and drinks; to avoid the high prices of kiosks and vending machines, invest in bags of fruit and multi-packs of crisps, snack bars and juice boxes.
Shop at the right places: Much like in the UK, if you shop at small, local or express-style supermarkets you’ll pay over the odds for anything from sun cream to food shopping, meaning you’re wasting valuable spending money. Find a large nearby supermarket and do a bulk grocery shop for the week, or go to a local food market for some trusty bargains and exciting finds.
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