Self Catering Holidays 2013

Self Catering Holidays

Self-catering accommodation means the price of your holiday package will not include meals provided by the hotel; instead you will have a room with kitchen facilities so you can prepare your own meals while on holiday. Self-catering facilities can differ hugely from hotel to hotel, but most will include a kitchenette, cooking utensils, a sink and a fridge as standard. Some may also include a microwave, freezer and additional items such as toasters, sandwich makers and kettles. It is wise to check with the hotel exactly what kitchen facilities are supplied with your room. Note that you will have to buy your own food to cook from a local shop or supermarket; it is not provided by the hotel.

Why Book a Self Catering Holiday

Self-catering holidays offer freedom, flexibility and convenience. They are a great budget accommodation option, as the cost of buying your own food and cooking it yourself works out much cheaper than paying for meals at a hotel or restaurant.

Self-catering is a popular choice with families, as this board option allows you to choose exactly what sort of meals you want to eat -  a blessing if you have fussy children. It’s also handy as children may sometimes want to eat at different times to adults, which can be a nightmare in hotel restaurants but is not such an ordeal if you’re the one preparing the food. Just eat whenever you find most convenient.

Booking self-catering accommodation also affords you more flexibility than you get with half or full-board. Many half and full board customers feel obliged to eat every meal at the hotel, as they’ve paid for it – not so with self-catering customers. You can sample the local cuisine at local restaurants if you wish, or cook back at the room to save money.

Self-catering holidays allow you to cook and eat food you would not normally eat at home, using fresh, locally sourced produce and trying out local recipes. This can be especially rewarding in Mediterranean countries where the fruit and vegetables are of a very high quality.