Self-catering holidays are extremely popular for two main reasons. Firstly, they can be cheaper than all-inclusive holidays, which often serve-up all your daily meals, and secondly they remove the need to be reliant on someone else for your needs.
For most people, itâs this latter point thatâs important to them: a sense of self-reliance and independence. These are the qualities that put the adventure back into holidaying â even if youâre just embarking on a short trip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Okay, so not knowing where your next meal is coming from isnât exactly the end of the world â most holiday accommodation have either shops on-site, or very nearby, so you can always pick up a sandwich.
However, there are some things youâd probably prefer not to buy whilst on a self-catering trip; most notably those things you already have at home â possibly even in abundance. The kinds of goods where you end up kicking yourself because you already had them and could have saved yourself the bother of sourcing another.
So without further ado, hereâs a brief guide of essential âmust-haveâ items you should be taking on your self-catering Isle of Wight holiday or some other nearby break.
Hygiene
Your self-catering accommodation is likely to provide a minimum number of basic hygiene goods. Such items might include soap, a little bottle of shampoo, and possibly even a towel. However, some communal spaces, like bathrooms or showers might not offer these luxuries, so you should always try to bring your own bathing and washing supplies.
Food and drink supplies
From the moment you enter your self-catering accommodation, youâll be looking around to see what cutlery and cooking facilities youâve got to hand. While not all places will provide everything you need, you should at least have a cooker and running water! Maybe even a kettle. If this is the case then youâd be well advised to take some plastic cutlery and a small supply of tea and coffee to keep you going.
Navigation
Having a road map or your smartphone to hand could be invaluable if you plan on being on the road, away from your accommodation, a lot. While many self-catering holiday parks and homes will have a reception area from which you can pick up some of this information, you might like to bring your own, more comprehensive guides.
Entertainment
Entertainment isnât a necessary option if youâre staying in a great locale with loads to do, or in accommodation with loads of in-house leisure facilities. However, youâll inevitably get to that period of the afternoon or night where you want to watch a little bit of TV, browse the web, play a board game or read a book.
It this is the case then make sure that you bring the necessary tools for the job! Internet access is becoming more prevalent at nearly any location that accommodates guests â self-catering or otherwise. So perhaps you can rely on logging on to a Wi-Fi connection using your phone, tablet or eReader to catch up with some telly, check out Facebook or read a novel. Just donât forget you device charger!