Now you might be thinking, since you are renting a home or apartment on your self-catering holiday, that you have to bring everything including the kitchen sink.  This is just not so.  Most places you stay have all the amenities that a regular furnished home would have available.  However, it is very important that you check both the property description and speak to the agency or person from whom you are renting, to find out exactly what is included in the rental cost.

No - wait! You don’t need to take that!

There are some things that you just do not need to bring with you on your self-catering trip.  When you plan to go on such a holiday, thoroughly research the homes that are to rent and you can get a good feel for what is available and the types of accommodation provided.

Unlike a hotel, self-catering holiday homes are supposed to be your home away from home.  The things that are provided are usually the same things you would find if you walked in to anyone’s home.  When you get off the airplane, or out of your car, and arrive at your holiday home, you should be able to go straight to your bed and rest after your long trip.

This is what you want, isn’t it?

As you get up from your rest you can head into the kitchen to prepare a small meal and a drink.  Unless you have made prior arrangements with the rental company/contact it is unlikely you will find anything in the way of food available in the kitchen.  For this reason it is important that you either plan to purchase something on your way to your rental property or bring some things with you to prepare just one meal.  Do not bring enough to eat for the entire trip.  Take time exploring the local food shops and purchase local items to eat.

If you are travelling by airplane it is important that you minimise the amount of luggage you bring with you on your holiday.  With the increasing cost of travel, luggage choices need to be made on what should or should not be brought along. There are several food items that cannot be brought with you into other countries, so be sure to familiarise yourself with the import laws before you travel.

This is someone’s luggage for one week

In some countries you are allowed to bring in canned and/or packaged goods.  However, these can be heavily taxed.  In addition, certain countries place a limit on the quantity of each item that you can import.  It is really not worth taking any lower value items that you will be able to purchase easily when you arrive.  When you are thinking of what to take with you, you might consider bringing your own bed linens.  The problem with sheets and comforters is that they are bulky items and take up a lot of space in your luggage.  Since your goal is to keep the cost of your holiday down, paying to bring your own bed linens is not economical.

Bed linen is often included in the cost of the rental of your holiday home.  If you are concerned if you will have an adequate supply of clean linen, be sure to contact your rental company.  They should be able to tell you exactly what will be included prior to your arrival.  There is, however, one item I take with me no matter where I go, and that is my own pillow.  It just seems that wherever I end up, the pillows are either rocks covered in pretty pillowcases or too lumpy to provide a good night’s rest.

Take your own pillow; if you value your neck mucsles

Towels and bathroom linens are other items you do not need to take with you on your holiday.  While bathroom linens are standard equipment in all rentals, like everything else, it is important that you talk with your rental agent to find out exactly what is included.  If you are travelling with a large group, be sure to request that an adequate supply of all linens be available upon arrival.  The last thing you want to do is spend your entire holiday doing washing in order to keep an adequate supply of fresh linens available.  That reminds me, be sure that your facilities include a washing machine and hopefully a dryer as well.

The kitchen in most rental places will be well stocked, so bringing items for your kitchen is not necessary.  Most rentals will include an adequate supply of dishes to accommodate a full house (the maximum home occupancy) as well as pots and pans.  This includes cutlery.  The only problem I have found with cutlery is that the knives tend to be dull.  In fact, they are usually so bad that you could use a fork just as effectively.

If you are going to be spending any time hiking or camping in the great outdoors of the US or Canada, do not take any perfumed toiletries with you.  Scented toiletries can be detected by bears from a great distance.  These scents attract bears and other wildlife directly to you.  So keep the scented items at home and opt for unscented toiletries.  After all you want to be able to enjoy your wilderness experience, not spend it running away from the local wildlife.

If you smell too much of Lynx, he will know and be upset

Do not take pepper spray with you.  There are some articles out there that recommend pepper spray as an effective deterrent to bear and cougar attacks.  The best deterrent to any wildlife attack is to be familiar with their habits and habitat and not ever get close enough to be attacked.  Besides, Pepper spray is illegal in some countries so be sure to check before taking it with you.

The goal of any holiday is to be able to spend time together as a family.  There is so much to do and see, from skiing, to fishing, to exploring the historical sites and cities.  So keep your electronics at home, besides they can be heavy and take up a lot of space.  If you find yourself wanting access to a TV or stereo system these can be included in some of the rentals.  The beauty of a self-catered trip is that you can include pretty much everything you need or want if you just do your research or ask the person you are renting your home from.

Many of us are extremely attached to our pets.  However, it is often better to find a nice place for your pets to stay while you are on holiday.  Often there are restrictions placed by countries when bringing pets with you.  Be sure that you are familiar with the laws concerning pets before you take any pets with you.  If you plan on hiking or camping, it is safer to leave your dog at home.  Dogs can antagonise wildlife and provoke attacks.  So for your safety and that of your pet, let them stay at home.

Leave your pet at home; he’ll enjoy it more

Alcohol is another item that you do not need to take with you on your holiday.  Various countries place restrictions on the amount of alcohol that can be brought in.  So if you choose to take alcohol along be sure that you are familiar with their laws.  Your best bet is to leave your familiar alcoholic beverages at home and explore the varieties of different wines and beers available locally.

When planning for your trip, research the weather for the area where you are staying.  In some cases night temperatures can be quite chilly.  Be sure to talk to your rental agent and find out if you will need to pay extra for heating.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 11:28 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.