Self Catering

The European tradition of self catering family holidays is catching on worldwide with continuing economic hardship.  The value of self catering holidays comes not only from savings compared to high-end accommodations, but the bonding experiences between families and friends. 

Defining Self Catered Vacations

A self catered holiday is a trip where travelers are given access to rooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities without the assistance of hotel staff.  The primary element of self catering is the absence of room service, forcing travelers to cook their meals and take care of the dishes.  While self catering is still a niche industry in the United States, this thrifty form of vacationing has been popular in Europe for years. 

Frequent participants in self catering holidays include large families, honeymooners, and continental travelers.  A large family that cannot afford individual rooms can rent a home for a week for less money by cooking the meals, taking care of laundry, and cleaning their rooms.  Newlyweds can spend their honeymoons in France, Switzerland, or Italy enjoying gourmet meals using locally grown produce.  The myriad couples, families, and groups of friends traveling across the European Union can extend their travels by self catering rather than renting expensive hotel rooms. 

Ideal Participants In Self Catering

The main beneficiaries of self catering vacations are budget-conscious travelers looking to get away from school and work.  The cost per night of a condo, home, or cabin in Europe with self catering services is far less than travel hotels in Paris, Rome, and London.  Travelers can use the money saved on nightly rates to visit museums, theaters, and other venues. 

Another group that takes advantage of self catering family holidays is the increasing number of foodies around the world.  Lovers of gourmet meals, desserts, and drinks traveling to the food-rich cities of Europe can increase their spending power through self catered holidays.  Instead of relying on room service to follow strict orders on preparing food, food enthusiasts can use local ingredients with their own recipes to create world-class meals. 

Luxury self catering is also appealing to travelers with restricted diets because of personal choices and health problems.  Travelers who eat organically grown fruits and vegetables, vegetarians, and vegans can create delicious meals in their rented homes.  The growing group of travelers with high blood pressure, heart conditions, and other cardiovascular problems can control fat and salt intake through self catering. 

Doing Self Catering The Right Way

As you plan your self catering holiday, you should compile a list of markets and grocers close to your rental home.  Your list should feature farms, butchers, and other food providers who offer fresh ingredients for self catered meals.  This list should take into account when ingredients are “in season” and “out of season” to avoid disappointment over meal options. 

Your travel group should gather breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes for self catering holidays before boarding the plane.  These recipes should reflect likely ingredients available through local providers, meals appropriate for the particular region, and the skill level of cooks in your group.  Many travelers keep journals of their self catering holidays including the relative success and failure of certain recipes. 

While homes and cottages may have refrigerators for food storage, it is a good idea to make food fresh from the market.  The immediacy of making an authentic Italian pizza with salad and wine after a day at the market is part of the self catering holiday experience.  The fresh-from-the-market mentality is particularly important for fruits and vegetables that have limited shelf lives. 

The biggest problem for self caterers is dealing with leftovers that are likely to be tossed in favor of fresher foods.  Travelers who are renting condos and apartments near fellow jet setters should invite others to dine during the evening.  In addition to the practical concern over producing too much food, travelers can learn about new markets and places to visit from their guests. 

Self Catering Meal Ideas

Your first meal each day during a self catering holiday should be an eye-opening experience of fresh flavors.  An omelet made from fresh eggs, olives, cheese, and tomatoes can be coupled with local coffee blends or fresh-squeezed orange juice for a flavorful meal.  The simplest accompaniment to omelets and fresh drinks is a fresh fruit salad with strawberries, cantaloupe, and local fruits chopped into small pieces. 

After a morning on the beach or in town, your lunch should be something quick to eat before an afternoon of activity.  Your travel group can enjoy ham, lamb, or beef sandwiches with potato salad to keep the meal light ahead of walks, swimming, and other outdoor activities.  This meal is best served as a buffet where each diner makes his own sandwich, embracing the do-it-yourself nature of self catering vacations. 

Suppertime should epitomize the luxury of self catering holidays with protein, vegetables, and desserts not eaten early in the day.  Seafood fans can enjoy trout, fresh lobster, and crab from local waters along with a delicious white wine.  No matter what is eaten at dinnertime, travelers can enjoy pies and tarts made from local fruits to complete a wonderful day of vacation. 

More Information On Self Catering Opportunities

The best starting point for luxury self catering holidays is a comprehensive rental service like Apartment Rentals Corporation© (http://www.arc-corporate-housing.com).  ARC© has corporate apartments and houses around the world including New York City, Bangalore, Glasgow, and Toronto.  The website has been lauded by publications like Wall Street Journal© and Forbes© for its services to business travelers.  ARC© is comparable to major travel websites in its easy-to-use interface, allowing travelers to book self catering holidays around the world in a few clicks.  

If you cannot find self catering holidays through a larger rental service, you should look for country-specific services like Enaghan Self Catering© (http://www.enaghanselfcatering.net).  Enaghan Self Catering© offers a one-family house on Lough Gawna in Ireland that is perfect for fishing, sun bathing, and casual meals.  The main benefit of working through a smaller landlord is one-on-one contact in case of problems during the trip.  Another benefit is that Enaghan Self Catering© and comparable renters offer advice on boat rentals, farm markets, and other venues surrounding the facility.