Self-catering holidays, where you have your own kitchen and cater for yourself, offer flexibility, space and the chance to save money, but they involve more independence than a serviced hotel. Knowing what to expect helps you decide if they suit you. This guide explains self-catering holidays, their pros and cons, and what to expect. Self-catering rewards those who value freedom and independence over being looked after, so weigh up whether that fits your holiday style.
What self-catering is
A self-catering holiday means staying somewhere with kitchen facilities, such as an apartment, villa, cottage or holiday home, so you prepare your own meals rather than relying on a hotel's restaurant or meal plan. You cater for yourself, buying and cooking your own food, and generally have more space and independence than a hotel room. Understanding that self-catering puts you in charge of your own meals and daily routine, in a property of your own, is the basis for weighing its freedoms and responsibilities.
The advantages
Self-catering offers flexibility, space and potential savings. You eat what and when you like, can cook to save money, and usually have more room, with separate living and sleeping areas and a home-from-home feel that suits families and groups. There is freedom to come and go without meal times dictating your day. For travellers who value independence, want space to spread out, and like the option to cook or eat out as they please, these advantages make self-catering very appealing.
The drawbacks
The trade-offs are that you do the work: cooking, washing up and keeping the place tidy, with little or none of the service of a hotel, such as daily cleaning or meals provided. This means more effort and less pampering. Some people find catering for themselves on holiday a chore rather than a pleasure. Recognising that self-catering involves looking after yourself, without the service of a hotel, helps you judge whether the independence is worth the extra effort for the holiday you want.
The cost savings
A major appeal is saving money. By shopping for your own food and cooking rather than eating every meal out or paying hotel meal prices, you can significantly reduce the cost of a holiday, especially for families. The accommodation itself can also be good value, particularly for groups sharing. Our guide comparing all-inclusive and self-catering explores the cost. For budget-conscious travellers and families, the ability to control and reduce food costs is one of the strongest reasons to choose self-catering.
Who self-catering suits
Self-catering suits independent travellers, families wanting control over meals and children's food, groups sharing a property, and anyone who values flexibility and space over hotel service. It works well for longer stays, exploring an area, or holidays where you want a base rather than a resort. If you like the freedom to plan your own days and meals, want room to relax as a group, and do not mind catering for yourself, self-catering is likely to suit you well.
What to check before booking
Before booking, check what the property provides, including the kitchen equipment, whether linen and towels are included, wifi, and any cleaning. Check the location and what amenities, such as shops for food, are nearby, as you will need to buy provisions. Our guide on choosing the best area to stay helps. Confirming what is provided and what is nearby before booking ensures the property genuinely suits self-catering and that you can easily get the food and essentials you will need during your stay.
What is usually provided
Self-catering properties usually provide a kitchen with basic equipment such as a cooker, fridge, pans, crockery and utensils, though the extent varies. Some include linen and towels and a starter supply of basics, while others expect you to bring or buy them. Checking exactly what is provided avoids arriving to find something missing. Knowing what the property supplies, and what you need to bring or buy yourself, such as food, toiletries and sometimes linen, helps you prepare so you are not caught short on arrival.
Location and nearby amenities
Because you cater for yourself, the location and nearby amenities matter, particularly access to shops for food and other essentials. A property far from any shop may require stocking up in advance or a car, while one near amenities makes self-catering easy. Consider how you will shop and what is within reach. Checking that you can conveniently buy food and essentials near your self-catering property, or planning how you will, ensures the practical side of catering for yourself works smoothly throughout your stay.
Making the most of it
To get the best from self-catering, embrace the independence: shop at local markets and shops to sample regional food, cook some meals to save money while eating out for others, and enjoy the space and flexibility. Plan an initial shop to stock up on arrival. Treating self-catering as a chance to experience a place more like a local, while keeping the freedom to eat out when you wish, lets you enjoy both the savings and the experience that this style of holiday offers.
Self-catering with children
Self-catering can be ideal for families, offering space for children to play, separate bedrooms, and the ability to prepare familiar meals and snacks on your own schedule rather than around hotel meal times. Our guide on the best holidays for young families is a useful companion. The control and flexibility of self-catering, with a kitchen and room to spread out, suits the unpredictable routines of family holidays, letting parents manage mealtimes and downtime in a way a hotel room often cannot.
Stock up on arrival
A practical tip for self-catering is to plan an initial shop on or soon after arrival, stocking up on food, drinks and essentials so you are not caught without basics, especially if you arrive late or the property is far from shops. Knowing where the nearest supermarket is in advance helps. Planning that first shop, and bringing or buying a few essentials for arrival, means your self-catering holiday starts smoothly with food in the cupboards rather than a scramble to find an open shop.
Bring a few home comforts
Since self-catering properties vary in what they provide, it can be worth bringing or buying a few home comforts and essentials you rely on, such as favourite tea or coffee, basic cooking items, or things for children, particularly if shops are limited nearby. A few familiar items make a property feel more like home. Thinking ahead about the small things that make catering for yourself comfortable, and bringing or buying them early, helps your self-catering holiday feel relaxed and well provisioned rather than make-do from the start.
In short
Self-catering holidays give you a property with a kitchen to cater for yourself, offering flexibility, space and potential savings, especially for families and groups, at the cost of doing the cooking and cleaning yourself with little hotel service. They suit independent travellers who value freedom over being looked after. Check what the property provides, the location and nearby shops before booking, and embrace the independence by mixing cooking with eating out. Weigh the freedom against the effort to decide if it suits you.
Explore more in our Accommodation guides.