Self Catering Breaks in The Lake District

Whether you are going for a cottage holiday in The Lake District or a traditional family break in a caravan or holiday apartment, the option of self catering is likely to come up and is one you should definitely consider.

Self catering simply refers to not having any food options as part of the package. In other words it is your responsibility to bring food or eat out, as there are no cafeterias or restaurants as part of the deal. If it is a cottage holiday you are after then this probably goes without saying, although some people run them like a bed and breakfast offering food in the morning and sometimes in the evenings.

When organizing self catering breaks you need to weigh up the various other options available, which may include breakfast, half board or full board. From the outset it may appear cheaper to go self catering, but after a few days of eating out you may realize this wasn’t the best option. Alternatively you could pay a lot of money for full board and find out the quality is poor and you could have found a cheaper alternative, possibly by bringing your own food or visiting a local super market (not always practical in rural areas like the Lake District).

A lot of the fun when going on a cottage holiday to places like the Lake District is the self catering. You could visit a quiet local pub and get some homemade style food, or bring your own assortment and have beautiful picnics out in the countryside. Almost all cottages will come with a fridge to keep food items fresh, but it would be a good idea to bring a cooler if you plan on trekking far from the cottage to eat.

One of the main benefits of going self catering is that you can eat when you want without having to get up at a certain time or adhering to a menu. If you’re holiday is going to be action filled then working in your own snacks throughout the day is probably a far better option than using any B & B or half board services. Why not go old school and get a cottage by the sea or river, catching and cooking your own fresh fish?

A lot of people just prefer to do it all themselves, without the bother of interacting with staff or rules. After all it is a holiday and you may be trying to get away from public life.

Self catering may also refer to laundry needs, meaning you may have to bring your own bedding and sheets. During a lot of cottage holidays it may also be your responsibility to keep the cottage clean, utilizing a built in washing machine for your own laundry. Plus it is only common courtesy to leave the place as you entered it. Leaving a cottage in an extreme mess may result in an extra charge.

Self catering is fun, but take a good look at the options available.