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PowderBeds' holiday hacks for seamless self-catering

A self-catering ski holiday has many advantages, you can save some money vs hotel or catered prices, get a bit more room for hanging out in the evenings and be flexible with meal times / dietary requirements. However, you are left with the task of shopping and cooking for the week which can be a bit of a chore. But here at PowderBeds, we love self-catering holidays so we’ve pulled together our team’s top hacks for easy and cost effective self-catering…

1) Pack some basics - Even if you are flying it’s well worth packing some seasoning and tea / coffee. Most apartments won’t have anything left in them and it’s costly, not to mention wasteful, to buy them in resort only to throw away again at the end of the week.

2) Stock up enroute - If you’re driving you can save some money by stocking up enroute or packing some food from home. Stopping enroute at a big supermarket like Carrefour to stock up will certainly save you quite a bit compared to in-resort supermarket prices and you can then just pick up fresh items like milk at the local  throughout the week.

3) Get your bakery / groceries delivered. Sherpa often has delivery options and it’s great to have your groceries delivered after a long journey rather than having to go out, especially if you are purchasing carrying heavy items. A lot of self-catering apartment also offer bakery delivery services, check with reception on arrival and get your morning bread and croissants delivered to your apartment in time for breakfast!

4) Keep it simple - Aim to cook basic dishes like spag bol, filling crowd-pleasers should be your go-to for the week as everyone will be tired and hungry after a long day on the slopes.

5) Order pre-cooked meals -  If shopping / cooking / washing up doesn’t sound like your idea of a holiday, call in some back up! Our friends at Huski can deliver a full 6 day menu (with one off purchases and 3 day options also available) of pre-cooked meals which just need to be heated (make sure to check you have an oven or a microwave with oven option or choose their microwave friendly options). Huski can also cater for various dietary requirements including vegetarian (hard to find in the Alps!) and gluten free. Our sales manager Jude recently test-drove the Huski service on a family ski trip to Avoriaz and loved it as an easy and delicious way to feed a group of 5!

6) Know before you go - Not all self-catering apartments are comprehensively equipped, so find out what you will be working with before you plan a menu for the week. It’s quite common for apartments to not have a full oven for example so pick meals which can be made in a microwave combi or only using the hob.

7) Picnic on the slopes - If you’ve budgeted to eat out for one meal a day, most people usually go for something delicious on the slopes. However, consider a quick packed lunch sitting in the sun with a great view on good weather days and save your cash for nice meal in the evening instead. As a bonus, you’ll probably spend less time eating and have more time skiing!

8) Get a takeaway on your last night - While you’re packing, clearing and cleaning the apartment, save yourself the dishes and get a takeaway pizza or something similar for your last night (we found takeaway tartiflette in a supermarket in Avoriaz!).

If we've missed your favourite self-catering holiday hack, let us know your top tips in the comments below!

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