Organisational Tips for a Self-Catered Group Holiday

“What’s for dinner?”

It’s a familiar question to any parent, on any given day of the week at home but on a self-catered group holiday it suddenly becomes much more loaded. Not only do you have to think on your feet, you have to cook for a wider group of people all with their own tastes and demands, and you have to do all that in an unfamiliar kitchen. 

So what’s the solution? Is it possible to have a stress-free self-catered group holiday?

Plan and communicate

Book early and set a budget

You might wonder what booking early has to do with cooking a meal months later but trust us, it does. When you book in advance, there are far more options to choose from with better locations, higher quality facilities, and early-bird pricing. Booking late involves a stressful last-minute scramble culminating in securing a second rate property. And noone wants that!

Location and amenities are just one piece of the puzzle. Setting a clear budget before booking is like having a financial roadmap for your trip. Factor in not just the accommodation cost, but also an estimate for groceries, dining out, and any planned activities. This way, you can avoid sticker shock and ensure everyone can participate in the fun without breaking the bank. Early booking can even unlock special deals on group properties, giving you more bang for your buck. So, gather your group, decide on a budget, and start searching early. It's the key to a stress-free trip!

Divide & Conquer Responsibilities

Now, this isn’t for everyone, and it’s super hard to implement for some groups as it feels painfully awkward but it really can pay dividends way beyond having a chore chart. Delegating tasks amongst your group truly is the key to a smooth and enjoyable experience. Think of your group as a high-functioning team – each member bringing their strengths to the table. Embrace the power of technology and create a shared document where you can outline who's responsible for what: meals can be planned collaboratively, with everyone contributing ideas and dietary preferences. Groceries can be divided up based on location and availability, ensuring someone isn't stuck doing a marathon shopping trip. Finally, create a rotating cleaning schedule so everyone contributes to keeping the space tidy. By dividing and conquering responsibilities, you'll transform your group getaway from a logistical nightmare into a stress-free adventure where everyone gets to relax and enjoy the experience.

Communication is Key

Remember, no one is a mind reader! The best way to ensure everything runs smoothly is through the planning we outline below and, most importantly, open communication. It might be a good idea to set up a group chat or forum to share ideas, preferences, and updates.

Conquer the kitchen

Planning Meals

We know planning is dull but the bigger the group the more important this is. It might be a case of creating a meal plan that caters to dietary needs and preferences, or it might be that you need to manage expectations and agree that not all meals have to be eaten together all of the time (particularly relevant when travelling with people who get up at different times meaning breakfast is eaten over the course of several hours!

You may want to use one or more collaborative meal planning tools and resources for your self-catered group holiday such as Mealtime, Bring Me!, and Google Sheets (all free). There are some paid apps with premium features such as Paprika or Plan to Eat as well as other resources like recipe sites (we love BBC Food, All Recipes, Epicurious, and Pinch of Yum), many of which offer meal planning options.meal scaling features. 

Strategic Grocery Shopping 

There’s no two ways about it, grocery shopping for a finite amount of time is a pain. Add to that different likes and dislikes, sending the people who aren’t cooking, sending people who are hungry, or just not having a list at all is a recipe (no pun intended) for disaster. 

Bringing things such as dishwasher tablets, tea and coffee, or basic cooking essentials like oil, spices, and condiments from home saves you buying it when you get there. Make sure not everyone is doing that! Make sure you estimate food quantities based on your group size and appetite and choose versatile ingredients so you can plan meals with potential leftovers. If you’ve got a large group, you can consider buying staples in bulk for larger groups, (although you may run out of storage space). For our fellow food waste warriors, other tips include embracing imperfect produce, repurposing leftovers, and packing reusable containers.

When it comes to the actual shopping itself, delegate between you all what to bring from home and create a shopping rota so it’s not always left up to the same few people (unless they like doing it, of course). 

Cooking and Cleanup

The least fun part of any trip is doing the chores which is why spreading responsibilities amongst the group can help to stay on top of everything without creating resentment. We’ve found that having a rotating schedule works really well with different people cooking every night. The rest can do the pre meal like serving drinks and setting the table as well as the clearing up and dishwashing duties. 

When it comes to cooking, there are always some key favourites that are easy to prepare and require very little cleanup. Consider cooking the following dishes on your next self-catered group holiday:

• Sheet Pan Fajitas
• One-Pot Pasta Primavera
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Giant Cheese Board
• Big Batch Pasta Salad
• Breakfast Burrito Bar
• Grilled Burgers (or veggie burgers!)
• Baked Chicken Nuggets (Healthy Version!)
• Taco Night!
• Stir-Fry Party
• Frittata for a Crowd
• Quesadillas
• Sheet Pan Nachos
• Pizza Party! (pre-made dough/tortillas)
• Grilled Cheese Bar

Make memories not mess

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when on a self-catered group holiday. There are people everywhere and it’s hard to get a moment to yourself, the mess can be overwhelming and, when out of their routine, people can get tired and cranky. There are things you can do to help with this but remember to stay in the moment - this is supposed to be fun for everyone!

To avoid the mess, you need to pack smart. Take reusable shopping bags, dish towels, and basic cleaning supplies with you for group use if they aren’t supplied by the venue (spoiler alert - most Hirasté properties have you covered on this!). Make sure your group packs versatile outfits for different activities and co-ordinate bringing different supplies/toys/games/groceries to keep clutter to a minimum. ANd while we’re talking about clutter, try to keep your space organised by establishing clear areas for common items like shoes, bags, and toiletries as well as creating a cleaning schedule to ensure everyone contributes to keeping the space tidy. 

With all this in mind…

While these are all great tips, this isn’t an army boot camp or a trip with Monica from Friends either! Taking an adaptable approach and focusing on creating lasting memories together is the best recipe for success!

Remember everyone is on holiday and so unexpected things can happen on group vacations. Hirasté properties are specifically hand-picked because we want to take the stress out of your group trip, not add to it! Our properties offer things like catering options, daily cleaning, spacious kitchens and modern appliances all added with you and the ultimate relaxing group holiday in mind! 

You can help too: Head over to our advanced search function to get planning your next group trip now!