Christmas for a crowd away from home - any tips?

What about foil trays for the turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips and anything else then you can just put them in the bin afterwards.oh and a very large saucepan.
Have a wonderful Christmas ?

Will cleaning materials be supplied? I would at the very least take something to clean the work top surfaces, bath and loos +J cloths. Maybe bin liners and washing machine tabs? At this rate you will need a trailer added on to the car! At least you are thinking on your feet and not getting a nasty shock when you arrive.

I know can opening is mostly included on the can these days, but - just in case - take your own. Have never found a good one in a holiday let.
Will you be able to share the cooking round between families as well? When we go away as an extended family I usually do the online shop for delivery at the destination and each group checks the list so they can tell me to add things they want. We have a meal plan and each group takes responsibility for cooking a meal, but any of us will sous chef if needed. We usually grab our own breakfast from the stores. Those who cook do not wash up or load the dishwasher.
I love the idea of taking foil dishes and will pinch that one. Also leaving the Just in Case items in the car. I shall keep an eye on this thread for more tips.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Witzend - it sounds great fun.

Sounds like most of us take everything bar the kitchen sink. But then the clue is in the word SELF catering!

Battery operated tea-lights to create a twinkly festive atmosphere. Lakeland stock them - who else? - and real candles mightn't be allowed under the terms of your rental.
I always take my own favourite mug for tea/coffee - I rarely find the ones supplied work for me in terms of capacity or quality of china.

IPad and IPhone chargers.

Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions.
Your Christmas sounds lovely, Marmight!

I shall shortly begin assembling a big bag of everything that can be packed in advance. Scary that it's 5th Nov already - time goes so fast once we're into November!

A collection of simple craft bits and bobs; glue, glitter, paper, string. So that things gathered from walks can be turned into works of art!

Couple of rolls of black sacks. Nutcrackers.witzend sounds lovely have a wonderful time. Marmight im so envious my family live in oz we were there last year so wish we were spending this Christmas with them you will have a fantastic time.

Phone up and ask if there is likely to be hand wash in bathrooms ( these days there usually is) and washing up liquid etc you will have enough to take without things that are unnecessary. Can opener??? Other people's can often be a pain to use? Big tins of sweets that are on offer at the supermarkets at present. All sounds like great fun!

That sounds absolutely wonderful Marmight I am so envious.
I wish you all the happiest of times and memories to last a lifetime.

Some good tips here. DD2 and her family will be over from Oz so I have rented a large house in the Cotswolds near to DD1 to accommodate, initially, 15 of us plus intermittent extras over Christmas and New Year. The thought of having them all chez moi in Scotland was too daunting not to mention the logistics of transporting everyone north in wintery conditions at Christmas. So, I took an executive decision, bit the bullet and dipped into my savings ....At least we can pop back to local DDs house for all the extra things we may need/have forgotten. I have done my bit and everything else will be done by others. (DD1 has a spreadsheet!). As there are so many of us, we are doing secret Santa presents restricting adults to one present only The 8 children will have 2 plus their stockings. All sorted! This will be the first time we will all be together since the last gc arrived 4 years ago - and probably the last for a long time so I want it to be a really special time.

Collander and indigestion tablets

A nightmare?? It sounds fantastic to me! A corkscrew, just in case any of the wine is old school. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to buy one over the years.

Sounds wonderful to me ^Witzend*

Best advice on here is to contact owners and find out what will be provided already, but even so take your own favourite utensils and foil cooking dishes.

Sorry Shanma

Not a helpful tip Shanna!!!

BTW Witzend where abouts in Devon?

Why on earth were rubber gloves the first thing on your list?

Any tips? Yes, Don't go!!! sounds like a nightmare to me.

Sorry, just seen Teetime has already suggested hot water bottles...

Hot water bottles!

Kitchen towels, j cloths, rubber gloves, bleach spray, lots of alcohol , pens, paper, chocolate.

Oh no, not UHT milk. ? You can freeze small (pints) of semi-skimmed milk. It will help to keep the ice box cold when transporting food, and defrosts quite quickly.

Xmas crackers, bottle opener, xmas tablecloth (even if it's just a paper one) quiz games and if it's an older property perhaps best to take a pack of mixed electrical fuses. Hope you have a lovely time.