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Must haves on holiday

(95 Posts)
NanKate Mon 30-Jul-18 08:34:18

I have just been reading in the paper that more than half of us take our own teabags on holiday, while a third of us take the biscuits too.

I must admit I take builders tea bags and a few Lady Grey teabags. What about you ?

sarahellenwhitney Mon 30-Jul-18 14:16:54

Isn't the pleasure of going on holiday abroad to do as the locals ?. Although I recall on return from my first overseas holiday in the sixties that in arrivals I went straight to the café! no Costas then and had beans on toast and a pot of tea.

Craftycat Mon 30-Jul-18 13:32:28

Yes I take Redbush tea bags to Greece every year. We only drink this brand & it is very good for you - anti-oxidents or something. Having said that we don't drink much tea while away but the odd cup first thing in morning on balcony is nice. It's about all the 'cooking' I do over there as the local tavernas have such amazing food & I love Greek cuisine .
Just back & planning next year!

Pjkoctur Mon 30-Jul-18 13:27:23

I’m from the US and see a lot of references to Builders Tea. I’m curious to know what you tea loving gals think the best tea is for me to drink.

inishowen Mon 30-Jul-18 13:26:37

A jar of Nescafe is our only necessity.

schnackie Mon 30-Jul-18 13:20:47

I can usually find English tea whatever country I'm in, but squash is an altogether different category! Too heavy to take on the plane - or train for me. People say "just squeeze some lemon in the water"! Pffft. Not the same.

GabriellaG Mon 30-Jul-18 13:12:40

I eat very little when abroad. Only those comestibles which can't be mucked about with including hard cheeses, breads, butter, fruit, and rice. I never eat meats, seafood, fish or salads to be sure that I will never be ill from undercooked or bacteria-laden food which has often been under hot lights on buffets or prepared in less than sanitary conditions.
I also take a large plastic seat cover to use on the flights.

grandtanteJE65 Mon 30-Jul-18 13:01:59

I take a small kettle and something to make coffee in, but buy coffee wherever I am.

I am considering taking my own pillow with me though.

And I always take my own washing powder with me and soap, as I am allergic to all perfumed brands.

Grampie Mon 30-Jul-18 12:35:22

Teabags (PG Tips) and a jar of our homemade marmalade (made from Mamade).

Trying to explain “jam made from oranges” was exhausting.

Camelotclub Mon 30-Jul-18 12:28:50

Dolcelatta
Did that make a nice cocktail?

dragonfly46 Mon 30-Jul-18 12:25:16

I always take my green tea with lotus and orange to start my day!

mabon1 Mon 30-Jul-18 12:14:33

Don't take anything.

Daddima Mon 30-Jul-18 12:10:57

I take wire coathangers, as there are either never enough, or they’re those wooden ones attached to the rail. My friend ( who always stays in high end accommodation) takes flip flops for the shower, paper lavatory seat covers, and her own pillowcase!
I never take anything edible/drinkable, as I can do with whatever’s there. Or just drink gin and eat chocolate.

JackyB Mon 30-Jul-18 12:05:52

I don't take tea bags, although it is sometimes difficult to find a decent cup of tea when you really want one. However, I have two kinds of infusions, of which I like to have a few sachets handy. (One for the digestion and one to help sleep.)

They are just herbal brews, but they both work, and taste nice, and boiling water is usually available somewhere.

I also have a travel toothbrush and small toothpaste at all times in my handbag, and if I'm travelling, I always have a small towel in my bag.

David1968 Mon 30-Jul-18 12:03:12

Peppermint teabags - for the first brew of the day.

M0nica Mon 30-Jul-18 11:54:33

It depends on your likes and dislikes and taking one or two isolated items like preferred brands of tea or coffee doesn't mean that you are not fully participating in local culture, including the food culture. Coffee and tea, which is what most people take, are universal beverages.

I have just come back from France after a short stay. We sat at a beachside cafe and ate Moule frites and later in our visit stopped at a more upmarket seaside restaurant, where I had a plate of fruit de mer, most caught locally, followed by a trio of fish in a coconut sauce (menu description) and finished with a platter of French cheese. Not to mention crissants at breakfast, and pate and local bread for lunch.

My inclination to have a cup of my preferred beverage first thing in the morning and last thing at night hampered me not at all when sampling local culture

kazziecookie Mon 30-Jul-18 11:53:37

I have stopped taking anything if I am going on holiday abroad as you can get everything you need in the supermarkets these days and I am trying to keep my packing down.
If I am going self catering in the UK I take quite a bit of stuff like TBags, coffee, cereals, salad cream etc as it saves spending time food shopping as I work everyday in my guest house my holiday time is very precious.
We are very generous in our guest house as the trays in our bedrooms have lots on them, coffee, decaff coffee, green tea, earl grey, red bush, PG tea, various fruit, camomile and mint teas, hot chocolate, biscuits. Plus if you run out we have a dish in the hall full of sachets that the guests can help themselves to.

Scribbles Mon 30-Jul-18 11:46:05

I wouldn't dream of taking my own food and drink but I try never to travel without my own pillow.

quizqueen Mon 30-Jul-18 11:27:55

When I'm abroad, I'm willing to eat or drink whatever the hotel provides. It's called sampling the local culture! Anyone, unless they have severe allergies, can surely survive for a week without a certain brand of things.

sweetcakes Mon 30-Jul-18 11:22:15

I'm going away for a few days and will be taking away with me some decaff tea bags for me, nescafe coffee sachets caramel latte mmmm some biscuits maybe a bottle of prosecco we'll see.

MamaCaz Mon 30-Jul-18 11:20:01

My 'must haves' depend on where I am going and how I am travelling.
A holiday has just been arranged that involves flying, and we are limited to 10kg of luggage each. Needless to say, there will be no 'must 'haves' in our bags.
If travelling by car, the list grows until all available space is filled!

Legs55 Mon 30-Jul-18 11:07:25

As most of my "Holidays" are spent visiting my Mum in Yorkshire I either take anything I normally use or buy it up there, I don't expect her to cater for my taste where it varies from hers. As I normally drive myself I tend to "throw in everything except the kitchen sink"grin

maryhoffman37 Mon 30-Jul-18 10:56:55

I take my own decaff teabags and coffeebags. And nuts and nutty bars to nibble.

GrammaH Mon 30-Jul-18 10:52:21

Absolutely not, never take anything, why would I? If we're self catering, food is surprisingly available in shops locally and if we're in a hotel, we eat what we're offered and find restaurants , delis etc for lunch. We don't drink tea, eat biscuits or eat/drink anything at home we can't live without. I can understand those with strict dietary needs taking things but not otherwise - why clutter up your suitcases?

Nvella Mon 30-Jul-18 10:47:22

Teabags for me as Lipton’s seem to have a monopoly on tea abroad and I don’t like it!

Kim19 Mon 30-Jul-18 10:46:58

Tend to take my own coffee as there's never enough on the courtesy trays for me.