# Vacation in a hotel with a kitchenette - do you pack food to cook? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297 "2024-12-29T13:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/1 "2024-12-29T13:49:52Z")
We’re taking a 3-night break in January and the hotel has little kitchenettes in each room. Since there are just 2 of us and it’s a short stay, at most I’ll pack some snacks and maybe sodas, but no way will I spend time cooking and cleaning up afterwards. If we’d planned a longer stay or if we had several kids with us, I’d probably take something easy, like stuff for sandwiches, fruit, and cereal and milk, but nothing more complicated. And I suppose if economizing was a real issue, microwave dinners wouldn’t create too much of a mess. Do you have a line between “we’ll eat out” and “we’ll pack our own food” when you vacation? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/2 "2024-12-29T13:59:40Z")
I would pack for breakfasts, snacks, and lunches, and then go to restaurants for dinners. Cooking dinners while on vacation is too much work, plus it gives you a chance to try out some of the local dining options. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/3 "2024-12-29T14:08:19Z")
I pack stuff for breakfasts, so we can lounge around the place and take our time in the mornings without having to get dressed and go out. In addition, I bring some snacks like fruit and cookies and chips. If it’s a short stay, I’ll assume we’ll be eating out for other meals. During a longer stay, however, I’ll cook at least one larger meal at the place. We stay at rental cottages with kitchens, so I can whip up a simple baked potato, chicken breast, and bagged salad, that type of thing. We have a special small cooler that we use to pack along the small quantity of refrigerateable food like a couple of eggs, a pint of milk and a quarter stick of butter. I’ll bring along a little “travel bottle” of cooking oil and a container of Montreal steak seasoning. Other groceries I buy at the destination town as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/4 "2024-12-29T14:20:43Z")
I would take a small flask of olive oil, spices and condiments, plus salt and a peper mill. The other ingredients can be bought at the local supermarket, ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/5 "2024-12-29T14:33:08Z")
Bagels and cream cheese would be about it. Depends on if it’s a driving or flying vacation. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/6 "2024-12-29T14:35:36Z")
If it’s a hotel in a sizeable town or city, we would go to a grocery store at the destination rather than pack food. Instant noodles + eggs and veggies is a popular choice, along with sandwich materials. Even if there’s only a fridge, we still often buy sandwich materials. We’re not big on restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/7 "2024-12-29T14:46:38Z")
When the kids were young and we had a limited budget, we often vacationed in facilities with a kitchenette when we went abroad. At that time, since the budget was limited, we used to shop at local grocery stores and I tried to make something that sorta, kinda resembled local cooking also for supper. Breakfast was always in the kitchenette. These days we still enjoy having breakfast and perhaps also lunch in the kitchenette, but we eat out since we can afford it. Because I’m getting lazier in my older years. But we’ve never brought groceries; those are always bought locally. YMMV, though. I’m European, and food culture over here changes a bit faster after I’ve driven shorter than the distance between two of your neighboring states. And I’m one of those annoying foodies. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/8 "2024-12-29T14:49:09Z")
Just returned from a three week vacation in the Philipines with a kitchen in the condo. We went to the local grocery and got bacon and eggs, a loaf bread, some peanut butter and some frozen spring rolls. Picked up some small snacks as needed and Coke Zero for mixed drinks. Bought some small apples for $1 each, expensive but worth it. Maybe cooked 4 times the whole stay. We were too busy going out and seeing things to spend tine cooking. But when we did it was because we were to exhausted to go out. We did order Pizza one time, that was a little different with no pizza sauce because they put hot sauce on it. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/9 "2024-12-29T14:51:23Z")
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been visiting an outdoor market in another country when I wished I had access to someplace to prepare the fresh produce and meats. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/10 "2024-12-29T14:54:10Z")
We typically go shopping for bfast and lunch food, and eat dinner out. But we’ve been known to cook our dinners sometimes as well. We never pack food (other than some Clif bars for hiking), we buy all our food when we arrive. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/11 "2024-12-29T14:58:29Z")
I too would hold off on any shopping until I get there. See what the hotel room has in the way of spices and condiments, then hit the local grocery for a couple of days of supplies. At the end of the trip dump or donate perishables, and leave sealed spices in the pantry. Bring no food-leave no food. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/12 "2024-12-29T14:59:54Z")
I always travel with coffee and French press, but other than that, I kind of decide if a vacation is a cooking trip or not. Sometimes we plan on making a nice meal and bring/shop for ingredients, other trips we plan on mostly eating out. For a three day trip with kitchenette, I’d opt for going light and eating out. Maybe some oatmeal or bagels in the morning and some snacks, but proper cooking in a kitchenette is not fun and cooking is fun to me. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/13 "2024-12-29T15:14:01Z")
Nope. At most I’d bring teabags I like, sugar, and get some milk so I could have tea first thing in the morning. I’d bring wine and maybe nibbles for the evening. But I go on vacation to _not_ work, and I consider cooking work. When I’m on vacation I want someone else to feed me and clean up after me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/14 "2024-12-29T15:15:44Z")
I can’t really imagine bringing food from home beyond a water bottle to drink in the first hour or two of the trip. And that’s assuming it’s a driving trip. Once I’m there, I might choose to hit a local grocery store for some snack or light breakfast stuff if I was staying enough mornings to make it worthwhile. I just don’t find that “cooking” and “vacation” are words that fit in the same paragraph. If I was vacationing on a boat or in an RV out in the boonies that would be different; that’s cook-or-starve territory. But in a building in a city or burb or small town? Why? > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > We were too busy going out and seeing things to spend tine cooking. This. Or too busy lazing at the resort or too busy shagging like bunnies or too busy … whatevering. Cooking? That’s other people’s work, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/15 "2024-12-29T15:19:46Z")
Depending on what exactly is meant by “kitchenette” , I might go to a supermarket at the destination and buy breakfast food. I’ll definitely buy the smallest container of milk I can find, because I don’t like half and half or non-dairy creamer in my coffee. I’ll normally buy snacks of some sort. We don’t generally do the sort of vacations where we will be back at the hotel room for lunch and I don’t want to pack a lunch and carry it around. If it’s a relatively long vacation ( more than 7 days ), I might buy a couple of frozen meals/bagged salads in case of a day where we are too tired to go to dinner. Might be different if I was going on a weeks-long trip. But as a general rule - I go on vacation because I don’t want to cook or clean. If I wanted to do that, I’d just stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/16 "2024-12-29T15:25:41Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Do you have a line between “we’ll eat out” and “we’ll pack our own food” when you vacation? Depends on where we are. In a very expensive place, like Switzerland or Copenhagen, if we’re in an airbnb with a kitchen or otherwise similarly equipped, we’ll grab stuff at the local supermarket to make simple breakfasts before we start our day and sandwiches to take with us, and then have dinner out. In a less expensive destination, we won’t bother. For example, we’re planning a trip to Albania in April, and everything is super affordable. So no cooking or packed food. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/17 "2024-12-29T15:37:11Z")
The mid-price business hotels I usually stay at typically have free continental breakfast, and often that’s enough for me. Some scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, perhaps a pastry and some ice water. I don’t drink coffee and their idea of tea is usually just lukewarm water and some tea bags, so I won’t typically have a hot drink. The kitchenette in the room is often useful when what I order out for dinner is too much for one meal. So I’ll reheat some for dinner the next night, even if I’m on an expense account and the cost is not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/18 "2024-12-29T15:38:15Z")
A ritual followed during our semi-annual trips to a particular vacation spot is stopping off at a local supermarket the first night for supplies, including fruit, cereal and beverages (we generally have breakfast in our room, which has a kitchenette with stove, fridge, microwave and coffeemaker). We get an occasional break from the regional cuisine by cooking hot dogs (on the stove, or grill outdoors) with potato salad and other sides we buy at the supermarket. Mrs. J. always packs a condiment bag before we go, with sugar, salt, pepper etc. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/19 "2024-12-29T15:40:56Z")
I’d bring food, but nothing that needs cooking except maybe popcorn to make in the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297/20 "2024-12-29T15:53:32Z")
I’ve seen on some destinations with expensive groceries (like Caribbean islands) where people staying for a week will pack a great deal of food products to save money. But on switchover days the big grocery stores are packed with vacationers stocking up for the week. We had a kitchenette so we didn’t cook any big meals, but lots of people had full kitchens and families so eating in is part of their vacation plans. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-a-hotel-with-a-kitchenette-do-you-pack-food-to-cook/1012297.md?page=2)