1. Communicate with the owners about the appliances and utensils that are provided. If you are used to an electric stove, and arrive to find a gas stove, you will need to be prepared to find out how it works. Does the home have a microwave? Does it have a full size refrigerator or just a small one? The French tend to shop daily for the freshest local food, so don’t assume there will be room to store a whole week’s worth of groceries! Is there a dishwasher included? If it is not, you may want to plan simple meals with a minimum of clean up, leaving more time to enjoy your beautiful surroundings. All of these items will make a difference in what you will prepare for your daily meals.
2. Spend some time thinking about what you will cook. An enjoyable evening spent searching on the Internet for typical French food will be very valuable and time well spent in preparing for your Self Catering holiday. A typical breakfast in France might be some kind of bread with jam, juice, coffee or hot chocolate. This meal is not the most important meal of the day and can be very simple. Lunch and dinner are more involved affairs with both including several courses. Plan a few meals or many. It’s up to you. Print out some recipes that you might like to try. Then, use a bit of the time on your flight to France to make a shopping list. You can stop at a local market on your way to your French home and arrive ready to prepare and enjoy your first meal in France! Choosing a self catering holiday and planning ahead with these two simple steps will not only save you money and make that family trip to France possible; it will also bring you closer to the rhythm of the French culture. Searching through the market for the pick of the day in fresh vegetables, mingling with the local people and being a part of their daily lives is a priceless benefit of a self catering family holiday in France.
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