Vacation Rental Tips: The Kitchen Part 3

One of our families favorite things about staying at a vacation rental is the ability to buy groceries in the area we are staying and cooking our own meals. It saves SO MUCH MONEY when we cook for ourselves on vacation. Eating out for a family of 7 can really add up. We recently went to Disney World and California Adventure and quickly discovered that the 2 meals we ate in the parks cost as much as the 4 breakfasts, 2 dinners and various snacks we made for ourselves after buying groceries and cooking them in the kitchen at our vacation rental. If you're like us, you probably enjoy eating a little healthier than what you can typically find eating out and appreciate the extra money you can save by doing so as well. To help make cooking and baking more manageable for your guests, it's important to have a well stocked kitchen. Labeling shelves where things belong make it easy for guests to find what their looking for as well as for your cleaning staff to be able to put things away properly and notify you if items are missing. This Label Maker works really well! And it works with your smartphone.

Here are my must haves for a well equipped kitchen:

1. Dishes

2. Glasses

3. Kid's Dishes

4. Pots & Pans

5. Coffee Maker

6. Coffee Pods

7. Blender

8. Paper towels

9. Cutting Board

10. Knives & Scissors

11. Flatware

12. Dishwashing Detergent

13. Dish Towels

14. Paper Plates

15. Napkins

16. Mixing Bowls

17. Hand mixer

18. Pot Holder

19. Basic Spices

20. Bake Ware

Having these items available for your guests will set their experience over the top! Often a Vacation Rental Getaway includes a celebration like a birthday, anniversary or graduation and having basic baking and cooking items allows your guests to celebrate in extra special ways. We care for a vacation rental near a college campus. The hosts have items available for parents who are visiting their student on a birthday to bake them a cake as they would at home and helps make their time together even more memorable. Their reviews often mention this added perk and guests are always grateful for those extra amenities.

It's not always necessary to buy brand new items, as long as the items match, are clean and are in good repair. We've cared for a few short term rentals that have vintage Corningware and it brings back so many fond memories of my childhood! I'm sure the guests feel the same! Anyone else remember the Blue Cornflower Cookware?