Kitchen access and self-catering on islands
You like cooking for your family and want to know whether any island stay lets you.
Self-catering on an island is possible only where the stay has a kitchen or a kitchenette, and many island resorts do not. Ask exactly what you can cook with, where you can buy food, and whether cooking is allowed. Then compare the effort and cost with package meals before you decide.
Our guide on full board on islands shows what you may be paying for in a package. For the wider choice of stay, read resort, chalet or homestay on Malaysian islands.
What does self-catering mean on an island?
The phrase covers three quite different arrangements.
| Arrangement | What you have | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Full kitchen or kitchenette | Stove, fridge, sink, cookware | What cookware and gas are provided? |
| Shared kitchen | A communal space with set hours | When is it open, and who cleans it? |
| Kettle and mini fridge | Hot water and cold storage only | Can I cook anything at all? |
A kettle and a mini fridge are not a kitchen. They help with simple breakfasts and snacks, not with a cooked family dinner.
How do you plan supplies?
Small islands have small shops. Planning your supplies avoids a hungry evening.
- Ask the resort what is sold on the island, and what the opening hours are.
- List the meals you want to cook, and the ingredients each needs.
- Decide which ingredients you carry and which you buy locally.
- Pack perishable items in a cool bag, and keep them for the first night or two.
- Bring simple back-ups, such as noodles, rice and tins that keep well.
- Ask whether you can order groceries to arrive by boat.
Our page on shop, mini-mart and cash machine availability on islands shows what to ask. Keep in mind that heat and the sea are hard on fresh food.
Is it cheaper for your family?
Compare the sum with your own numbers. Put the cost of cooking beside the cost of package meals for the same group and nights. Include supplies you carry, shop prices on the island and any gas or cleaning fee.
Cooking can suit a family that eats simply and stays several nights. It may not suit a short trip where you would spend the best hours shopping and washing up. Read half board versus full board and a la carte dining outside the package for the comparison side.
What are the house rules?
Many stays allow cooking only in a particular place. Ask these:
- Is cooking allowed in the room, or only in the kitchen?
- May I bring a portable cooker or other appliance?
- Who provides gas, and is there a charge?
- Where do I wash up and dispose of waste?
- Are there quiet hours for cooking?
Never bring a gas stove on a boat unless the operator and the resort both allow it. Safety rules on boats and in rooms are strict for good reason.
Questions to put in writing
- Does my room or stay have a kitchen, and what equipment is in it?
- Is there a fridge, and how large is it?
- Who supplies gas, plates, pots and cutlery?
- Where is the nearest shop, and what does it sell?
- Can groceries be ordered and sent by boat?
- Are there rules on cooking, waste and cleaning?
- Is there a charge for using the kitchen?
A better fit if…
Self-catering may be a better fit if your family eats simply, stays several nights, has dietary needs that are hard to meet, and enjoys cooking.
Package meals may be a better fit if you want a rest from planning, travel with small children, or stay only a night or two.
Whichever you choose, ask what is on the island before you pack.
Common questions
Do island resorts have kitchens for guests?
Some stays have a kitchenette or a shared kitchen, but many resorts do not. Never assume. Ask whether your room has a stove, a fridge, a kettle and cookware, and what the house rules are for using them.
Where would I buy groceries on a small island?
It depends on the island. Some have a small shop or village stalls, and others have nothing within walking distance. Ask the resort what is available, how often supplies arrive and whether you can order groceries to be sent on the boat.
Is self-catering cheaper than a package?
It can be, but not always. Shop prices on islands may be higher, you must carry supplies over, and you give up the convenience of ready meals. Do the sum with your own numbers before you decide.
Are there rules for cooking in a room?
Often yes, for fire safety and cleanliness. Ask whether cooking in the room is allowed, what appliances you may bring and where you can wash up. Do not bring a portable stove unless the resort says it is allowed.