>> The problem with getting everything you need after arrival is that it takes more time and effort than you would presume (and will cost much more).

It costs less for me to buy things after arrival because I usually rent for 3+ months at a time...so it makes much more sense for me to buy things when I move in.

So this would really depend on how long your trip is...

<< they replied that they do not provide dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent or soap. >>

I've rented apartments in Rome, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Budapest, Dubrovnik, and quite a few other places in France, England and Bulgaria. Some have been really well equipped with food and cleaning products, others less well so, and some have had nothing at all, not even salt and pepper! I've never arrived and found absolutely no toilet paper though.

If I read this about an apartment I was going to rent, I'd put a couple of dishwasher /soap powder tablets in my suitcase. Maybe a small bottle with a squeeze of washing up liquid, but usually I buy stuff there - though it is annoying if you are only there for a few days to have to buy the basics.

I think that with privately rented apartments there tends to be more left in the cupboards. With agency apts the cleaner often takes anything left behind, regarding it as a perk of the job. (Once I left wine, beer, cheese and olives with a thankyou note in the fridge of a friend's villa on a Greek island - she was arriving the next day, so I thought it would be nice for her. She arrived to an empty fridge, the cleaning lady had cleared everything out! But she was used to the villa being empty for weeks at a time and that was her routine.)

Oh, and I always take a few teabags with me, and a small jar of Marmite!

The only item I bring is powder (and fabric softener) for the washing machine. I've found that in many european supermarkets washing powder / tablets are very expensive and usually the smallest box you can buy is 15/20 washes. I usually just need enough for one or two washes so I would bring that with me in a "clip closed" tupperware box.

Of course whoever rents after me gets all my leftovers

We always pack a bottle opener/corkscrew. And a torch.
If I am planning on doing any washing I will take a small amount of detergent with me, rather than buy it when I get to my destination. Tea bags go too, as I like my Dutch tea, and maybe a brick of coffee, but I usually get that on my first foray to the shops.
I take the same things whether we are staying in a self-catering place or in a hotel.

>so we simply bought one and left it behind as a small contribution to kitchen happiness.

LOL! I have already equipped several rental apartments with plastic colanders for salad and pasta. This is an item that is usually missing.

Taking coffee to Europe is like taking snowballs to Alaska.

I would take some Ziploc bags.

It's quite amazing to read about the things that people bring...all of this stuff is available in Europe, I don't understand why one would need to bring it...

nancicita, I think there's a difference between staying in an apartment for a long time (3 months like you) vs for a short time (5-7 days for most of us).

Speaking for myself only, while I don't mind going to the supermarket to buy food, sometimes it's not easy to find the supplies that I need; nor do I want to waste my time in stores searching for this and that (I'd rather be out sightseeing; but that's just me). Other times, it's impossible to just buy a small quantity (like laundry detergent for one load only). Since I rent an apartment to save money, it defeats this purpose if I end up spending $$$ on buying supplies, of which I use once or twice or a small amount - and not bringing the rest back home with me.

So, things like a couple of coffee filters, a small packet of dried herbs, small bottle of detergent, a few teabags etc - they hardly weigh anything nor take up any space.

OTOH, while I like the idea having my own knives in an apartment rental, I won't bring those because I like to have carry-on only.

In any case, I really enjoy reading everyone's lists & responses. It goes to show that different strokes for different folks! If someone doesn't mind carrying lots of supplies, I don't see what's wrong with that. The same goes for people who don't mind spending the time and $ to buy everything they need when they arrive.

The only time we ever bought anything equipmentwise we needed that was missing from a house was said bottleopener/corkscrew. Far too useful to donate to the house I'm afraid! It is a good travelling companion.

good points yk

Yeah, if one doesn't mind carrying lots of supplies...people do what they want to do. It can make traveling really exhausting though. I learned 'the hard way' during my first couple of trips to Europe a decade ago...brought a whole bunch of supplies and really regretted it as I lugged it from Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris to Frankfurt to Prague to Berlin to Hamburg and back to Amsterdam!!
(oh those were the days...)

Our favorite wine opener, wine bottle corks, a few baggies and a cake of bath soap. One time we arrived from our international flight, no soap and stores were closed.

TTT

Any more input?

I carry a short (6') US extension cord with multiple outlets for those times I need to charge multiple items at once - cell phone, laptop, camera batteries.

I bring a flashlight. Came in handy when we were renting an apartment in Italy last week and blew the fuse trying to use the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time! Everything else you can get there.

I don't pack anything specific for apartment rentals. I usually just buy what we need while there.

The thing is, you never know what will be there and what won't.

Sometimes this can be a problem. Our apartment in Rome a few weeks ago had no oil or vinegar (NOTHING buy salt and sugar in the cabinet) and I really didn't want to buy it in the big containers at the local store for my Caprese Salad, so we just went without.
Coffee filters would not have helped as there was no coffee machine, only a tiny moka pot!
I can see the advantage to bringing a few loads worth of laundry detergent. We had to buy some while we were there.

When we rented in Rome last year there were no dish towels for drying dishes and those were a bit hard to find to buy.

J62 - I love your suggestion: "I carry a short (6') US extension cord with multiple outlets for those times I need to charge multiple items at once - cell phone, laptop, camera batteries."

I usually only rent for a week at a time so I take a quart-sized ziplock of powder laundry detergent and coffee with me. I don't want to buy a large container of either item once I'm at my destination because I'll never use it all.

I take several ziplock bags so I can store cheese, meat,and veggies for several days.

When I stayed at Habitat last March, they only provided a minimum of toilet paper and nothing else except towels..
On a previous stay , there was much more in the apt ( maybe from another renter?)
My friend and I went to the nearest super market and both what we needed. I never carry things from home, but a small soap or some washing powder may save you a few bucks.

I never bring any sort of household items, but stay in cities where some sort of market is usually available. I actually enjoy an outing to the local grocery to pick up what I think we'll need but is not in the apartment.

sorry...bought not both