15 Secrets to Eating Cheap Without Sacrificing Flavor While You Travel
Exploring food from different places and cultures is integral to travel escapades. However, food is a significant cost component of travel. The daily average meal cost is $58 per adult in the United States. If you are eating out, then the meal can cost $23 per person. The price will vary for traveling abroad or with family, but it will still dent your pocket.
Don’t deter yourself from taking a vacation or enjoying it. Check out these hacks to keep your food expenses low while traveling.
Pack Your Snacks
Carry granola bars, peanut butter squeeze packs, popcorn, cheese bites, cookies, nuts, trail mix, crackers, fruits, sandwiches, and other munchies from home on the trip. These snacks will curb the tiny pangs of hunger and save several dollars on the trip.
They are handy during long airport layovers or serpentine queues at sightseeing attractions.
Eat Filling or Buffet Meals
Eat one or two large and filling meals during the day. Look for buffet or multi-course breakfast or lunch options because they are usually cheaper than dinner. When your stomach remains fuller for long, you won’t be tempted to spend on nibbles now and then.
Indulge in Local Cuisine
A study on Americans’ travel habits and behavior revealed that 55% consider local food and drinks the most important factor in planning a trip. A taste of regional and traditional food adds authentic experiences to your travel.
Local dishes are also cheaper than global cuisine. For example, Australia’s local delicacy, Vegemite on Toast, will likely cost less than an American burrito at a breakfast nook in Melbourne.
Ditch Sit-Down Restaurants for Street Vendors
Is your travel even complete without exploring the street foods? Be it cuttlefish skewer in Hong Kong or Lahmacun (a type of pizza) from Turkey, places worldwide are famous for their street foods. Unlike sit-down or formal dining restaurants, roadside vendors and food trucks offer great bargains.
Stay Away from Touristy Areas
Restaurants in touristy areas are pricey and congested due to the high influx of people. Look out for smaller outlets or mom-and-pop restaurants on narrow streets or near the tourist locality. They have low overheads and pass on the cost-benefit to their customers.
Avoid Eating at the Airport
Airport food vendors and restaurants charge you a bomb for a humble burger, beverage can, or other food. Pack homemade meals when you leave home for the airport. You can carry takeaways from local restaurants or grocery shops during the return trip. Your wallet will thank you.
Use a Refillable Water Bottle
Did you know a 1.5-liter bottle of water from a local brand can cost an average of $0.70 globally? Now multiply this cost by the number of bottles per person per day of your trip. Buying bottled water is not only an expensive affair during travel but also harmful to the environment.
Carry a metal or BPA-free refillable bottle with a portable water filter from home. You can fill it before you leave the hotel and at restaurants or hygienic drinking water booths/fountains.
Rent a Place with a Kitchen
Cooking meals while traveling doesn’t sound fun, but it is a practical way to be thrifty. Most vacation rentals and hostels allow guests to use their fully equipped kitchens. You can fetch groceries from local markets and cook your food.
Find Accommodation with Complimentary Breakfast
Book hotels that offer complimentary breakfast with the stay. You can start your day with a hearty meal, keeping you satiated for hours. If you get a buffet breakfast, you can grab fruits, yogurt packs, muffins, or pastries to take to your room or pack in your travel tote.
Look for ‘Happy Hours’ Places
Ask your cab driver or hotel staff for recommendations for a bar or restaurant with happy hours. During these hours, you can enjoy wine, beer, and food without spending much money. Some venues even offer appetizers and snacks for free.
Use a Reward or Travel Credit Card
According to a survey, 37%of US travelers in loyalty programs consider reward points an essential part of their budget. 76% can’t imagine the caliber of trips they do without these reward points.
A reward or travel credit card earns you good deals, discounts, and perks on flights, accommodation, restaurants, etc. Use your card and reward points to avail yourself of cheaper rates.
Use Local Food Coupons
Most restaurants tie-up with online marketplaces, hotels, and airlines to offer food coupons to travelers. When you check into the hotel or visit sightseeing attractions, these coupons may be handed out as part of their promotions. Browse dining discount apps or websites for deals similar to Groupon in America.
Check for Convenience Store Meals
Convenience stores in many countries sell reasonably priced ready-to-eat meals that you can grab on the go. For example, you can find Bento sets in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven in Japan. These sets usually contain a complete meal comprising rice, sides, and dessert.
Shop from Bakeries When They are Closing
Bakeries need to sell certain perishable delicacies before the day ends. As they begin to close, they usually give away their goods at throwaway prices later in the afternoon or night. Don’t miss buying these treats.
Ask for Special Discounts
Many restaurants and hotels offer special discounts to students, senior citizens, children, and the differently-abled. Carry your ID cards with you on the trip to avail yourself of these discounts and save money on food.
