How to Save Money on Food While Traveling: A Smart Guide

Planning for a vacation is something people of all ages enjoy. But what may stop you from planning vacations is the high cost. When traveling, food is usually the major cost factor. To ensure you can enjoy holidays within your budget, think about ways to save money on food while traveling.

Do you want to visit a local tourist town or plan to fly internationally? Regardless, you should set your vacation budget beforehand.

It’s a must to enjoy local cuisine and taste traditional delicacies and snacks. But this doesn’t mean you have to go beyond your budget. You can fully enjoy your vacation with your loved ones without breaking the bank.

So, let’s explore some tips for saving money on vacation so you can enjoy your upcoming vacation without spending a fortune on food.

Eat Like Locals

The key to saving money on food is to eat like locals. This means you should avoid city centers or tourist spots as they may have high pricing. Instead, explore where locals prefer to eat.

For this purpose, ask around for recommendations for delicious yet affordable eateries. You don’t have to visit expensive five-star hotels all the time. Instead, visit local food spots that offer tasty food at affordable prices.

You can ask locals when visiting a new place. If you take public transport, you can ask passengers for suggestions. Baristas and hotel staff can also guide you about affordable places you should try.

Go Grocery Shopping

Tasting local cuisine is a great way to get familiar with local culture. But you don’t need to have every meal at a fine dining restaurant. A better option is to set a rule to have a maximum of one meal at a restaurant per day. But you can follow this rule only if your accommodation has a kitchen where you can prepare the remaining meals.

Breakfast is complimentary at many accommodations. If that isn’t the case, stop at a grocery store to stock up on breakfast items. You can get bread, yogurt, and other fixings. Also, buy bags of fruits that you can enjoy as snacks. Or when you are full after a day of sightseeing, you can skip meals and munch on healthy fruits instead.

You can further save money on food while you travel by preparing lunch or dinner yourself. So, visit a local supermarket for grocery shopping. Then once you prepare a meal, you can pack it and enjoy it with your loved ones on an outdoor picnic. It’s fun and cost-saving!

Be Smart with Buying Bottled Water

Not every place you visit will have clean tap water, safe for drinking. Thus, you may need to buy bottled water to avoid falling ill and ruining your vacation.

Water bottles available at hotels and souvenir shops tend to be more expensive. Rather, you should consider buying these at local superstores.

It’s also a smart idea to buy a filtered reusable water bottle. Then you can fill the bottle with clean water without worrying about your health. It’ll save you tons of money and reduce the risk of catching water-borne diseases.

Pack Snacks for Vacation

Saving money on food on vacation is a major concern for travelers. You want to enjoy your holidays without ruining your finances.

Depending on your destination, the cost of buying snacks can be quite high. So, pack some easy-to-carry snacks to steer clear of the trouble.

You can pack some dry fruits, granola bars, or other snacks to munch on. But if you’re flying internationally, you may want to look into security guidelines about what you can carry in your luggage. This will ensure you can go through airport security screening checks without issues.

Choose Weekdays for Eating Out

Wondering how to save money eating out on vacation?

Restaurants tend to be more crowded on weekends than on weekdays. So, it can be a good idea to visit the facilities on weekdays. Not only you can avoid overcrowded spaces this way, but also save money.

Further, explore local eateries for special deals. Many cafés and restaurants have special deals on specific days. For instance, restaurants may offer 20% discounts when you pay with a specific credit card. Or you can get a buy one get one free deal. Similarly, some facilities offer free dining for young kids.

You can avail these discount offers to enjoy delicious local food and save money along the way.

Check Out the Street Food

Food available at local vendors and cafés is quite delicious. You can’t miss out on this tasty yet affordable option when traveling.

At some locations, street food may not be hygienic. So, ask locals about recommendations for street food. It’s best to go to clean places with long queues. It’s usually a sign their food is good.

This way, you can enjoy unique yet scrumptious food within your budget. It’s okay to occasionally enjoy a fine dining experience when on vacation. But street food is the way to not only save money on food while traveling but also enjoy mouth-watering food options.

Order Dessert at Bakeries Instead of Restaurants

Dining at a restaurant? You may have cravings to enjoy something sweet after your meal. But the cost of expensive dessert adds up especially if you’re traveling with a big group.

So, ignore the dessert menu and instead explore local bakeries and cafes. You will find delicious cookies, cakes, and other sweet items at a fraction of the cost. This works well if your goal is to be eating on a budget while traveling.

Also, how about buying ice cream at supermarkets instead of ordering one scoop each at an ice cream shop? If your hotel room has a refrigerator, you can keep ice cream and dessert and enjoy them after returning to your room.

So, ready for a vacation with your family? You are equipped with smart tips on how to save money on food on vacation. Now it’s time to plan your budget, choose your destination, book tickets and accommodation, and go on a relaxing trip!