Food and drink can sometimes be the most expensive thing when travelling. Even more than the cost of a flight or your accommodation. There are some ways to try to save on meals during your trip, so that you don’t have to break the bank when you go travelling. We have a few tricks up our sleeve for the best ways to eat for less on your next holiday in Madrid, Prague, Thailand or wherever it is you want to go next.
10 Ways to eat for less when travelling
1.Buy food in the supermarket
The easiest way to save money on food is to try to buy your food from a supermarket. You don’t have to do this for every meal, but at least things like breakfast where you can buy a croissant or some fruit. You might need to get some other essentials which couldn’t fit in your bag such as shampoo or soap.
2. Cook your food!
Another way to save money on food when travelling is to stay in a holiday rental with a kitchen. This way you can cook some meals, try out some local delights and save money at the same time.
3. Eat local food
Local food is much cheaper than foreign food in general. If you order gyros in Greece it will cost you must less than ordering a pizza or tapas. Order the food from the country and it will cost you less as the ingredients are also local and of course, you try the culture!
4. Ask a native
If you manage to get talking to a local on your trip, ask them for the best place to go at the most affordable price. They will definitely already have some favourite cheap places to eat as they’ve had time to try them all!
5. Check out some travel blogs
Don’t know any locals? Read some travel blogs or contact the bloggers and ask them for recommendations! There are plenty of travel blogs around these days and you can find out almost everything about a place.
6. Say goodbye to snacks
One of the most expensive things on your trip is snacking. Do you really need to eat that ice cream, waffle or fried chicken? Especially in the main tourist areas, these things can be rather expensive. Try to eat only at mealtimes and avoid unnecessary snacks.
7. Picnic time!
Many destinations and big cities have beautiful parks or beaches where you can sit and enjoy a picnic. It’s a great way to get outside, explore nature and save money. What about Vondelpark in Amsterdam, Hyde Park in London or Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona.
8. Get a tourist pass
In most big cities you can get yourself a tourist pass which includes discounts to bars, restaurants and museums. If you know that you want to try a bit of everything while on your trip then it could be worth getting a tourist pass.
9. Keep water bottles
When you buy a water bottle, don’t throw it away. Keep reusing it and filling it up at home or in the fountains around the city.
10. Find happy hour!
If all you’re looking for after a long day of tourism is a bar to enjoy a few drinks in, then check for happy hour. Most big cities now all have a happy hour and it’s usually a little bit before the popular drinking hours. Enjoy 2 x 1 drinks while talking about your busy day in the city.
Do you have any tips for saving money on food when travelling? We’d love to hear them in the comments ?
