Travel Tip Tuesday:Cheap Eats

Welcome to this edition of Travel Tip Tuesday!  Today we are talking about Cheap Eats. 

We all know that it now costs a small fortune to travel these days, especially to Europe.  The gas prices are up, the dollar is down, you need to take a second mortgage on your house, just to get to your intended destination.  And that doesn't even count for the fun once you get there.

The two biggest expenses after the travel, will be food and lodging. 

Today, I will be sharing ways to save on your food and Cherrye will be tackling the lodging.  As always, my focus will be on Europe, but I am sure that most of these tips are universal.

• Picnic, picnic, picnic.  I do it all the time.  Visit a farmers market or a local food market and grab some of the best produce you can find.  Grab some cold salads, some bread, fresh fruit and pick a glorious spot, sit down and relax and enjoy your meal at a fraction of what a meal out would cost.  Don't just think of picnics for lunch, consider one for dinner as well. I am not talking about eating in your car or anything boring like that.  Instead, join the locals on the lawn of the Eiffel Tower, and watch the lights twinkle. It will be a romantic dinner picnic you'll not soon forget. Or dangle your feet off a footbridge less traveled in Venice and watch the gondolas float by.  Now that's what I mean by a picnic!
• Consider renting an apartment for your stay.  This way you can shop for fresh food and make most of your meals at your apartment, rather than eating out every night.
• When you do eat out, try to make lunch your biggest meal of the day.  We all know that when eating out, lunch prices are usually less than dinner prices.  You may be so full from lunch, that you just need a light snack for dinner.
• Order from the prix-fixe menu.  When traveling to Europe, always take advantage of the prix-fixe menus.  Some places will have a choice of a 2 course prix-fixe or 3 course prix-fix.  Try skipping the dessert and go for the 2 course.  Treat yourself, just once, to the dessert, your wallet and waist line will thank you.
• Check out the daily special.  Often chefs will have one special plate on the menu that changes daily.  It should be enough to satisfy you for lunch and you'll only pay about 10-12 €.
• If you do eat out, stay clear of the touristy areas.  The prices will be 2 to 3 times as high and the crowds will be inevitable.  Wander off the beaten path, away from the city center to find better prices.
• Always ask the locals where they eat.  Notice, I did not say to ask them where to go for a special evening, or a one of a kind experience.  That is not what you want when you are on a budget.  You want good fresh food at the best prices.  Places you won't find in any guidebook.  Locals don't go out for expensive dinners all the time.  So don't ask your concierge.  Try asking your taxi driver, housekeeper, the guy at the post office or the girl at the supermarket.  Regular folks. I haven't been steered wrong yet!
• Always order the house wine and tap water when you eat out.  These options are much cheaper than soda. All house wine's I have had in France and Italy have been better than many expensive bottled wines than I have had in the states.  And since tap water is free and very drinkable in Europe, not ordering that bottled water will save you at least 5€ on your bill.
• Reuse your water bottle and keep refilling it all day. Parts of France and Italy have fountains that flow with delicious spring water.  If you are like me, I drink water constantly. You have to stay hydrated. And if each bottle costs you 2€, you could spend upward of 10€ a day, just on water.  Plus, it's good for the environment to reuse. Go green and save the green!
• Sometimes, you just have to eat at that place.  Your know that 5 star, Michelin or Zagat rated, people-can't-stop-talking-about-it..place.   Trust me, I get that.  Really, I do.  But, think about this.  My guess is, many times, you are going for the experience, as much as the meal.  What if, just getting all gussied up and sauntering up to the bar having a drink and an appetizer would satisfy this need.  It just might and you will be able to save a boatload, without sacrificing most of the experience.
• Share.  Does your whole party need to have their own gelato every night?  Do you each need an 8€ dessert at that restaurant?  Think of the money you will save if you share these things. It may not seem like much, but if your on vacation for 10-14 days...it really does add up!
• And last, but not least.  If renting an apartment is not an option for you, at least try to stay somewhere that includes breakfast everyday.  I found a hotel in Paris that included a wonderful, albiet basic, fresh baguette with butter and jam, fresh OJ and a choice of cafe au lait, tea or hot chocolate.  It certainly held me over until I had an early lunch.  It saved me about 50€ over the course of 10 days.  Bed&Breakfasts are a much cozier and friendlier option and the breakfasts tend to be larger, homemade and vary from morning to morning. And who knows, you may add a new recipe to your collection, if the hosts feel like sharing!   

These things may not seem like rocket science.  Most are common sense.  But I find that you have to be conscious of your decisions with money.  You have to actively put these things into play in order for you to reap the rewards.  It just doesn't happen!  Each tip on there own may not seem like a huge money saver, but if you put them all to use, you can really save yourself some coin!

It may mean the difference between affording to go or sitting in your recliner watching the Travel Channel!

Don't forget to go to Cherrye's blog to check out her money saving tips on Cheap Sleeps.

So, what are some of your favorite ways to save money on vacation? 

Comments

[Cherrye at My Bella Vita]

Great ideas, Robin! I LOVE the picnic idea and I did it often when I lived in Paris. Thank you for the reminder!!

[NurseTerry]

One thing that seems to be important in Europe is to note that the dinner hour does not begin until at least 7pm. We tend to get up leisurely, have a decent breakfast and often skip lunch. We then have a nice snack (who can say no to beautiful pastries) at about 3 and catch dinner about 8pm. Probably not the healthiest approach, but we do save $$!!

[stephanie]

Such great tips!! and yes, I think this holds true while traveling anywhere, at home too for that matter!

[anne]

Great tips Robin.

We always rent an apartment..Crete, Barcelona, Sicily and Italy...to us it is the best way to do it.

We love the picnic foods, bought at the local supermarche, or any little shops we come across.

The day we arrive we hunt out a supermarket, get what we think we will need for a few days..have breakfast in the apartment, then either lunch out (picnic) or cafe..and cook at night, or other way round...sometimes have lunch in the apartment..all depends on what we have planned for the day.

[michelle of bleeding espresso]

Awesome tips; I especially love the picnic one because it also gives you the opportunity to try many local foods too :)

[My Melange responds]

Cherrye~ I figured you had a Paris picnic memory or two ;)

NurseTerry~ Healthy shmealthy ;) If your having fun, the nutrition police can't arrest you!!

Stephanie~ Yes, at home too, especially the water bottle refill one :)

Anne~ You are a smart traveler!!

Michelle~ Exactly!! And who wouldn't love local Italian food???? ;)

[AmyEmilia]

We usually drive when we visit Italy, so our first stop is at the grocery store. My Italian husband won't drink still water - it must have bubbles. So we load up on acqua frizzante, as well as some bread, gorgonzola dolce, and fruit as soon as we can. Probably 70% of our meals are eaten under a shady tree, or in our room. Only rarely will we eat in a restaurant - even then it will likely be a local one as you described above. We usually get directions to a place that has good foccacia or pizza, or his favorite (not mine) farinata. These will definitely be local places!
Speaking of rooms - when we are not visiting relatives, we usually stay in small hotels that I've researched on TripAdvisor.com or Venere. These hotels usually have free breakfast and internet. I've also used points from my business travel to stay at Starwood or Marriott chain hotels. It might not be completely "authentic" but sometimes it's good to have a break.

[Laume]

We rented an apartment and made a big difference. We enjoyed not only the economy of eating some at "home" but also the pleasure of becoming a regular at a nearby boulangerie, nearby market, nearby fruit and vegetable stand.
I'd second the get out of the tourist areas for better food prices. The exception is the Latin Quarter in Paris - it's very touristy but there's so much competition for your dining dollar (or rather, euro) that there are plenty of reasonably priced choices.
We tended to have breakfast at the apartment, and only eat one "big meal" out - sometimes lunch and sometimes dinner. We'd fill in with tea, a take away sandwich, or espresso and dessert to end the day.