Travel can be expensive. Along with flights, accommodation, public transport, and insurance, you’ll need to budget for food. Depending on the country, food can quickly add up, and since most travellers fail to budget enough for this, you may find that you need to cut your trip short, or spend less time visiting tourist sites and doing activities.
There are plenty of ways to cut your food costs when traveling. Remember that along with three meals a day, you’ll probably need to budget for both snacks and water-no one goes to Italy without trying the gelato after all.
Here are some ways you can cut food costs while traveling:
Choose accommodation with breakfast:
You’ll be surprised how many hotels, hostels, and guesthouses offer breakfast for their guests. While some may have the usual continental breakfast of a stale donut and bad coffee (I’m looking at you Motel 6), many will offer fresh fruit, a cooked breakfast, or delicious pastries. This is the perfect time to eat as much as you can, particularly foods with lots of protein which will keep you full for longer.
Cook your own food
Most hostels have some form of kitchen, and you can check reviews to see how stocked and clean the kitchens are before you book the hostel. This is not only a great way to save money, but you’ll be able to find fresh local produce in many of the markets so you’ll stay healthy as well.
Traveling can be hard on your waistline, and too many nights of fast food and pasta can mean you’re practically unrecognisable when you arrive home. Grab the makings for a salad and some pasta, or make up some huge sandwiches and you can take one for lunch the next day.
Be sure to leave the kitchen as clean as you found it for the next people, so you don’t become that annoying person who everyone resents. The best dishwasher detergent breaks down oily residue, so you can put those dishes back nice and clean.
Choose one big meal per day
Tasting the local food can be one of the best things about traveling, and it’s important to find a healthy balance between enjoying yourself, and ensuring that you don’t blow your budget.
A good way to do this is to eat breakfast in your hostel and follow it up with a light lunch. If you can’t bring lunch with you, check out a local supermarket, deli, or market, and grab some local food to eat in a park. Not only is this usually much cheaper than eating out, but you’ll be able to people-watch and enjoy the fresh air at the same time.
Then you can eat dinner out, and celebrate a successful day of sightseeing with a delicious meal. Alternatively, you could switch these meals around and make lunch your largest meal. Often restaurants will have lunch specials, and if you make a quick run back to your hostel with the leftovers, you can get two meals out of one lunch.
