We've found the easiest area to save on travel is dining/food. It's also the area in which you can save the most money when traveling. For this reason I'll spend a fair amount of time researching restaurants in and around our travel destination.
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During a 10 day trip to Disney World my sister and I ate for FREE or very low cost the majority of the time.
That saved us hundreds of dollars. All it took was some research and strategic planning.
Cook Your Own Meals Vs. Dining Out
Besides saving bundles of bucks on accommodations, Jay also bought the Beast (his RV) because we could save even more making some of our own meals on the road vs. eating out.
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And it's not a chore because we enjoy cooking together, spending that time together. We like doing things like shopping at farmers markets together or specialty food stores during our travels.
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By getting a hotel room with a kitchen, the extra it will cost for the kitchen will be more than paid for in what you'll save dining out.
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Today most accommodation rooms come with at least a microwave and often a
The Beast kitchen (on left) and dining area
mini refrigerator you can use in making your own meals.
The first thing to go into the RV kitchen was an InstaPot.
You can throw an entire meal in there, go out on your travels and return to a meal prepared to eat. Handiest thing ever, especially if you're tired after a day of exploring your travel destination.
Kids Eat Free Restaurants
If you're a family with children you can save big time utilizing restaurants that offer KIDS EAT FREE restaurants deals.
These are becoming more and more common.
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Simply Google your travel destination followed by "Kids eat free restaurants" to find what restaurants in your travel destination offer these deals.
Many promotions are dine-in only, but several restaurants are also offering great family meal deals for carry-out. So whether you are dining out or getting it to go, there are budget-friendly options.
Book Accommodations That Serve Food
An increasing number of motels and hotels are offering free breakfast with your stay. That's one meal you're not paying restaurant prices on. On a 7 day vacation that's 7 meals you're saving money on.
Some B&B's offer not just breakfast but an afternoon "snack" event of some kind.
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During our trip to Disney World my sister and I would pack our lunches from offerings at our free breakfast. Over ten days we paid for no breakfasts and only one lunch at WDW. There was also a convenience store at the hotel that we could pick an inexpensive sandwich up at if we wanted to - paying FAR FAR less than we would've paid in any Disney park!
Eat Foods Native To The Region You're Traveling To
When traveling the Eastern Seaboard (for example) the majority of residents make their livings by fishing - so seafood will be fresh, plentiful and less expensive than other destinations that don't make their living fishing.
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​Another benefit to doing this that I found was I discovered I really liked some of these native-to-the-region foods that I wouldn't likely have tried otherwise.
Make Your Main Meal Lunch
Many restaurants serve the same entrees for lunch that they serve for dinner. But they up the price for the dinner crowd, knowing they'll make more money that
way - on the same entree they served for less money at lunch.
Save money on dinner every night by eating your main meal at lunch time when prices are cheaper.
Embrace Local Dining Over Touristy Spots
Dining like a local is a great way to cut travel costs and enjoy authentic cuisine. By avoiding touristy restaurants and opting for local eateries, you can experience the culture and flavors of a destination without overspending.
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Local markets and street food vendors often offer delicious meals at a fraction of the cost of sit-down restaurants. Not only does this save money, but it also provides an opportunity to try new dishes and interact with locals. Embracing local dining can lead to a richer and more immersive travel experience.
Eat Street Food
Food trucks and food truck parks have become really popular in recent years - and with good reason!
The food is usually very good, the portions plentiful and the prices right. You also usually have a variety of different cuisines to choose from as well at a good truck park.
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The Coolest Food Truck Parks Across America
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A lunch plate will normally cost around $15 to $18 - far less then you'd pay in a restaurant.
The food is normally tastier than restaurant fare is as well!
Check Out Coupon Sites
Check out coupon sites like restaurant.com and Groupon for dining deals.
Before our Disney trip, I'd gone to restaurant.com and took advantage of a special they were running - $40 off your meal coupons for $10 each.
Rather than eat in the parks where a simple Dole Whip will cost you $14, we ate in Disney Springs at restaurants like Planet Hollywood and House of Blues. The only money that came out of our own pockets was a tip for our server.
Google Food is another good resource to check.
Check Out Restaurant Websites
Once you've decided where you'd like to eat on your trip, scope out the websites of those restaurants.
For our Disney trip, there was a Rainforest Cafe right outside the entry gates of Animal Kingdom. Lunch inside the park would have cost us around $100 each.
On the Rainforest Cafe website I signed up for free for their Landry Awards Program. I received $50 for signing up plus another $25 because it was my birthday the following month when we'd be at Disney. I also got priority seating, a big plus when dealing with Disney crowds.
We were seated immediately and the photo at left was what each of us had for our FREE lunch. The only money that came out of our pocket was for the server's tip.
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You can also find important info on these restaurant websites like advertised upcoming deals, coupons and if they offer any special deals where kids basically eat free, like this one from Rainforest Cafe.
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Check to see if the restaurant also has a social media site like Facebook. Often they'll post upcoming deals on their social media site.
Use No Fee Credit Cards That Reward You
My no fee Chase VISA Disney credit card awards me Disney Dollars with every purchase I make on it.
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My Disney Dollars completely paid for a meal at Les Chefs du France, the most expensive restaurant in the WDW parks.
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I could also purchase Disney merchandise with those Disney Dollars.​
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Skymiles Dining will pay you back in miles or points.
Take Advantage Of Coupon Books & Dining Guides
Many cities have coupon books and dining guides that contain coupons to their area restaurants.
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Entertainment Coupon Membership offers thousands of dining coupons for anywhere in the U.S. and you can search restaurants by state.
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Restaurants will also put coupons in the local newspaper.​ Pick up tourism brochures at rest stops or visitor centers. They often contain coupons.
Watch For Community Fundraisers
I'm always watching for those neighborhood signs advertising pancake breakfasts or all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner fundraisers.
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Usually the charge for these events is far less than restaurant prices for larger portions and better tasting (often homemade) food.
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Plus it helps the community!
Watch For Gallery Openings & Similar Events
Events like art gallery openings often have a reception with free food on the opening day of the exhibit.
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You can kill two birds with one stone - see a gallery exhibit while munching away.
Skip The Airport/Airline Food
It's overpriced and usually not all that tasty. Eat before you arrive at the airport and pack some grab 'n go items and snacks in Ziploc bags that you can put in your carry on instead.
Plan A Picnic
You're on vacation, you're supposed to be relaxing! Hit up a local deli, grocery store or farmer's market and pack a picnic. There's nothing more relaxing that sitting on a scenic overlook or in a beautiful park eating a picnic lunch. Cheaper than eating in a restaurant too.
Drink In Moderation & Take Advantage Of Happy Hours
You don’t have to give up drinking alcohol, but your travel budget will thank you for saying no to that second beer or glass of wine with dinner (and sadly, that after-dinner cocktail). If you want to drink, take advantage of pre-dinner happy hours with drink discounts.
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Also be aware of the fact that in touristy areas the booze you're being served is likely bottom shelf and can even be watered down.
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You can also wait to unwind until after your meal. In the U.S., and indeed in most parts of the world, store-bought alcohol is cheaper than booze served in local restaurants and bars. When you arrive at your destination, hit the liquor section of the nearest bodega or supermarket to stock up.
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Also take advantage of Happy Hours when drinks and appetizers are half price.
Invite Yourself To Dine With A Local
You can also invite yourself to dine with locals through programs like Eatwith or BonAppetour.com.
Find All-You-Can-Eat Buffets
These are good options for families with a lot of mouths to feed. And I've found phenomenal breakfast buffets in particular. If I fill up at one of those I can usually skip lunch.
Take A Cooking Class Or Foodie Tour
Hubby and I took a couples cooking class on our trip to New Orleans. The wine was flowing freely and we had such a good time with the other couples! Not only did we learn how to make Cajun and Creole, we ate what we'd made.
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Foodie tours are another great way to sample a variety of foods in your travel destination.
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You can look up foodie tours available by location here.
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Bon Appétit!