By Imani Dada

New and exciting people, culture, landscapes, architecture and crafts may fill your senses during your travels, but they’ll likely have the opposite effect on your appetite. As a result, food costs can really eat away at your travel budget. If preparing your own meals sucks the “on vacation” feel out of your getaway, try these tips instead for saving on food costs, part of our continuing How to Travel Cheaply Series.

1. Have Whole Grain Cereal for Breakfast.

Whole grain cereal is filling, budget-friendly and helps to curb your appetite so you’ll tend to eat less at lunch, which also saves you money. If you’re traveling with your family or you plan on staying a few weeks, buy milk in bags or a large container to have with your cereal; it will save you money and you’ll likely be able to finish it before you leave.

2. Carry Filling Snacks.

No guide on how to travel cheaply and saving on food costs is complete without this little gem. Carrying filling snacks when you’re out sightseeing is really effective at keeping hunger at bay. Some of the best choices are nuts, seeds, fruit and veggies. If possible, go to a market near your accommodations or the area you’re touring to buy these hunger-fighters as they will be cheaper than at a grocery store.

3. Make Lunch Your Main Meal.

Dishes on the dinner menus at restaurants tend to be more expensive than lunch-time meals — even if some of the same dishes are served for both lunch and dinner. Also, most restaurants and other dining establishments offer lunch specials, so you can save even more money. After enjoying a larger lunchtime meal, you can save more money on food costs when travelling by eating appetizers at dinner time or sharing a main course with a travel partner.

4. Try Holes in the Wall.

Eating at some of the world’s best hole-in-the-wall restaurants isn’t just another strategy on how to travel cheaply; it’s a tip that lets you indulge in some of the best culinary experiences of your life. Many of these restaurants are rated by travel food guides and serve some of the most delicious meals at very competitive prices. They’re also a great way to sample ethnic dishes that upscale restaurants are more likely to put a cosmopolitan touch on instead of serving them up authentically.

5. Carry Water at All Times.

Bring a portable water bottle from home and fill it with filtered water from your accommodations, restaurants or diners. Water helps to fill you up so you eat less, which is helpful but tricky when you’re trying to figure out how to travel cheaply and cut back on food costs. Also, according to one of America’s favourite TV doctors, Mehmet Oz, people often mistake thirst for hunger, which prompts them to eat when they’re not really hungry. If your lodgings don’t provide filtered water and you have to buy bottled water, buy it by the case so you’re still saving on food costs. Be sure to recycle those empty bottles and keep your travels eco-friendly!

6. Always Pay with Cash.

When you use a credit card, debit card or even a prepaid credit card to pay for meals when travelling you’re more likely to lose track of how much you’re actually spending. Set a daily food budget and commit to sticking to it, which will be much easier to do if you’re carrying cash only.

Avoid these prepaid credit card mistakes when you travel and don’t miss surprising ways to save on business travel accommodations.

Visit Us Again Soon to Get More Tips on How to Travel Cheaply

.

COPYRIGHT © Pepperpot.ca

Image Courtesy of Caribbean Scene Restaurant, Royal Victoria Dock, London, UK