Budget Travel Tips: Eating on a Budget without Going Hungry

So you forgot to consider food when you figured out your travel budget. Hey, a bit of a diet never hurt anybody, right? Of course, traveling and having fun required some sustenance.

Food can be one of the most expensive parts of a trip, but it doesn’t have to be. I will not tell you that you need to rely on a diet of complimentary mints, convenience store weenies, and breadless peanut butter sandwiches. If you’re that hardcore, you might be better off staying at home.

The simplest way to save $$$ on the road is to eat like the locals. People, no matter where they live, enjoy good food and, most, I’m guessing, are not filthy rich. Places crowded with local residents, be they street stalls in Bangkok or greasy spoon diners in Texas, are always a good bet for cheap, tasty eats. If you’re traveling in certain parts of the world, you can eat your fill at street stalls for a couple of dollars a day.

Yes, you can bring food with you, but it’s no fun to sit in your hotel room munching on trail mix. Picnics are often fun, as is venturing out to the market (supermarket or old school market with chickens running around) and picking up ingredients to combine once you return to your room.

Common sense can help you stay nourished and on budget. If you’re going to go to a pricy restaurant, go at lunch, it’s generally cheaper than dinner. Take advantage of freebies like continental breakfasts and in house coffee makers. And, for goodness sake, don’t get carried away at the bar and spend your food budget on Budweiser. Yes, you might get some free peanuts, but that’s not going to help you tomorrow when the only thing that will cure a hangover is a trip to the buffet.