Eating Out while Traveling
Eating out while traveling can be a tremendous drain on your resources if you don’t plan your moves well before hand. What you eat and where you eat it can make a world of difference to your budget. Then again, it really depends on which part of the world you are traveling in. And the levels of health and hygiene you will find there. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry. The last thing you want to do is run out of money or catch a stomach bug; both can put a hasty end to your trip. So just keep the following in mind before you set out on your trip:
- When in Rome…stick to the local cuisine. They will know their own food better than yours. There are likely to be fewer disasters and the food is likely to be more cost effective
- Avoid room service and hotel breakfasts. Eating at the neighborhood cafeteria will be more economical and satisfying.
- Avoid the normal touristy joints. They are usually overpriced and the food lacks character.
- Avoid tourist traps. Their prices are usually inflated with huge margins for the shop keeper.
- Always carry some packaged munchies that are light and easy to carry. They will come in handy when you feel like snacking or want to avoid room service. They are even more useful when you are traveling by bus or train and the food along the way may be suspect.
- Be very, very wary of drinking water indiscriminately. Water can be the biggest carrier of diseases and you must be conscious of where you are obtaining it. Stick to bottled mineral water, preferably a reputed brand. And don’t share your bottle with any one else.