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Page 1: How to Enjoy Your Vacation Meals on a Budget

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How to Enjoy Your Vacation Meals on a Budget

There are reasons why eating every meal out while vacationing isn’t wise; your budget may not allow f or it,and, even with a generous budget, f ood will start to eat its way into other f un you have planned, both time-wise and money-wise.

Waiting in line, f or instance, every time you want to eat can get t iresome. And, at the best vacationdestinations, all the f avourite restaurants will have long waiting times.

But, eating on a budget doesn’t have to be boring. No, you don’t have to have a cooler f ull of peanut butterand jelly sandwiches. You can f ind inexpensive, delicious alternatives with a bit of pre-planning and someimagination.

Below are tips on how to enjoy your vacation meals on a Budget.

Do Your Homework

When you decide on a destination, do the research to f ind the restaurants and f ood choices that appeal toyou.

Sites like LonelyPlanet.com, CitySearch.com, UrbanSpoon.com, and ChowHound.com will give you an idea ofaf f ordable, and tasty places to eat in various cit ies.

Search the name of the city you’re visit ing to f ind reviews and blogs that of f er more inf ormation as well asspecial of f ers.

Choose an All- Inclusive Vacation Package

The cost of an all- inclusive package may be worth it. If your f amily considers ref reshing beverages andthree meals a day, as well as snacks, an important part of a vacation experience, then you want to considerthis option.

However, be aware that sometimes alcoholic drinks may not be included. Even so, being able to helpyourself to all the cooling drinks and f ood you want can be a big bonus, especially when you have a lot ofhearty eaters.

When considering all- inclusive vacations, don’t limit your thinking. Cruises are a great value. They normally

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include a lot of amenities.

Not only can you eat just about anything you want, just about any time day or night, but most cruisesinclude f ree activit ies f or kids of all ages, f ree entertainment f or adults, and transportation to excit ingports of call.

You’ll also receive, f ree of charge, wonderf ul guides to help you choose your excursions, big or small.

Lunch with the Locals

Want a huge, money-saving tip as well as a recommendation f or tasty f ood? Ask the locals where they eat. Usually, you’ll f ind tasty f ood, good atmosphere, and great prices.

Every region has its f avourite cuisine, and most cit ies and towns have a f ew quaint f amily restaurants,catering to locals who enjoy a good meal f or a good price, no gimmicks, no hype. Follow the locals to theselocales and you can’t lose.

Attend Citywide Food Events

A lot of the big cit ies such as Dubai, New York City, Boston, Toronto, Dallas, Philadelphia and Atlanta haveweeks where they celebrate what is considered Restaurant Weeks or Food Festivals.

This is where, with an entry f ee, you can experience excellent meals at a f raction of the cost. There arealso competit ions to consider, like cook-of f s and awards to chef s, restaurants, and even street vendors.

Search your vacation destination f or these special events f or some real good deals, and great cuisine.

Stay at Home-Style Lodgings for Home-Style Meals

A bed-and-breakf ast or similar lodging where a meal is included in the price may be a great option f or yourvacation stay. Having a nice breakf ast can set you up f or a good day of sightseeing, and you won’t wastetime, or money, stopping f or something to eat right in the middle of your f un.

Another option is to stay in a place with a kitchenette. You can save money and time by stocking theref rigerator and pantry with breakf ast items, sandwich makings, beverages, and lots of snacks.

Another bonus is you can save any lef tovers f rom meals you have at restaurants. The dif f erence betweenthe cost of lodging without a kitchenette and one with a kitchenette can easily be made up in a f ew dayswhen you consider meals out could cost you hundreds of dollars f or the length of your stay.

Quick Bits about Budget Bites

order f rom the kids menus

eat out at lunch instead of dinner

order f rom the ‘bar ’ menu

opt f or big glasses of ice water instead of sof t drinks or spirits

buy f ood f rom street vendors

When you are on vacation you want to enjoy not only the sights and events, but the area cuisine, too.Planning ahead and budgeting f or meals will help you enjoy a f ew special restaurants, rather than rushingthrough a lot of ordinary f ood places just because you’re hungry.

Make the restaurants you visit a memorable part of your vacation, not a necessary, and expensive, bother.

So how about you? Leave a comment below and let’s start a discussion on how to enjoy your vacation

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meals on a budget.

About the Author: Adewale Adelani is Travel Manager at DAHLA TRAVELS, a travel, tours and activit iescompany in Dubai, UAE. Circle on GooglePlus Like on Facebook