How to save money on food and drink while traveling

Now that we’ve covered some common ways to save money while traveling, let’s focus on the real reason most of us travel: food.

And not only food, but also coffee, and tea, and booze.

Eating and drinking properly is essential for any journey, but doing so on a tight budget can be tricky.

That’s why, having traveled to 40+ countries, I’ve developed a food and drink system that will keep you satisfied without breaking your budget.

So, without further ado, here are nine ways to save money on food and drink while traveling.

1. Always bring food to the airport

Having flown to and from 41 countries, I have learned to always take food to the airport with me.

Because airport food isn’t just expensive; It’s unhealthy. You often get stuck choosing between a Big Mac and Panda Express, both of which contain preservatives that slow you down.

Paying $17.81 to feel bloated and lethargic is not the way to start the journey.

Instead, I prefer to fill the container with rice, beans, and cheap protein (tofu, tuna, etc.). Add your favorite seasoning, shake it up, and bam, you’ve got a delicious meal that’s loaded with protein, complex carbs, and fiber, all for about $3.

Once you get through the TSA, grab the plastic utensils near the gate and eat. I would recommend sealing the container inside a one gallon Ziploc® bag in case of a leak.

Or, if you have an eligible credit card, the benefits of your card may grant you access to an airport lounge where you can enjoy free food and drink.

2. Keep your water bottle full

While I would advise you to try the local coffee, beer, or smoothies, it’s a good idea to keep a bottle of water with you at all times – and keep your fluids replenished at all times.

I’m serious. You have to drink enough water so that your fellow travelers start calling you Charlie Chagwater.

That’s because drinking tons of water keeps your energy high, providing a free alternative to more expensive sodas or juices.

Or at least it’s almost free – in my experience, countries that don’t have potable tap water typically sell two-liter bottles for less than a dollar.

3. Stock up on snacks at the grocery store

Once my companion(s) and I land at a new location and settle in, the first place we go is the grocery store.

First, exploring grocery stores in other countries is just fun.

I once had to play my entire grocery list for a young saleswoman in Saigon as I don’t speak Vietnamese (I hope she enjoyed watching me play “deodorant” desperately).

In addition, grocery stores offer an inexpensive way to stock up on non-perishable snacks to snack between meals: cashew wasabi, trail mix, etc.

4. Follow the locals to the nearest street food

There’s an old adage in food tourism that probably originated thousands of years ago and still applies today: follow the locals.

The local population will always avoid the overpriced tourist traps and instead lead you to cheap, safe and delicious places. You can stop by a local hostel to ask for a tip, or just ask people on the street where to eat.

In my experience, it’s helpful to be specific because often the answer is, “Well, what do you want to eat?”

So a reasonable question that will save everyone some time is:

“Could you tell me where the locals eat? [insert specific dish]?

5. Subscribe hara hachi boo and save leftovers

When you enjoy a meal while traveling, the last thing you want to do is eat yourself in postprandial sleepiness, also known as good old food coma.

Take from me; just two extra slices of doner kebab can drain all the energy you had left to keep exploring that day.

Instead, accustom yourself to the wise ways of the Okinawan food code. hara hachi boo, which roughly translates to “80% full”. In general, don’t eat until you’re full. Eat until you are hungry.

Then save the rest. If you can stretch one delicious meal into two delicious meals, that’s homemade BOGO.

In addition, saving leftovers will become easier if you…

6. Stay somewhere with a kitchen

When booking accommodation, be careful what kitchen appliances you will have access to. This is because each of them can be a money saving tool:

• Refrigerators can keep your leftovers longer so you don’t have to eat the same food twice in a row.
• Microwave not only allows you to reheat leftovers, but also opens the door to the entire frozen food aisle of the grocery store for more substantial midnight snacks.
• Plates allow you to cook eggs, tofu and other forms of protein for a cheap and filling breakfast.

Remember also that not all refrigerators are made the same. Many hotel “refrigerators”, especially on cruise ships, are simply coolers that are slightly cooler than the ambient temperature. So be sure to put an ice pack in them before storing food or medicine.

7. Spend money on lunch, not dinner

Wherever you go and whatever you eat, lunch is almost always cheaper than dinner.

In fact, at restaurants around the world, you can often order the same meal at noon instead of 7:30pm and save a few bucks.

Or francs.

Or dongs, yuan or hryvnia.

In any case, restaurants generally refer to lunch as a “discount dinner” for several reasons:

• Lunch portions are often slightly smaller.
• The lunch menu is shorter, which makes it easier to prepare lunch.
• The demand curve dictates that lunch should be cheaper.

So instead of a big lunch and a big dinner that might cost $50, you can have a big lunch and enough leftovers from a dinner that costs $20.

Don’t get me wrong, I love fine dining abroad – candles, music, white tablecloths – but if you can occasionally switch your gourmet meal for lunch – sun, afternoon cocktails, etc. – you can save big money without missing out. . more subtle things.

8. Have a drink at a nearby hostel

Choosing a bar can be more difficult than choosing a restaurant because there is a new factor: your personal safety.

Especially for women traveling alone, the importance of choosing a safe place to drink cannot be overemphasized. That’s why my female-identifying buddies recommend we all have drinks at the local hostel.

“Generally speaking, hostels are incredibly safe,” writes Kate of TravelFashionGirl.com. Hostels not only offer cheap beer and cocktails, but are safe little fortresses full of cold, world-traveling Gen Zs to hang out with.

9. Take a suitable travel credit card with you

Taking the right Travel Rewards credit card with you when you travel is not only about saving 3% on foreign transaction fees.

say; instead of your regular everyday credit card, you carry a Chase Sapphire Preferred® card with you.

• If you book a trip through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you will earn 5x more points.
• You’ll earn 3x points for food and 2x points for other travel expenses (train tickets, car rentals, etc.).
• You will receive $50 from the hotel.
• You will have no fees for foreign transactions.
• And once you spend $4,000 within the first three months (it’s not difficult if you’re traveling), you’ll activate an 80,000 point bonus worth $1,000 (or more) when redeemed for additional trips.

With only the hotel credit and the sign-up bonus, this adds up to at least $1,050 of your travel budget.

This is the power of having the right trip reward card in your pocket while you are abroad.

Check out our full list of the best bonus cards of 2022.

essence

Saving money on food and drink while traveling is not a sacrifice; it’s about strategy. By staying hydrated, saving leftovers, and choosing your drinking spots wisely, you can still eat like a king or queen without breaking the bank.

And for other ways to save on travel (and hidden costs to look out for), check out 33 hidden travel expenses to think about before booking your next trip.

Featured Image: Benny Marty/Shutterstock.com

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