As I’ve said before, food might be the best part of travel. It combines adventure with learning and necessity. When purchased away from home, however—especially by unsuspecting or first-time visitors—food can quickly become an expensive proposition. This is largely due to restaurant markups, which travelers usually incur in the absence of easy-access kitchens, fridges, pantries and dining rooms.
To avoid markups and letdowns, I have one piece of advice that has served me well on four different continents, in several countries and countless cities. It is this: eat as the locals do. What do locals do to save on food that tourists can too?
Use Grocery Stores
On a recent trip to Europe, a friend and I spent less than two bucks on the best wheel of brie I’ve ever eaten. For a few dollars more, we also split a baguette, tomato and sliced salami. We didn’t have access to cookware, ovens or stoves … but thanks to grocery stores and make-shift dining rooms the continent over, we enjoyed similar, delicious meals again and again. In fact, the meals were just as memorable as the ones we enjoyed in finer restaurants.
Plan Ahead
Before you hastily react with the importance of spontaneity, hear me out. When I say “plan ahead,” I’m not talking about a pre-made pack list or logistics being answered months in advance. I’m talking about two simple things: 1) Decide what you intend to spend on food during your trip and stick to your budget; and 2) Search your phone for 30 seconds to find the aforementioned grocers and best bang-for-your-buck restaurants that still rate well. How hard is that?
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