Stretch Your Travel Budget

Watch What, Where, And When You Eat

COVID slowed us down for a couple of years, and now a few health issues challenge us.  We're still traveling if not writing about it quite so much. Our goal in 2022 was get to all seven continents in one year... and we did it.

Going forward health issues may not allow us to travel.  No one can take away those memories though.  We hope all of you are well and staying safe... and that you find some inspiration here for YOUR future travels. 

Eating and drinking in grand style can stretch your travel budget in the wrong way.

I have to admit, we're not foodies.

If you travel to go to Michelin star awarded restaurants or other famous eateries, you probably should skip this page. 

If you're like us, you want to make your money go further...

There are lots of little ways you can save on food when you're traveling.



Save On Breakfast (If It's Not Included)

Save money by eating breakfast at a local cafe

If your hotel doesn't include breakfast in the price of the room, check to see what your options are in the hotel.

You will probably save money venturing out to a corner cafe rather than paying the price for the hotel breakfast buffet.

In Paris, join the local crowd and have coffee, juice and a croissant.

Have churros con chocolate in Madrid.

There are lots of small breakfast places in the U.S. where you can get a great bacon, eggs and coffee breakfast for only a few bucks.

We like to go back to the same little corner cafe for two or three days... become a temporary "regular".


Enjoy A Picnic

Enjoy A Picnic

A great way to stretch your travel budget is to enjoy a picnic.

Think of this for either lunch or dinner.

Remember, in restaurants you can usually get a nice lunch cheaper...

The dinner menu is almost always more costly.

You can pick up cheeses and meats and breads at local grocery stores and specialty shops.

Grab a bottle of local wine.

Eat in your room or in a local park with a great view.



Avoid Tourist Restaurants

Avoid touristy restaurants.

If you see a restaurant on the main street that has menus in several languages, it's going to cost you more.

Find a "mom and pop" place down a side street or go with a recommendation from a local.... like your friendly B-and-B host.

Look for "prix fixe" menus or daily specials for great meals at good prices.

One of our most memorable meals was a little restaurant our host sent us to in Assisi. We had trouble finding it... there was no sign. There were only three or four tables. The owner was the cook, his wife was the waitress. Neither spoke English, and she had to get a dictionary to help us order... but the food was terrific, and the bill was surprisingly small.


Don't Be Afraid Of Open Air Markets

Find the open air markets in town and eat there.

Eat cheap at a food stall in Marrakesh

In Marrakesh, we ate at a stall in Djna Al Fnaa...

The food was good, fresh and cheap, and when the local "guides" saw that we were comfortable eating like the locals, they stopped bothering us!


Eat In Department Stores?

Cafeterias in department stores can also be a good place to find food cheap to stretch your travel budget.

This is a great idea in Tokyo.

It might not be so cheap, but you could graze the food halls in London... like at Harrod's or Selfridges'.  Or the food halls in Paris.


Eat And Drink Like Locals

Eat foods that are in season. That's what the locals do.

Today's fresh specials will cost you less and be healthier.

Another way to save like the locals do is to eat and drink what is special in that country.

Drink beer in Brussels and Prague, save the wine for Paris.


Don't Over Tip

Remember that in many countries in the world, the tip is included.

In those counties, if you leave anything, you should only leave small change.

If you're tipping 15-20% like Americans do at home, you're tipping way too much and adding that to the price of your trip.


Pressed To Stretch Your Travel Budget?

Don't feel pressed to order too much for dinner. It's easy to do when you're on vacation, but why spend more money if you're not that hungry?

For example, just having a "primi" (pasta dish), but no "secondi" (main dish) in Italy, may be plenty for you to eat... just add a salad, and you'll save money over a three course meal.

Ask for tap water instead of bottled water in counties where the water is safe.

If you just try a few of our tips, you can eat well and still stretch your travel budget to go farther.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

International Travel Tips l Europe Travel Tips
Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists
Go from Stretch Your Travel Budget, Eat Cheap to MouseToursTravels Home Page

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.

Timely Tips

Summer Vacation
Travel is fun in the Northern summer... but don't neglect the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year.
Yes, it's winter in South Africa, but that's their dry season. It's a good time to travel there.

Lions stop traffic in Kruger NP South Africa

Sometimes you need to watch rain patterns instead of just seasons to figure the best time to travel...

Whether you're taking a road trip close to home or traveling abroad...

Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world...
the way you pack can make it all more pleasurable.

Check out all our Packing Lists and Tips.

Need travel ideas?
Things to See in Europe
Africa Calls!
Travel In America

Don't just dream about it...
Start making plans!

Custom Tour Planning List
International Travel Planning Tips
Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary!
Get Your Passports and Visas

And Expect Good Things
There Are Tourist Angels

Search

Search MouseToursTravels
Travel questions or destination info?
Find our answers faster..
.

Translate

We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language...

Updated Tips & New Travel Stories

  1. 2022 Travels To All Seven Continents

    After COVID, all seven continents in one year was a worthy goal for our 2022 travels..

    Read More

  2. 2021 Travels - Another COVID Year?

    Our 2021 travels were only domestic. COVID kept us close home. Road trips and a cautious flights but still fun.

    Read More

  3. 2020 Travels - What Travels?

    Our 2020 travels were slim. COVID kept us home too. One trip to the Three Guyanas, but dreaming of travel next year.

    Read More

Two Ways To Like Us!

Like Our Site Top Left
Like Our Fanpage Below
Thank You!

Navigate Our Site

Related Pages
on
Trip Planning

Guide Books
Why Travel With A Guidebook

How to Choose A Travel Guidebook

Travel Agents
A Travel Agent - Do You Need One?

Choosing Destinations
Best Time To Go

What Kind Of Trip Do You Want
More Than Throwing Darts

Some of Our Ideas
Stories About Europe
Why Not Africa?
North America
International Travel Tips

What Kind of Vacation?
Group Tour

Independent Travel
Driving Vacations
Adventure Travel
Active Travel - OK, How Active?
Multigenerational Vacations

Eco-Travel and Volunteering
Green Travel Tips
Sustainable Tourism
Volunteer Vacations - Are They For You?

Plan For Safety
Travel Advisories - Plan A Safe Trip

Don't Let Travel Worries Get To You
Keep Traveling

Planning Itineraries
A Custom Tour?
Custom Tour Planning List
Custom Tour Ideas
Top Ten Lists - Helpful, But…
Balance Your Itinerary - Mix It Up
Avoid Museum Sensory Overload
Hobbies for Trip Ideas
Where To Get Trip Ideas

Preparation
Get Passports and Visas

Travel Documents
Vaccinations and Meds 
Travel Preparation

Checklists So You Don't Forget
Travel Document Checklist

Travel Preparation Checklist
Home Departure Checklist
Pre-Departure Checklist

Ready For A New Adventure?

We escape by traveling…
But there are more ways to escape. 
Work on something you LOVE…
With A Website
SBI Teaches You Everything

First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life