Feeding Your Family on Vacation - On a Budget!
When vacationing with a family on a budget, what you choose to eat and drink can make or break the piggy bank. While most people plan for hotels and activities when budgeting for their vacation, they don’t often consider the cost of eating while on vacation, which can be considerably more than the cost of eating at home! Here are some tips to help you eat well while on your next family holiday without overspending.
Breakfast Ideas
When booking your accommodations, it’s a great idea to look for hotels that include a breakfast in the price. If this is not possible, make sure that your hotel room has at least a small fridge. If you have a fridge, you can go to the grocery store and buy a carton of milk, some cold cereal and a bottle of juice for a very inexpensive breakfast. Don’t forget to check if your hotel room has dishes available for use, otherwise you can bring some lightweight plastic bowls, cups and utensils with you in your suitcase.
Lunch Ideas
Consider going out for a lunch-time buffet (cheaper than at supper-time) and having your big meal at lunch-time. If you can afford to eat out occasionally, lunch time is probably the most economical meal to purchase. Look for kids’ menus, and check the ages that are included. If you are unsure about a particular restaurant, don’t be afraid to ask to see the menu before you commit to eating there! If your hotel room has a fridge, consider buying a loaf of bread, some lunch meat and fruit for a very economical lunch (and healthy too!).
Supper Ideas
If you’re able to book a hotel with a kitchenette, you can cook your own suppers, just as you would at home. Most hotel rooms at least have a microwave, making microwave dinners another cheaper alternative than eating out. It all depends on your budget, and what you’ve eaten for your other meals and snacks, you may be able to afford to eat out for supper - just make sure you check the menus and prices. You might also want to ask the locals for family restaurants in the area, which are usually a good bet for the budget-conscious.
Snack Ideas
It’s amazing how buying drinks and snacks can add up! It’s crucial that you take a backpack with you, wherever possible, with water bottles and items like granola bars or apples. At the very least, if the places you are visiting do not allow you to bring your own snacks, bring some water bottles! Buying water at $3 a bottle for a family is definitely an unnecessary expense!
Some other ideas for all meals and snacks include asking around for local food markets, wherever you are staying. You can also check out our website’s “Where to Eat” section for the country you are visiting to find out some tips for your specific family vacation destination. This section includes tips by families just like yours, who have already vacationed in the country you are planning to visit. You might even want to check out our “Trade Recipes” section and try cooking some authentic local dishes while on vacation. Please remember to share any great recipes you discover on your holiday as well!
With a little planning you can eat very economically while on vacation, and still enjoy the best of what your family vacation destination has to offer! And with the money you save by eating frugally, you can still hopefully afford to eat out a few times and enjoy the local cuisine, which is always a memorable part of any family vacation!
Jill Mowser, Family Vacay - The Travel Guide Families Share,
http://www.familyvacay.com
Jill_Mowser
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