Travel Tip #46: Eat At Cafes To Save Money

Eat At Cafes To Save Money

You saved for your trip, asked off from work, booked your flight and hotels and now that you are here, you want to see the sights, immerse yourself in the local culture and try the local cuisine. When you are traveling, food can eat up a good chunk of your budget. Sometimes your hotel will offer a free breakfast, but if they don’t, you are on your own to find and pay for all of your meals. You can head to the grocery store to procure picnic supplies, which is a great option for lunches. This is especially true when you are taking a daytrip to go hiking or to some other remote locale. Grocery stores  are the cheapest meal option, but eating cold meals assembled with limited utensils and no means to cook can wear thin pretty quick. Restaurants are another option, but they can be pricey. When I say restaurant, I am talking about a sit-down, tablecloth, multiple-fork affair. Eating at these places for every meal is not so great for your budget.

If you want hot food, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, cafes are your answer. They are less formal and more comfortable than restaurants. They serve coffee, beer, wine and some food, all at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is more relaxed and they are usually open all day, not just at specific times. You won’t find a three course meal here or even a salad fork, but you can get some soup, a sandwich or a local specialty. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside, another cafe bonus.

Know Before You Go

Ask the staff at your hotel for some cafe recommendations in the neighborhood.

Bottom Line

If you want hot food, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, cafes are your answer.