8 Tips for Eating Well on a Budget When Traveling

Just because you've got limited travel funds doesn't mean you can't eat well. In fact, in many cases eating cheaply means you'll eat better.

No matter what your travel budget is, it's likely that you will end up spending way more on your trip than you originally intended when you were planning it. It's the nature of the beast - your airline tacked on a bunch of last-minute fees and they're still charging you for a meal, the only hostel room left in town is about twice what you had set aside, your traveling companion absolutely cannot leave without taking a hot air balloon ride (or whatever the most expensive local tourist attraction is), and the one piece of art you really want to see is in that part of the museum that requires not just the regular admission but a "special exhibit" fee. It all adds up.
Of course, while many of those travel expenses can be avoided (you skip the hot air balloon ride or special exhibit, for example), one big money sucker you can't avoid is eating. But luckily, there are lots of ways you can reduce the amount you spend when you're eating on vacation - and you can do it without resorting to eating badly! In fact, in many ways, eating cheaply means you'll be eating better. Use these tips to help you eat better on a budget, and you'll never want to go back to spending more on your meals.

1. Shop at the market.

Eating out in restaurants for every meal will make quick work of emptying your wallet in all but the cheapest countries. And if you think about it, it makes sense that this would be the case - you wouldn't eat out three meals a day at home, would you? A great alternative to eating out all the time is to buy your breakfast and lunch supplies at the local supermarket or, better yet, at an outdoor market. The quality is high, the prices are low, and you'll get an opportunity to see what locals are eating as you shop. Pack your utility knife (in your checked bag, of course) and pick up yogurt, bread, cheese and a fruit you've never seen before. Pair that with a bottle of local wine (if your utility knife has a corkscrew!) or bottled water and you're good to go. Find a public park, spread out a little picnic, enjoy your meal, then stuff the leftovers in your bag for a snack later on.

2. Eat on the street.
Okay, not on the street, but you know what I mean. If you think of food as yet another way to experience a new culture, this one is actually a no-brainer. Eat widely, eat bravely, and eat the goodies on offer at the street food stands. Head towards the stand that’s the most crowded, find out what everybody’s nibbling on, and then point to what you want if you don’t speak the language. Odds are you’ll come away with something delicious and budget-friendly. Or, if you’re proudly presented with a big bowl of tentacles and eyeballs, at least you’ll have a good story to tell.

3. Eat locally.
This is true whether you're eating at home or when you're traveling - it costs less to eat stuff that's grown or produced locally rather than the stuff that has to be brought in from elsewhere. And since you need to spend your hard-earned money on food, you might as well pump that money back into the local economy instead of supporting big fast food chains. Besides, while you might be used to fast food being the cheap option, name-brand fast food is often more expensive abroad than the local eateries. And all that does is lead to the unpleasant discovery that your tiny lukewarm hamburger just cost twice as much as those huge greasy cones of fish and chips available next door. Ask around for non-touristy restaurant recommendations, and seek out locally made products. You didn’t fly all the way to Morocco to drink Coke, so order a mint tea or a fresh orange juice and savor the difference.

4. Cook your own food.
You might think "vacation" means "vacation from cooking," but cooking your own meals can save you money big-time, so it's definitely something to consider when you're traveling on a budget. Most long-term travelers and regular hostel-goers know this, which is why they prefer to stay in places that have guest kitchens. In a hostel, you can even befriend other travelers and create a feast for next-to-nothing by all pitching in ingredients and cooking duties. And if you're not the hostel sort, remember that instead of booking a room in a hotel you can always rent a condo or apartment and have your own private kitchen.

5. Splurge on lunch.
This is another one that, when you think about it, makes perfect sense - any restaurant that serves the same thing for both lunch and dinner is going to charge more for the dinner version. So instead of going out to eat all the time for dinner, go to that expensive bistro you've been wanting to try for their lunch service instead. If it’s your lifelong dream to gorge on truffles at a fancy three-star French restaurant, do so at lunch. A midday meal will still showcase the chef’s talent, but is more likely to lack the astronomical price tag. Besides, eating your biggest meal in the middle of the day is better for digestion, right?

6. Broaden your horizons.
Seek out a country’s ethnic cuisines - and that doesn't mean finding a Thai restaurant in Thailand. That means figuring out what foreign cuisine is most popular, most common, and (often) most inexpensive in the city you're visiting. Instead of focusing only on things like cream tea in London or pig knuckle in Berlin, look for a curry shop serving up a cheap and spicy vindaloo or a Turkish kebab shop. Don't go on a mad hunt for local specialties in Amsterdam or Vancouver when you can eat well and cheaply by digging into Indonesian food or dim sum. The locals are doing it, so why not follow suit?

7. Become a tee-totaller.
Depending on where you're traveling, alcohol can cost as much as an entire dinner at a nice sit-down restaurant. In these cases, you'll want to avoid alcohol altogether - or switch to whatever the locals are drinking. If beer's expensive, check out the wine list. If wine's over the top, see what's on tap. And if you're really on a budget, skip the alcohol completely. Of course, in some places it's the exact opposite situation, where the local wine is cheaper than a can of Coke. So check the menus, and drink accordingly.

8. Exercise moderation.
You know how at home you rationalize paying more for a big meal because you can get lunch out of the leftovers the next day? Well, when you're traveling, you aren't going to be taking home any doggie bags - even if you're in a hostel with a kitchen or renting an apartment, it's less likely that you'll be able to really make use of the leftovers. So instead of trying to force down a huge plate of pasta and then letting the excess get thrown away, split a big plate with friends. And rather than skipping the cool-sounding appetizers to leave room for your dinner, make an entire meal out of a series of starter plates with smaller portions. You'll enjoy your meal more, avoid over-eating, and still have room for dessert. Which is always a bonus.