Money-Saving Hacks for Travel Meals

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Does the thought of how much money you spend eating out on vacation make you cringe sometimes?

Let’s assume you don’t eat fast food your entire trip; dining out every meal can get expensive.

Hi, I’m Faye, here to share three tips on how to save money on meals and give you twelve budget-friendly restaurants you can try on your next trip!

Average vacation costs in the U.S. for vacation $1,558 per person. Average cost of food per day $45 per person.

Excerpt from BankRate

Now we have an idea of the average cost of vacation basics: accommodation, food, and overall cost, let’s dive into the three tips to save on dining. For discounts and deals on travel Expedia.com is a good place to start your search.

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Tip #1 - Food Budget

The average traveler spends about $45 a day on food.

If you multiply $45 by the number of people, that will be your guesstimate cost per day on meals while traveling.

What if I told you there is a way to spend less if not half the amount? Interested?

Before we explore the ways to save, you need a food budget.

How to get your vacation food budget:

First, decide how much money you will spend per day on food / meals costs.

Next, take that number and divide the number by the meals you plan on eating out a day.

Finally, divide that number by how many people are in your crew.

That’s the budget per meal per person.

Here’s an example:

I plan on spending $100 a day on meals for my family of three.

$100/3 meals = about $33 per meal

$33/3 people = $11 per meal per person

Doing the math gives you a framework to be flexible.

Using the example above, if I want to go out to a trendy spot that will cost $100 for the three of us, I know I can adjust my spending on another day to make up the difference.

Or we can eat in and not spend any money until we go to dinner in order to stay on my $100 a day meal budget.

Now follow below for a list of budget-friendly chain restaurants.

Meals can cost as low as $8 per person, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.

Bonus: These apps below offer deals and coupons on restaurant chains.

• Eat Drink Deals

• Hooked

• Slick Deals

Tip #2 - Eat Local

One of my favorite options to save on meals is eating local!

I’m a sucker for some good tacos. Do some discovery on Yelp! or ask the hotel front desk for their top spots.

Recently, my son and I were hangry from our travel day to Austin, TX.

After dropping the bags on the hotel room floor, we rushed to the front desk agent and asked where to eat.

Thanks to his suggestion, we ate at an inexpensive locally famous fried chicken spot.

It was so good thought we’d go back again before leaving Austin.

Local restaurants can offer happy hour deals, like $2 tacos on Tuesday or 2-for-1 apps and drinks on Thirsty Thursday.

Check the area for specials.

Bonus: You can find local deals on:

• Local Flavor

• Local Dines

• Groupon

Going local is a great way to save and explore.

Hotel Breakfast Buffett

Tip #3 - Breakfast Included

Oh, I love a deal and breakfast included options at hotels get me excited and the best part is it’s one meal you don’t have to think about while filling up on coffee.

You may be surprised which hotel chains offer breakfast packages like:

• Wyndham

• Various Marriott properties

• Hilton

• Drury Hotels

• Choice Hotels

Note these are chains, and many brands fall under them.

For example, Marriott has 30 brands, and only a handful offer guests complimentary breakfast.

Check Expedia or Hotels.com for discounts.

Some charge a small fee for a full-on buffet spread, while others include it for free.

If there’s no buffet option, the next best thing is a room with a kitchenette.

Do a little shopping at a local market or Farmer’s Market to taste the local flair.

Money Crashers’ blog, 9 Hotel Chains with Free Breakfast, can help in your research for hotel offerings.

Now let’s explore the Family-Friendly restaurant options that can save you money.

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12 Budget-Friendly U.S. Restaurants

Family-Friendly Restaurants offering deals on meals.

Buffalo Wild Wings

If the family is in the mood for wings and fries, Buffalo Wild Wings offers a few family deals from small to large portion sizes.

They offer wing bundles. Check the website for deals.

Buca di Beppo

This Italian family-style meal option offers everything from pasta, salads, pizza, meatballs, and lasagna with portions ranging from 3-6 adults. Check the menu on the website for prices.

Boston Market

If you’d like a change from the usual, Boston Market offers comfort food family meal combos.

Rib dinner combos, rotisserie chicken family meals, and turkey dinners.

This is a more casual option, serving counter-side. Check the website for prices and specials.

IHOP

IHOP specializes in American breakfast food, with family meal bundles for takeout service.

If you prefer to dine in, they frequently run promotions. This is a very casual diner-style setting.

“The best way to know a city is to eat it.”

— Scott Westerfeld

Steak n Shake

It’s hard to pass on a good burger deal.

Steak n Shake offers promos and deals frequently.

They are updating their restaurants to kiosks, no longer offering servers or front counter personnel.

Applebee's

Your neighborhood Applebee’s (had to say it) seems to have some promotion to bundle and save on meals every week.

This is an American-style casual restaurant. Kids’ meal prices are around $5.00. Check the website for the latest promos.

Denny's

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Another casual dining restaurant that offers specials on American breakfast plates, for instance, the Grand Slam, starts at $5.99, and the kid’s menu prices are around $3.00. Check the website for offers.

Qdoba

This Mexican food option is a fast-casual restaurant serving Mexican-style cuisine.

They offer party packs and other family-friendly meals to take to go or dine in. Check the website for their current offers.

O'Charley's

O’Charley’s restaurant and bar offer family bundles to go and dine in deals like $9.99 lunch combos and all-day everyday margaritas. Check the website for offers. Prices may vary.

CPK (California Pizza Kitchen)

CPK is a casual restaurant specializing in California-style pizza.

Their pizzas are sold in the frozen aisle of most grocery stores in the United States.

The restaurant offers family meal bundles and specials. Check the website for their current offers.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

If you are looking for comfort food, this family-friendly Italian restaurant is an option.

Deals range from happy hour to kids’ menu.  Check the website for current offers. 

Chili's Grill and Bar

Like Applebee's, Chili's is known as a family-friendly casual restaurant on a budget.

They offer deals like 3-for-me, party platters, and an inexpensive kid’s menu. Check the website for prices and offers. 

For other ways to save on your next family vacation, check out my blogs.

Cheers to Happy Travels and a Happy Wallet. Remember to Subscribe for a FREE Travel Planning Guide! Get free resources to make traveling planning on a budget easy and more fun.

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