5 ways to save on food on vacation
Did you know that if you plan well, you can save a lot of money on food on vacation, which can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on a weeklong trip? Our family loves to travel, but eating out on a vacation can add a lot of cost to your trip. We recently went to the beach and ate out only once in three days, but the meal was 1/3 of our food budget!
Here are some ideas on how to save money on food on vacation, which will help you save so much on your next vacation.
Pack food from home: This varies based on if we are driving or flying, but we always try to pack food from home. For driving vacations, I have packed everything from snacks and drinks to full meals for our AirBNB. For flights, I usually pack lighter and keep it to lots of snacks for on the go. Packing snacks can also be helpful for souvenirs because when the food is gone, you’ll have extra space!
If you are traveling with other families, consider everyone being responsible for certain meals. This can help save money and add to the memories of the trip!
Grocery shop at your destination: While sometimes grocery stores will be a little more expensive in tourist destinations, it is still more affordable to buy groceries and eat at your vacation rental than going out to eat. Plan your menu in advance so that when you get to town, you can easily grocery shop. If you are doing a group trip with a lot of people, it can be smart to do a Costco or Sam’s Club run vs. a regular grocery store.
Also, if you are a Walmart+ member, you can also plan to have your groceries delivered at your destination!
Keep your menu simple: Regardless of if you are bringing food from home or grocery shopping, keep your meals really simple in terms of ingredients and menu. By not making elaborate meals, you will keep your costs down. Some of our favorite meals while on vacation are tacos, pasta, pizza, salads and burgers on the grill!
Use refillable water bottles: Have everyone bring a refillable water bottle for easy and cheap drinks while traveling. You can also bring drink flavors to add to your drinks!
Eat out for breakfast or lunch: If you want to eat out, choose to eat at a restaurant for breakfast or lunch versus dinner, which is typically the most costly meals of the day.
I am not opposed to eating out on vacation. For instance, our dinner in front of the Eiffel Tower was one of our highlights of our trip to Paris this summer. But I do think that a little planning and grocery shopping can make a positive difference in saving money while on vacation.
How do you save money on food on vacation?