By far, one of the biggest expenses when you’re traveling is eating out (the US Bureau of Labor Statistics cites food as being nearly a quarter of vacation expenses) — usually because you don't know where to go, where you can get the cheapest (and best!) taco, or aren’t privy to any special deals. While Internet access and specialized apps might help you save money, being more selective about where you eat and how can also ensure you get more out of your adventure.
Provided that you're traveling to a place that has accessible grocery stores or farmers markets, purchase local goods, and consider a lovely picnic at one of the nearby sites or parks. If you have kitchen access, try cooking with never-before-used ingredients. If you’re staying in the United States, free apps like Grocery Pal and Farmstand provide access to local deals, discounted food, and fresh farmers markets in your area.
In the interest of saving money, research ahead of time what's local (and therefore, cheap) to your geography. When I lived in Paris, one of the biggest mistakes I made was spending over $14 on pasta dishes (my favorite food) at dinner. Meanwhile, when I hopped over to Italy for the weekend, it cost about a third less the Parisian price for freshly made authentic pasta in much, much larger portions. Conversely, France has delicious French wine under five euros available in most grocery stores.
