How to eat well on a budget when travelling

For me one of the biggest things about travelling to new places and experiencing different cultures is trying new food. But eating out when travelling can quickly add up and blow your budget if you’re not careful.

With a little creativity and planning it’s possible to eat well without breaking the bank.

Embrace street food

You don’t always have to go to a sit-down restaurant to experience great food. Street food is not just delicious but it’s really affordable. Street vendors around the world offer a taste of local food at budget-friendly prices as you’re not paying for service in the same way as at a restaurant.

Even closer to home in London, I'll favour a market like Spitalfields or Borough Market where you can get dinner for under a tenner.

Seek out the larger and popular street food markets to sample loads of different dishes without spending loads of money.

Eat like a local

Restaurants located in tourist hotspots tend to be more expensive than those hidden down side streets. When heading out favour neighbourhood restaurants frequented by locals rather than larger chains.

Not only are you more likely to enjoy authentic cuisine, but you’ll often find the prices are lower.

When we went to Rome the restaurants located around the Colosseum were pretty expensive, but heading down a few backstreets led us to a restaurant we loved so much we went back twice.

Opt for larger lunches or early dinners

Many restaurants will offer lunch specials or set menus at discounted prices compared to prime dinner time. So either have your largest meal at lunchtime or opt for an early dinner depending on your options.

Switch around your meal schedule to take advantage of any savings you can find, and then have a snack for dinner.

Share meals and dishes

Look around at the portion sizes in restaurants when you walk in to see how much food you need to order. The last thing you want to do is order too much and waste it because you’re too full.

Save money and prevent food waste by sharing meals with people you’re travelling with. Not only will you save money but you’ll be able to sample more dishes.

On a recent trip to Turin we shared a pizza in one spot as they were so big we wouldn’t have managed one each.

Cook for yourself

If you’re staying in accommodation with kitchen facilities, consider cooking some of your own meals rather than eating out for every meal. You can pick up items at local markets and grocery stories to make your own delicious dinner.

When I went to Edinburgh a few years ago we had an apartment with a kitchen so to save money we made our own lunches to save eating out. This meant we were only paying to have one meal out each day.

Pack snacks for during the day

Avoid getting hangry and overspending on potentially expensive impulse food by keeping snacks on you to enjoy throughout the day.

Cereal bars, nuts, crisps and fruit are all easy and cheap options to keep in your bag and prevent you getting hungry in between meals.

Do your research

Before you travel, or even before you head out for the day, research some options for food. I tend to use Tripadvisor when I’m in a new city as I can look at menus and see prices before exploring. Alternatives are Google Maps, or HappyCow if you are vegetarian or vegan.

Travel blogs and forums are also a great resources for finding hidden gems and knowing what to expect when it comes to prices.