A Guide to Eating and Drinking for Less on Your Travels

As every seasoned traveler knows, constantly shaving a little bit off the cost of eating and drinking is the key to budget travel. And we’ve all got our favored methods for saving money while we’re away, whether it’s shopping in local markets or living off nothing but dried pasta!

Below is a collection of some HostelBookers travelers’ tips that we thought were particularly helpful for stretching that budget just a little further:

"When travelling, take some small sachets of salt that you can get from takeaway food places like KFC or McDonalds. They come in handy when cooking and don’t take up much space."

"Always carry some food with food in your backpack (i.e. peanut butter). Always check out the free food box that most hostels have, especially after certain holidays where a lot of food is left behind."

"Ask the locals where the restaurants they eat at are… Avoid the tourist traps, it’s much cheaper and the food is better."

"Get together with people from your hostel and have a picnic. A bottle of wine and a pizza is a cheap meal when shared, plus you get to see the world go by as you eat."

"My tip is to travel with tuna cans and chocolate bars… Maybe peanut too… these have high nutritional value food and use just a small place in your backpack."

"Buy food from supermarkets"

"I have found it very easy on the wallet to try and order something big in portion then share with your friends. That will definitely keep your costs down."

"Buy duty-free alcohol when going to Norway!"

"Take a thermos & coffee satchels, fill up at hostel each morning & have in park or some scenic spot – saves heaps!"

"For reasonable city centre lunchtime eating – watch were the office workers are heading. In the UK, ‘pub lunches’ are often the best value."

"Eat where the locals eat. The food is always cheap, tasty and more authentic than the tourist restaurants that sanitize cuisine and charge extortionate prices."

"Eat in the local food outlets – AVOID multinationals and places aimed at Western tastes/tourists. Buy food from locally owned shops and market stalls."

"Before going out to eat, ask the hostel staff or check local magazines for nice affordable places to eat (will save u a lot of dollars) , moreover a lot of hostels provide kitchen facility so u can buy some ready to cook meals or breakfast cereals from nearby stores (saves money and is healthy )."

"Always locate the local food markets in your new destination. The food is always fresh and also very cheap."

"Buy fresh fruit, bread and meat for a picnic in the city!!"

"Shop at the local supermarket after 5pm and pick up cheap deals on the convenience food that is left over for the day."

"To keep costs of food down must places have pre-wrapped sandwiches and salads – eat them on the run or as you wander around that amazing city/town/countryside where you’ve chosen to holiday!"

"If travelling as a family, take your own plastic bowls and spoons, buy some milk and a box of cereal and you’ll be set for breakfast instead of eating out. So much cheaper."

"Best budget meal: Bread, cheese, tomato, salt, beer. Find a bench with a great view and enjoy."