Tripping On Eating

Holiday stays and eating can cost a pretty penny, so stretch your summer travel with these purse-effective tips

As all schools grind to a halt at the end of the month and temperatures continue to soar, the knell has long sounded for the end of this season's daytime outdoor expeditions as we take to hiding from the intense summer sun.  My husband and  I have been making preparations to head to Europe, Jamaica and the USA for an extended summer holiday in a desperate attempt to get daily doses of fresh air and food.  If you are planning to be away for a long period, here are my tips on how to make your trip home or away more cost-effective yet fun. 
Stay cheap
It's one thing to book a lavish hotel for a few days but anything over that could cost an arm and a leg for the average person or family.  In order to afford a longer vacation, look into cheap options for accommodations. If you are heading home or to a country that you have family or friends, consider staying in their homes instead of a hotel stay. If you have no such option, or simply prefer to be more independent, look into small boutique Bed & Breakfast options.  Look for accommodations that allow you at least a small fridge, which you can keep stocked yourself. 
Go off the beaten path
You may also find better deals away from the hustle and bustle of the city so expand your search to suburban or even rural areas that may lack the lustre of city life, but offer quality cultural, historical and natural escapades. If you are like me, going for long walks and hikes among verdant hills and valleys is just the break from the stark dessert horizon that the doctor ordered.  You can always look into trips back into the city for sightseeing. 
Prepare your own food
The superb thing about summer weather is that most of us just want to eat lighter and drink more anyway, no matter which climate we are in.  Healthy meal preparation can include very little cooking especially if you make a lot of salads and eat a lot of fresh fruits and drink lots of water. This can save you loads on eating out for three meals a day, which really adds up over a long stay.  Even if you manage to get a good deal for breakfast and dinner to be included in your accommodation, stocking up on fresh fruit from local markets will save you loads on lunch. Buy fruits that are easy to travel with so that will not dampen your ability to go roaming during the days.  If you only have breakfast included in your accommodation, treat yourself to big long feast and supplement later in the day with fruits and salads that you can make in your room. 
Eat with the locals
When you do go out for meals, be sure to venture to the local spots that the everyday people of the place you are visiting eat. Tourist spots can be expensive and you may want to limit those to the essential stops that must define a worthwhile trip to your destination.  Taxi drivers and bus drivers often eat at tasty spots and know where to find cheap, good food. Do a bit of research ahead of departure and while on location to see the good everyday street food joints for cheaper and more sustainable dining out options. 
Drink lots of water
Water is the cheapest beverage you will be able to consume in any location and with any currency. If you stick to water with and in between your meals, you can really reduce a huge chunk of your costs as juices, cocktails and spirits cost more, with a premium for alcoholic beverages. 
Bring snacks
Be sure to pack all the favourite snacks from home for the kids and kids at heart. Mini bars are ridiculously expensive and cost more than the items are actually worth. What you are paying for is the convenience, so if you bring your own little convenience store with you with family favourites, you will save a mint.  Plus for those who have particular tastes, you cannot be sure that those snacks you cannot live without are available in the location you are heading or taste the exact same way. It's better to be safe than sorry.  Snacks are also a great way to carry you over until your next meal and should include healthy treats such as nuts and nut butter as well if tolerated and dried fruit, which need no refrigeration. 
Whether you plan on visiting home or another country to escape the desert summer, you can make your trip longer if you simply incorporate these tips.  You may find yourself able to see more of the place you are visiting as you will have the extra funds, which lends to richer memories in the long run than you could ever pay for.  Even so, if you have some extra cash, book yourself a lovely spa treatment or into a nice hotel at the end of your long and rewarding stay.

• Food and Dining