By Elizabeth Gregory
One of the best ways to experience the culture of a country or to add to your vacation is through good dining experiences. However, experiencing the local food need not be at a huge expense. There are a few tips that will help the budget conscious traveler without sacrificing the goal of experiencing the local cuisine. There are a lot of smaller restaurants to be found where the food is just as good (sometimes better) than in a fancy establishment. Here are some suggestions to dining out abroad (and anywhere for that matter).
Read guidebooks' suggestions on good places to eat. I've found a lot of gems in the Let's Go series that are nice restaurants at a very budget friendly price. How does a 7 course Indian meal in Montreal sound for under $15 per person? Although the name of the restaurant escapes me, it was a very cozy place with great staff.
Scout out bakeries, cheese shops and more to get lunch on the go, or to make your own picnic. Even supermarkets can have a great selection of gourmet food at a less expensive price. My friend and I did this in Paris. We would stop at local bakeries and cheese shops to buy a baguette, some cheese, maybe some ham to make sandwiches. One day we really lucked out and found a bakery that sold mini Quiche Lorraine. We each bought one and took our lunch to the nearby Luxembourg Gardens where we had a nice relaxing picnic. Lunch was only $5 a piece including something to drink.
Ask for fixed price menu. I've been able to eat at restaurants in France and Spain under the fixed price option for under $20. This usually includes 3 courses (appetizer, entrée, dessert) and one beverage. Several "upscale" restaurants offer this option. (It's not often widely advertised, so it pays to ask).
Ask the locals. Nobody knows good places to go better than the locals. If you're staying at a hotel, ask the desk clerk or the concierge. In a homestay, ask the family where their favorite place to go is.
Mix it up. Nobody says if you're in Italy you have to eat Italian food everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some countries have great ethnic diversity in their restaurant offerings. Take advantage of that.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I will admit that in a pinch I've wound up at McDonalds and Burger Kings for lunch (in Spain, it's one of the few things open during siesta). And hey, when you're stuck on a 6 hour layover on an international flight back from Europe, you can always find them in the airport.
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