How to Find the Best Cheap Eats When Traveling

Nowadays, people can travel all over the world with relevant ease. There are fewer restrictions when it comes to global travel than ever before, so all you need is time and willingness to go on a trip. Food lovers take such trips so that they can try out different foods and cuisines the world has to offer. And even though such travel plans tend to be expensive, that doesn't mean you will necessarily have to break the bank.

Travel guides, such as Holidu's World Foodie Cities Index provide useful information regarding how to find affordable yet awesome food in the cities across the globe. Still, there are a few things to consider when looking for the best cheap eats while traveling. First, you'll want to think about the type of food you're looking for.

If your trip is solely food-related, are you then interested in trying local cuisine, or are you more interested in finding familiar foods at a lower price? Moreover, how much are you willing to spend on your food travel plan? Of course, there are many other factors to consider but the most important ones are finances and destinations. With that in mind, here's how to find the best cheap eats while traveling the world.

How can I save money on travel food?

Saving money on food while traveling is often a challenge for food lovers. After all, you want to try as many different foods as you possibly can, yet you don't want to spend your entire budget on the first day. Luckily, there are a few ways to save money on travel food. One way is to choose less luxurious and fancy restaurants for starters.

Just because a restaurant doesn't have a Michelin star, it doesn't mean that their food is bad. What's more, food in restaurants that aren't as famous is often not just more affordable but also much better than in fancy places. Another way you can save money and eat well is to hit the local food stands.

Local food will give you a glimpse into the traditional cuisine and fill your belly for a more than affordable price. In addition, you can also look for deals on food, such as coupons or discounts. Nowadays, many restaurants and food joints have websites, apps, and social media pages. You can always find a promotion, coupon, or discount offer there.

What are some cheap travel food options?

It all depends on what you consider to be cheap. A sandwich you can buy at a gas station is cheap in every sense of the word but that doesn't mean you'll visit one of the cities of the world for those alone. Cheap would mean getting your belly full of good and tasty food without spending the majority of your budget doing so.

But how is that possible? Well, let's look at the Balkan Peninsula, for instance. It's a relatively popular travel destination for tourists around the world and here you can find amazing food for a relatively low price depending on which country or city you're visiting. Slavic countries like Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and so on, have some of the best traditional meals in the world.

Whichever Slavic country you visit, and no matter which restaurant you go to, you'll get a simply delicious and rather large serving and you certainly won't overpay for it. Therefore, a cheap travel food option would be to visit the less popular destinations that are renowned for good food. That way you'll get to enjoy your meals and have money left over to continue your travels. Every country and every city in the world has cheaper alternatives to fancy restaurants, and you'll be able to find them easily, as long as you're willing to look for them.

How to eat healthy while traveling on a budget

Now we get to the interesting part. If you want to eat healthy while you're traveling, you will need to compromise a bit. After all, the fact is that some of the tastiest foods in the world are oftentimes the least healthy option you can choose. A greasy, meaty, cheesy street-vendor burger cannot be compared to a salad in terms of tastiness.

It all depends on personal taste, of course, but those are the facts. Therefore, eating healthy would require that you avoid street food and certain types of traditional meals. But what's the point then? Eating unhealthy foods now and then won't spell out your doom unless you have medical conditions that strictly forbid you from eating such foods.

Then again, you'd have to define what unhealthy means, to begin with. Nevertheless, there are plenty of healthy food dishes that are simply divine. All in all, it's down to personal preferences and how willing you are to lower your standards in terms of healthiness.

When in doubt, ask the locals. Finding cheap yet delicious food is not very difficult if you're willing to make an effort. Travel for the sake of food is always a trip worthy of your time and money but that doesn't mean you must overspend. There are hidden gems everywhere that won't ask an arm and a leg for a simple food sample. All you have to do is find them, and the locals will usually point you in the right direction.