When you are on holiday the cost of your basic vacation can usually be predicted before you leave home. But the price of eating out while you are away from home can break your budget if you are not careful. Follow these tips for finding food and drink that will not cost a fortune, wherever you travel.

You can find good food to suit your travel budget as long as you are open to doing things slightly out of your normal routine. Also you often need to look around before going into the first cafe or restaurant that you see. Drinks and snacks can be the biggest cost, and are not always available in smaller resorts. A travel kettle will pay for itself in no time – take sachets of coffee, tea and sugar and buy milk and biscuits locally.
If you are in a budget hotel, guest house or hostel, breakfast may be included in your package. Make sure you check out the meals, do not be put off by other guests. Plain simple food is fine if it is served properly, a freshly baked roll with jam and coffee or tea will cost you nothing. That same meal taken in a cafe overlooking the main piazza would eat up half your daily food budget!

Budget Travel breakfast could be in a local basic cafe – if it is full of hungry workers then it is likely to be good value. And remember to eat what the locals eat. If you order an imported drink the cost could be three times the local equivalent. This is also a chance to meet people and get tips on the best place for lunch.

If you are still ready to experiment at lunch, again look for cafes without a ‘tourist’ image. The basic budget travel rule when dining in a city is to avoid the restaurants overlooking a major attraction. Not only are these the most expensive, they charge extra for sitting on the terrace and the waiters can be very fierce in demanding tips. One street away you can stumble on a small cafe with the menu chalked up on a board, and local people eating there. It may offer just a few dishes but they are freshly cooked and good value.
Or you can choose the easy option for budget eating and save time by using one of the international chains – or a local fast food outlet. Many restaurants in major cities offer takeaway pizza and bakes, sold by the piece or weight, teamed with a quick coffee or cola to prepare you for an afternoon of new experiences. Third option really applies if you have a vehicle – stock up with bread, cheese or cold meat and drinks, and stop at a beauty spot where you can dine al fresco. You should always buy plenty of bottled water when you see a supermarket – the cost difference buying water in small bottles can be more than five times the price!

Making yourself known to other guests, the receptionist and locals is another way to find the best places to eat within your travel budget. Most people are proud to share the best points of their city and will happily direct you to their favourite restaurant.

When you want to enjoy a really smart restaurant meal, the best option is to eat at lunchtime. The best deals are on offer for set lunches as most customers want to eat in the evening. In France and many other EU countries, restaurants are obliged to offer a Table d’hote menu and this is the best value meal in the restaurants. The food will be fresh as they will be cooking plenty of the dishes on this menu, and it is a good way of trying local dishes. When you order wine, the same principle applies: the restaurant will sell more House Wine than anything else, so it will be fresh and good value. The markup on house wine is usually lower than on the famous vintages, as the restaurateurs can buy it in for a better price.

If a restaurant has a waiter outside to bring customers in, it is a tourist trap. If the menu is painted up permanently and offers 100 dishes, they come from the freezer. Local produce rules again – an imported spirit will be triple the cost of the local tipple, so why not try that instead?

Finally, coffee in a smart restaurant is an expensive item. If you settle your bill, take a post prandial stroll and keep your eyes open you should find a friendly bar where you can get a drink, a relaxed atmosphere and usually music thrown in.