| When you're traveling it can be difficult to find good | | | | ate there every morning.In Rome, I discovered a little |
| food at reasonable prices | | | | take-out pizza shop around the corner from the |
| especially if you happen to be staying in a big city | | | | Pantheon. The restaurant made pizzas on huge |
| that has an established food and | | | | rectangular sheet pans and put |
| restaurant culture. When you're faced with a budget, | | | | them in a deli case with a clear glass window. You |
| you want to try and maximize | | | | could order by pointing to the |
| your enjoyment per buck. If you want to eat well | | | | kind you wanted, motioning for how big you wanted |
| and sample the local cuisine for a | | | | your piece (they charge by |
| budget price, you'll need to do a little research to | | | | weight), and asking for it to be heated. Then you |
| find that perfect restaurant that | | | | happily take your piece of pizza |
| offers a balance between quality and price.First, | | | | over to the square, sit on the steps and enjoy.Being |
| check with your hotel or hostel and inquire whether | | | | friendly with other guests in the hotel, the concierge |
| breakfast is included in | | | | and the locals, is another |
| your stay. In Europe many hotels provide breakfast. | | | | great way to discover good food that won't break |
| If you're hotel does provide | | | | the budget. Ask a local if they |
| breakfast, don't skip it in favor for paying for food | | | | know any good restaurants that aren't too |
| elsewhere. Some of my most | | | | expensive. They should be able to come |
| memorable meals were hostel breakfasts that were | | | | up with a few good options for you. Make sure you |
| nothing more that a roll, butter, | | | | indicate that you want to sample |
| jam and some coffee with milk. Hotel and hostel | | | | some local cooking. I've even known friends that |
| breakfasts are also a great way to | | | | have gotten themselves invited |
| get to know other guests.One option for budget | | | | over to dinner (not that this should be your |
| eating is to eat at a chain restaurant that you a | | | | objective).Another good way to find inexpensive |
| familiar with, | | | | restaurants is to always be looking for a good |
| such as McDonald's, Burger King or Kentucky Fried | | | | place to eat. If you're out visiting a tourist site, stop |
| Chicken. You can find a | | | | by a few restaurants and read |
| McDonald's about anywhere world-wide. I made my | | | | their menus (usually posted in the window). Even if |
| way through Rome using a free | | | | you are not hungry, you may |
| McDonald's map that in addition to indicating all the | | | | decide to come back later. I've had better luck with |
| tourist attractions had a mark | | | | this technique when I'm in an |
| for every McDonald's in Rome. However, if you | | | | area of the city that is not your standard tourist |
| want to become familiar with the | | | | destination.Eating in a sit-down full service restaurant |
| culture of the country you are visiting, eating at a | | | | is the most expensive dining option, so if |
| fast food restaurant is not a good | | | | you are really on a budget, you may want to limit |
| option.Another option is to buy groceries and make | | | | the number of full service meals |
| your own food. If you don't have a | | | | you eat. Also, in some countries eating at the |
| fridge or hot plate in your hotel room, this option | | | | counter is less expensive that sitting |
| may not be very feasible. Still, you | | | | at a table. By listening to recommendations and |
| can buy items that don't need to be heated and | | | | doing a little research, you can |
| make a meal out of those. When I | | | | avoid the expensive restaurants that cater to |
| was in Florence, a loaf of bread, parma ham and | | | | tourists.If you're on a budget, you can still eat great |
| cheese coupled with a Chianti | | | | during your travels, you just need to be |
| made a very nice picnic that I enjoyed thoroughly. | | | | aware of all your food options. Ask around with |
| Make sure you try to sample | | | | locals for recommendations. Make |
| items from the local cuisine.Eating one or two meals | | | | sure you know the price before you eat. Most |
| a day from a street vendor or take-out restaurant | | | | important of all, try new things. |
| may also | | | | Stretch your boundaries and try something that you |
| be a good way to still eat great, but save some | | | | would never eat at home. After |
| money. In Paris, I got great ham and | | | | all isn't the reason you travel is to discover |
| cheese sandwiches from a street vendor for lunch. | | | | something different.Jed Clark is a travel writer, |
| They were delicious, kept me | | | | photographer and long-time San Francisco resident. |
| going and didn't break the budget. When I was at a | | | | For |
| conference in Washington D.C., I | | | | more travel tips and information about San Francisco |
| discovered a little convenience store that made | | | | destinations, attractions and |
| fresh egg and cheese sandwiches on | | | | neighborhoods, visit Zurdo Go - a destination guide |
| toast to order. They sold them for only $2.00 and I | | | | to San Francisco. |