Budgeting For Food When Traveling
Detroit MI ~ Belle Isle [Aquarium 1903]
Designed by noted architect Albert Kahn, it opened on August 18, 1904. The 10,000-square-foot aquarium featured a single large gallery with an arched-ceiling that was completely covered with green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling in visitors
Oldest fresh water aquarium in the world @ one time ~ remodeled in the the early 30’s to a art deco interior. Now closed due to budget.
Belle Isle is a 982-acre (1.534 sq mi; 397 ha) island park in the Detroit River managed by the DetroitRecreation Department. It is connected to the rest of the city by the MacArthur Bridge. It is the largest island park in the United States River.
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic District
NRHP Reference#:
74000999
By Onasill ~ Bill Badzo ~~~~ OFF on 2011-01-26 18:22:54
When you come to lay out your travel plans you will undoubtedly work out what everything is going to cost. Some items are pretty simple and easy – you know how much the hotel will cost, you can be accurate in estimating the cost of gas and travel, you can allocate your spending money though you may not want to stick to that!
When it gets to food that is another matter!
Food costs vary enormously across the country, though you can be sure that the price for eating on the road is going to be higher than pretty much anywhere else. This is where you are going to have to be creative when it comes to working out how much eating is going to cost you, and there are some things you can do to make your budget go further while enjoying some good food too.
Research Food Online
There are two things to look for – food available while traveling and food options available when you get to where you are going.
Taking some extra time to plan your route with where to eat in mind can reveal some hidden treasures and enhance the journey too. There is no reason why the travel itself should not form part of your pleasure time instead of the humdrum of watching for road kill!
Online research and reviews are especially important once you get to your destination. Reviews from people who have actually been to a diner or restaurant are especially important because you get an impression of the quality of the service and food which is rarely available from just looking at a menu or price list online.
Make Your Budget Go Farther – Buy Your Own Food
It’s easy to end up spending more than a $ 100 a day for one person when it comes to food! In fact you can spend more in one day than you would on a week’s groceries, so it makes a lot of sense to see what meals you can arrange for yourself.
By cutting out meals in diners and restaurants, you are cutting out a lot of expense. Making sandwiches and snacks for the road, instead of relying on fast food and diners, is a great way to save a lot of money, help your digestion and eat well.
By also cutting out one of the main meals of the day, or even two of them, you can dramatically increase your dining expectations. By eating food you prepare and purchase yourself, you can save substantial sums of money which can be used to go and enjoy yourself to a real culinary treat. There is a world of difference between a restaurant which charges $ 30 a head and one which charges $ 100.
Plan for Emergencies
Food is important and not just as something you want to enjoy but as well know, it is vital we eat regularly and healthily. Not eating properly simply adds to irritability and crankiness, especially after the stress of a long trip.
Even though you have plans and a budget, you should be prepared for emergencies and contingencies. Make sure you factor into your budget an extra cushion for just-in-case purchases. You may find a wonderful eatery offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine well, you may come down with a stomach bug and need to buy bland foods and medicines, you may simply find the food where you are staying is just something you can’t stomach!
Just be prepared for what the journey has to throw at you and don’t neglect the most important parts of your day – breakfast, lunch and dinner!
