How to save money on food while travelling with children

Food can be quite an expense when you go on holiday, especially when you have multiple children to feed. Check out these tips for how to stay within your budget.

When you’re in a new place, and the kids are complaining about hunger, it’s much easier to spend more money than you usually would to keep them satiated, as well as to stave off your own hunger. To make things a little easier, take a look at the following advice for saving money on food when you’re travelling with kids.

Find accommodation that has a kitchen

If you really want to save money on food while travelling with the kids, try to find family accommodation that has a kitchen you can use. Do some research into a variety of simple yet balanced dishes to cook, such as the meal options from EveryPlate, and see if you can prepare them while on holiday using locally-sourced ingredients.

Depending on where you’re travelling, you can have a great experience heading to the local markets that are totally unlike the supermarket back home. Cooking with local ingredients that you have chosen for yourself gives you more control over the nutrition you and your kids are getting while on vacation.

Be prepared with snacks for you and the kids

When you and the kids get hungry between meals, it’s very easy to spend money on something in the street while you’re on holiday. The cost of doing this too often can add up, so if you want to save money, it’s better to pack reliable snacks with you to keep you and your children satisfied until lunch or dinner.

If you’re doing a lot of walking and physical activity during your holiday outing, then it’s smart to pack foods that provide you with a lot of energy to burn. Pack some high-fibre Nature Valley granola bars in your bag for a convenient and energy-packed snack for you and the kids to enjoy.

Do some research ahead of time

With the internet at your fingertips, it’s easy to do some research into what food options are available to you at your travel destination and plan accordingly. With just a few clicks, you can discover what the cheapest and most accessible options are, in-between the ‘must-have’ food experiences that are a part of any good holiday.

Even just a few notes about local restaurants can give you options to save money when you’re in the middle of an outing and hunger strikes. When you have hungry kids complaining in the street, it’s easy to head to the nearest place and end up overpaying because you don’t know about the alternatives that could be just around the corner.

The same principle applies to the bigger sit-down meals you plan to indulge in during your holiday. Make a list of the dishes you want to try in the place you are travelling to and try to identify the cheapest options during your research.

Also, take a look at the reviews and feedback from other travellers regarding each establishment. It’s not worth sacrificing the quality of the food just to save a few bucks, so be smart about it and get the cheapest option without compromising on the experience.

Ask the locals where they like to eat

If you’re on holiday with the kids in a popular tourist spot, then a lot of the most obvious options are going to be overpriced and geared towards tourists with money to blow. If you want to find cheaper and more authentic options, ask the locals where they like to go for different foods.

Take advantage of off-peak specials

In places where there are a lot of other tourists, having dinner at the most popular spots will typically incur the highest cost. Avoid the crowds and save money by eating out at lunch and taking advantage of specials at ‘off-peak’ times.

You don’t need to do this for every day of your trip, but just enough to help you save some money on your holiday with the kids. Being strategic about where and when you eat out during your vacation can help you save quite a lot of money.

Find coupons and tourist deals

Take advantage of any coupons that may be in your hotel room or at the concierge desk for local food. There are also plenty of online options like Groupon food and drink deals where you can find massive savings close to your accommodation.

This article is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.

Keep reading:

• 8 money hacks to save on family holidays
• 9 tips for safe street eats with kids