Best Dining Out Tips While on Vacation

Dining out while on vacation should not be a budget buster. Three meals a day can add up quickly for families on vacation and you shouldn't have to eat at McDonald's for every meal to afford to even go on vacation. What can you do to save money on food? This frugal mom shares her best tips to cut down on the cost of dining out while on vacation. Best of all, many of these tips can be used year round to save money on dining out.

Sign up for and print coupons from home to take with you on vacation

When planning your much needed vacation, take the time to investigate what type of restaurants are near your destination. Be sure to sign up at the restaurants' sites to receive savings offers and coupons via email.

Prior to departing, check your email for coupons, print them, and keep them in your purse or pack them in with your luggage for use while you are on vacation. While you are at the computer, be sure to print directions from your hotel to the restaurant if you do not have a GPS or one available to you while you are away.

Use credit card rewards or MyPoints to offset dining out cost while on vacation

Credit card companies offer rewards for using their cards. My favorite card is Discover, because I can use the cash back balance to redeem for gift cards to major chain restaurants such as Applebees, Outback, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut and more. In my experience, gift cards typically arrive a seven to ten days after they are ordered. Holiday redemptions take longer, so bear that in mind if you plan to use your cash back rewards for dining out on vacation during the holiday season.

A similar reward program offered by MyPoints allows users to redeem their MyPoints balances for those same restaurants and also some fast food chains like Subway. It is easy to rack up points at MyPoints by shopping through their site and clicking on emails that periodically hit your inbox. An added bonus: Bzz Agents earn MyPoints for participating in Bzz Campaigns. MyPoints redemptions can take a while, so it is best to order gift cards well in advance of travel dates to ensure timely delivery. I recommend redeeming for gift cards at least two months before departure.

Scout out your hotel for discounted dining coupons

Many times hotels will have coupons and discounts for nearby restaurants. Look for these discounts in the lobby of your hotel or ask the concierge if he or she is aware of any discounts to local restaurants. A good place to look is in the entry way where all of the local attractions have their brochures.

Restaurant.com is a great place to pick up dining discounts to use while on vacation

Restaurant.com caters to local restaurants. Take a few minutes to visit the www.restaurant.com site and type in the zip code or search for the city you will be visiting. Refine your search by price, cuisine or gift card denominations to get the biggest bang for your buck. Restaurant.com often has online codes out to save you even more off your order, so be sure to do a Google search for online codes before placing your order.

These vacation dining tips can be used year round to save money. Do you have a favorite way to save money on dining while you are vacationing? Be sure to leave a comment to let me know.

Sources:
Personal experience
www.restaurants.com
www.discovercard.com
www.mypoints.com