How to Find the Best Food when Traveling

Finding good restaurants at reasonable prices is a task students must face during spring break. If they decide to do their celebrating in cities like Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale or other posh vacation spots, the prices can be way beyond their means.

If restaurants and too crowded or too expensive, they can eat at fast-food shops or buy groceries and make their own in their rooms or cars. For those students who want at least one satisfying, economical restaurant meal, there are ways to find it in the middle of a spring break celebration.

The traditional way is to ask where the local families go when they eat out. Hotel employees, store clerks, local cops and taxi drivers will have suggestions. That usually works, although a recent incident proved it could be otherwise. A busload of American students in Venice for spring break were looking for authentic Italian food.

They trailed a group of Italian students into a restaurant near the canal, and discovered it was Chinese. They had a very enjoyable dinner, but had to renew their search for Venetian fare the next day.

Savvy students do extra homework before they leave home. They surf the internet to find ads for local restaurants, read reviews and look for possible discount coupons. One economical way to get good local food at bargain prices is to get together as a group. After deciding among several restaurants, have each person look over the menus and write down their choices.

Several hours before you expect to dine, ask your hostel or hotel clerk to call ahead with your order and get price quotes. Make your choice of the best restaurants at the most favorable price.

When going into a restaurant for the first time, make a quick check on the state of cleanliness. If you see dirty dishes, unclean floors, bugs or dingy windows, you probably should consider going elsewhere. Additionally, if a bad smell hits your nostrils when you first enter, turn around and make a quick exit.

When wandering in an unfamiliar foreign country and you're hungry, it may be somewhat safe to buy from street vendors. However, don't eat anything raw right off the cart. Wash everything thoroughly. Another health hint concerns drinking water. Whether in a hostel, hotel or restaurant in some foreign countries, drink your water from a commercially-sealed bottle.

Finding restaurants while traveling can be a fun experience, as long as you are always aware of all the favorable and unfavorable possibilities.