How to Save Money on Meals During Spring Break

The cost for plane tickets and hotel rooms during spring break add up quickly-so with the tight budgets many Americans will feel this coming spring, paying for meals could be the breaking point. Unfortunately, we all have to eat, so during your spring break vacation, try incorporating several of these money saving tips.

1. Rent a Hotel with a Kitchen

While renting a hotel with a kitchen is not always possible, many hotels these days do offer this amenity, especially for suites that cater to larger groups of people. This spring break, utilize this option and spend some time fine-tuning your cooking abilities. Purchasing food at the grocery store and cooking will save you a lot of money in the long run.

2. Share Meals

When you eat out this spring break with your friends, instead of each purchasing a separate dish, try sharing. A group of can share 3 or 4 meal dishes and split the bill 5 ways, and everyone will save money (as opposed to 1 meal per person).

3. Eat Whole Fruits and Vegetables

While lounging on the beach soaking up the sun, grab an apple and some carrots out of your bag instead of opting for an entire meal. Whole fruits and vegetables keep us full longer than starchy meals and are also much healthier. Fruits and vegetables can be bought cheaply in supermarkets or around the town where you are vacationing.

4. Go on a diet

If you're the type that goes in and out of diets throughout the year, why not start that fad diet while you're on spring break vacation? By dieting, you'll eat less and definitely save money by not sitting down for large and calorie rich meals. The plus side of dieting is that you'll look extra good in your bathing suit during and after spring break.

5. Don't Order Drinks

One way that dining out gets expensive is that people order drinks with their meals-alcoholic drinks, especially mixed drinks, can be very expensive (often lingering around $8 per drink). Even fountain drinks are around $3 these days, so skip the drinks and only order food during your meals. You'll definitely end up saving money this way-- $3 saved during meals for a week is more than $20!

6. Plan your Meals

When we're hungry on vacation, we easily opt for expensive restaurants with less-than-delicious food. Use guidebooks and online user-generated websites for meal recommendations that are cheap so you'll save money.

7. Talk to the Locals

If you are vacationing during spring break to places outside of the United States, you probably won't be familiar with local restaurants. So instead of guessing which places look cheap and good, talk to the locals and get good recommendations from them. This way you'll have great meals and save money.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

While this might sound funny, try filling your belly with water instead of opting for large meals. You will feel full longer if you drink a lot of water, and you'll save money by not going out for expensive meals.

9. Buy off the Street

Many of the places Americans like to vacation over spring break have great and cheap food offered by street venders. Try the taco vender next time you feel hungry instead of sitting down to a full meal at a restaurant.

10. Use Your Connections

If a friend of yours has a great aunt or second cousin who lives in the town where you are vacationing over spring break, use that connection for a free meal. See if you can meet the family member at their house for dinner-but make sure and be polite, and bring something to contribute to the meal (wine, dessert, etc.).