International Dining Club, LTD: Membership Review

We all love going out to eat but lately with gas and food prices rising, not as many families are dining out. Three years ago I found a program called the International Dining Club, LTD. They offer a program for a buy one get one deal at various local participating restaurants. I am a member of the Fredericksburg, Virginia location of the International Dining Club, LTD.

How To Get Started

To participate in this program you will need to purchase the International Dining Club, LTD Gold Seal Membership. Membership is valid for one full year. (If you purchase in April 2008 it will be good until April 30, 2009.) Cost of membership seems to vary by selected city. The Fredericksburg, Virginia location is $35 by phone or online and $5 to ship out your membership packet. This year's membership I was able to save additional money on by purchasing my dining club card through a local military base. (ITT Office) My final cost was $28.00. (Last year I didn't know that the base offered this and I spent the $40.)

Entitlements for Gold Seal Membership

The dining club is very simple in concept. Each participating restaurant has their own voucher and each voucher is good for 12 visits. When you plan on dining out, take the restaurant certificate and your International Dining Club membership card with you. At the conclusion of your meal present your server with your certificate and your card. There is no need to present it until the end of the meal. All of the participating restaurants are good for dinner. A few offer entitlements at breakfast and or lunch. There are a few restaurants that offer a percentage off of your bill but almost all of them are for the "Buy One Get One" promotion. Usually a 15% or 18% tip will be added for the total amount of the bill and the free meal will then be taken off of the total.

Our membership into the International Dining Club paid for itself in the very first visit to a local Japanese steakhouse. We purchased one entrée of shrimp, lobster tail, and scallops and received one for free. (A $30 value.)

Last year we saved over $300 by visiting restaurants that we would go to anyway. Some of our favorites for the Fredericksburg area last year were Sakura, Bangkok Boulevard (which sadly isn't participating this year), and our daughter's favorite Chuck E. Cheese, which we used for tokens (Buy 40 get 40 for free). This year they have added several new restaurants to their line-up.

The International Dining Club, LTD is only available in certain areas. Please visit their website for more information regarding locations, participating restaurants, cost, and for placing orders. You may also reach the International Dining Club, LTD by calling 1-800-849-4432. (Customer service here has been very helpful and polite when I have called in the past.)