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Saving Money and Eating Healthy on Vacation

Planning a vacation can be exciting, yet a little stressful when you begin to take into consideration the costs. One of the biggest expenses, apart from travel costs like airline tickets, is food. No matter if you’re just spending the weekend camping or at a Disney Resort, food costs can skyrocket if you don’t prepare ahead of time.

Another thing to consider when traveling is the foods that you are eating. It’s easy to think “I’m on vacation!” and enjoy all the foods that you love, but it’s important to realize that going from apples to apple pie as a snack can lead to a sugar crash, bloating and even stomach cramps. Food preparation for a vacation can help you save money and eat better.

On Road Trips

As gas prices have been staying at rather low levels, many people have opted to travel the nation’s highways. Road trips can be tricky when it comes to food as fast food can be cheaper than restaurants, but are also not-so-healthy. Healthy foods can be found at fast food places, but expect to pay $6 for a mediocre salad. Consider packing a good cooler with some easy essentials:

• Healthy chips
• Fruits and veggies
• Drinks
• Granola
• Greek yogurt

If you don’t mind eating pre-packaged foods, buy some low-sodium deli meat and 2% cheese slices along with some wheat bread. The amount of food you bring will vary based on the length of your road trip. Consider getting refillable water bottles or a good tumbler for those drinks you want to keep cold or hot.

While at a Hotel

As you plan your trip, take into consideration the amenities your hotel has to offer. Does it include free breakfast? If so, choose your breakfast wisely and grab some of those apples, bananas and cereal boxes for snacks throughout the day. Does your hotel room have a refrigerator? Buy some water at a local grocery or convenience store instead of splurging on $3 hotel water. You can also buy snacks to munch on while lounging in your hotel room, like fruits, veggies, deli meat, nuts, crackers, cereal and milk.

If you are traveling with kids, consider finding a hotel that has rooms with a kitchenette. A microwave and refrigerator can go a long way. You might also consider renting a condo or home through AirBnB, that way you can have home cooked meals instead of spending hundreds on your trip eating out every single meal.

At the Theme Park

Did you know that most theme parks allow you to bring one bottled water per person and unopened snacks? Some places, like Disney World, have stations where a microwave can be used to heat up bottles for babies. However, this doesn’t mean you can bring in a lean cuisine to heat up and eat. That being said, if you’re staying at a hotel on the theme park grounds, some will have microwaves available where you can heat up your food. Make sure to check the theme park’s rules before packing.

Finally, if you’re looking to splurge a little on lunch or dinner, consider using apps like LivingSocial or Groupon to get the most bang for your buck! The ‘nearby’ section on the apps can help you find great deals wherever you are vacationing. Some of these deals can be up to 40% off as well, so take the time to compare when able.

Bio –

This guest post contribution is courtesy of MightySkins, and American owned, operated and manufactured company located in Florida. MightySkins produces high quality vinyl wraps and skins such as yeti tumbler wraps, yeti cooler wraps and self balancing board wraps.

 

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