7 ideas to save money on food on vacation: How I save hundreds of dollars

Besides the obvious health concerns currently, money is the biggest barrier to taking a trip, finds research from the AARP. (No surprise, right?) But what if I told you that you could majorly cut your travel expenses—while easing stress and making more time for the fun stuff—to make budget travel easier? I’m no magician—but I can teach you how to save money on food on vacation by preparing meals in your hotel room!

Before you click away, hear me out. I’m not totally wacko, I promise! (And if I am a wacko, I’m a wacko who saves hundreds of dollars on each vacation we take.)

If you like eating out on vacation, this article is still for you. I’m not suggesting you entirely cut out restaurants on vacation. Instead, I invite you to consider how you can make my tips to prepare food on vacation work for you.

I also outline just how much money you can expect to save with some of the budget travel strategies below.

And I’m betting you haven’t tried at least some of these strategies—so definitely read to the end!

Curious? If you’re into budget travel, keep reading to learn how I save hundreds of dollars on every vacation.

And don’t forget to pin this post ⬆️ so you remember these tips later!

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Quick cold foods

If you have young kids, I’m betting that you are plenty familiar with “cold meals”—you know, when you don’t actually cook anything but everyone’s fed just the same.

These cold meals are money for budget-friendly tactics like prepping food on vacation. You can prepare so many meals with an absolute minimum of work, supplies or clean-up.

Think of what quick, no-cooking-required foods your family relies on at home. Some ideas to jump-start your brainstorm:

• Sandwiches
• Cereal
• Yogurt and fruit
• Salad
• What else? Let me know your cold meal ideas in the comments at the end of the post.

Grocery store hot and cold bars

I’ve written before about how grocery stores are the best place to “eat out” on vacation, especially if you have selective eaters or food intolerances in the family. Rely on their hot and cold bars for a quick meal that requires no work on your part but still saves money!

Not every grocery store has a stellar selection in its hot and cold bars. More high-end shops like Whole Foods have more options beyond jojos and macaroni salad. Consider adding these ready-made foods to your cart:

• Pasta salad
• DIY a delicious custom salad
• Sushi
• Pre-made sandwiches and wraps
• Quinoa salad and other grain salads

I typically have the girls pick a few foods from the salad bar. That way, I can grab a few baby tomatoes, some sliced cucumber and a few hard-boiled eggs—without buying a whole package of each. It also helps me include some healthy options on the kids’ plates.

If you haven’t tried this strategy to save money on food on vacation, give it a (delicious) try!

Freezer meals FTW

For me, 2020 has been the Year of Freezer Meals. I’ve fully embraced the fact that a pre-made meal from the freezer aisle helps keep me fed without stress. I’ve chosen to not hold myself to a ridiculous standard of cooking every meal from scratch—and the same goes for vacations.

That’s why we sometimes microwave freezer meals to save money on a budget vacation. I typically buy Amy’s or another brand with gluten-free and dairy-free options.

(I also heat the meals on an actual plate rather than the plastic packaging. It looks so much nicer and alleviates the worry of microwaving plastic.)

If you’re stressed about the sodium levels of freezer meals, remind yourself that you’re not eating them every day for the rest of your life. A few freezer meals on vacation isn’t going to permanently overwhelm your system with salt.

Another bonus: Everyone can choose what they want! So Max and Edie might pick macaroni and cheese (I’m sure you’re shocked), Hubs might opt for stir fry and I get veggie enchiladas.

Snack board meals

Charcuterie board, anyone? Snack plates aren’t only for parties or fancy gatherings; put one together and call it dinner. (No, call it super-easy, budget-friendly, stress-free dinner!)

Get some cold-cuts, slice some cheese, arrange crackers, cut up some veggies—and declare dinner done. Kids tend to love DIYing their food, so encourage them to make tiny cracker sandwiches.

Want to go the extra mile? Add some olives, cornichons, grapes, apple slices or dip like hummus. Even with these final touches, you’ll still save tons of money on food.

Pack meals for when you’re on the go

When my family travels, we rarely eat out. That’s partly because we want to save money and partly because Maxine eats like 10 foods. Whatever the reason, though, we make it happen by packing food to eat throughout the day.

That means a little planning and prep on the front end, but it actually saves time and effort throughout the day. That’s because you don’t have to figure out where to eat, travel to a restaurant you choose, wait in line, or wait for your food to arrive.

Instead, when you pack lunch and snacks for on-the-go-eating, you have ready-made meals. This money-saving strategy really helps when you have a kid on the edge of a hanger meltdown!

Whenever we can, we eat these meals as a picnic in a pretty spot. That way lunch doubles as a sightseeing activity. Plus, Max and Edie can run off and play while Hubs and I finish our meals!

Don’t underestimate the power of a microwave

For the first year or so of Edie’s life, we didn’t have a microwave. Then we bought one and I was seriously floored by how much easier it made everything.

You may be rolling your eyes at me (duh, microwaves are life-savers for parents of young children, you might be thinking). So consider how helpful they can be on a budget vacation!

Yes, you can warm up freezer meals (which I wrote about above). Their use goes beyond freezer meals, though.

Reheat leftovers (including takeout or restaurant meals you didn’t finish). Warm up foods your kids eat a ton of at home. (In my family, this is dino nuggets: Edie eats them almost nightly, including on vacation.) “Boil” water for foods like instant oatmeal. Warm up soup.

The microwave is your best friend for preparing foods in your hotel room—and saving money while you’re at it.

Cook in your hotel room—seriously!

This tip might make you think I’ve crossed the line from budget-savvy to downright loopy. But hear me out!

With a tiny bit of prep and extra supplies, you can cook a legit meal, even in a hotel room.

Part of how I saved more than $2,000 on a Disneyland vacation was preparing about 95% of our own meals. We had road tripped from Oregon to Southern California and had brought a small electric griddle (totally easy to pack). So one morning I made eggs and pancakes for my family of four plus my in-laws. I fed all six of us for about $5 total. Compare that to what we probably would have spent at a restaurant—an estimated $60—and the slight amount of hassle is well justified in my mind.

Tips to save money on food on vacation

If you want to save money on food on vacation, prepping some meals in your lodging is the best way to do just that. Follow these tips to make this money-saving strategy work.

• Avoid strong-smelling foods. If you’re staying in a hotel, keep in mind that people in other rooms will be able to smell certain meals. Avoid these delicious but strong-smelling foods, such as curry or fish.
• Take care of your trash. You may want to empty your own trash cans more regularly, so scope out a common trash bin near your room.
• Leave an extra tip. Preparing food in your room may cause a little extra mess. If that’s the case, don’t forget to leave housekeeping an extra tip.
• Check room specifications. Before you book a hotel room, or even a home rental, notice the accommodations it includes. Does the room have a mini fridge? A microwave? Even a kitchenette? Take this into account when you book your lodging. Factor in the money you’ll save by preparing food on vacation when comparing prices of hotel rooms.
• Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. To save money on vacation, you don’t have to eat in for every meal. Strike a balance between eating in restaurants, getting takeout and preparing food in your hotel. Do what works for you and your family for a budget vacation that’s still fun and relaxing.

Bring these budget travel meal prep supplies

Life will be much easier if you bring these supplies for preparing food on vacation. Add them to your packing list!

Here’s what to bring to prepare food in your hotel room:

• Sponge and dish soap. You’ll want to wash up after making and eating your meals. It’s a lot easier to do the dishes if you don’t have to rely on a washcloth and bar soap!
• Tupperware or storage containers. Bring reusable containers to store leftovers and food to go. I usually pack a few empties in addition to the containers that store food I bring with us.

Pro tip: Use square or rectangular food storage containers. They pack more easily and are more efficient with space.

• Ziplocks or reusable bags. I’m obsessed with these reusable silicone “bags,” which nest inside each other—making for more compact packing. Use them for leftovers, ingredients and foods you bring on the day’s adventures. Alternatively, bring different sizes of zippered plastic bags.
• A knife. Bring a sharp knife; we typically bring a small paring knife like this one. It’s compact and gets the job done. (Make sure to pack it with its sheath.) I use it to cut everything from apples to cucumbers to sandwiches. (Will the kids ever eat a sandwich with the crust on? Time will tell.)
• Plates, bowls and utensils. We do our best to avoid single-use items like disposable plates and forks. So I bring sturdy plastic plates and bowls for each of us in addition to silverware. (In fact, we carry a set of silverware and cloth napkins in the glove compartment at all times we use when eating takeout on the road.)
• Disposable plates and utensils. If you can’t get around the idea of washing dishes in a hotel bathroom sink, pack disposable cutlery and plates. This option still generates less waste than takeout (with its non-recyclable clamshell containers and plastic to-go bags). Look for plates made from recycled materials or biodegradable cutlery.
• Seasonings. We definitely don’t make anything gourmet on the road. But having a small assortment of seasonings and spices helps! At the least, you may want salt and pepper. I also bring cinnamon (for oatmeal) and nutritional yeast (for pretty much everything!). I love these travel-friendly spices kits, which include a variety of seasonings in one easy-to-pack container.
• Cutting board. A compact cutting board will make preparing meals on vacation so much easier! Plus, you can use it for that snack board dinner.

Budget travel doesn’t have to be hard. And you don’t need to feel like you’re depriving yourself on vacation just by preparing some of your own meals instead of eating out.

Pick and choose which of these strategies works for you. Then apply one (or all!) of these tips to save money on your next family vacation!