10 Things We Hate About Food While Traveling & 10 Things We Love
Eating Abroad Is Not Everyone's Taste
Some people follow their taste buds when they travel while others find new cuisine horrifying. You never know what the meal on the plane is going to be like or if your digestive system is going to agree with the sudden change in diet. From overpriced airport snacks to traditional food markets, eating while you travel is a roller coaster of experiences.
1. Airport Food Prices
Sometimes we have no choice but to buy the overpriced food at the airport. Our flight is delayed and we don't want to board the plane hangry. Not only does a pre-packaged salad cost you $15.00, but it consists of three tomatoes and doesn't even taste good.
2. Airplane Food
On the rare occasion, you're pleasantly surprised with your airplane meal but that's because you set a very low bar. We understand it must be hard to feed hundreds of people on a packed aircraft but we're still going to complain about it. Plane food is comparable to the microwavable dinners that nobody really likes but they're convenient.
3. Tourist Traps
Many tourists fall in the trap. The larger corporations are good at marketing and many tourists will flock to those venues. The famous areas are often lined with less authentic and more expensive restaurants then if you go off the beaten path.
4. Upset Stomach
You just want to eat all of the delicious street food you see but your stomach isn't happy about it. Travelers often experience digestive issues because their system can't handle the sudden change in diet full of new germs, different bacteria. When you're on vacation mode, you may also indulge in too much sugar or over-eat.
5. Buffets
Even the folks who like buffets will get sick of them after a while. Many cruises and resorts have buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Typically buffet food is fairly average unless you're on an upscale tour, but you pay much more for it.
6. Waiting For Others To Finish
If you're traveling with a tour group, meal times can be painful for those who'd rather be sightseeing than sitting at a restaurant. For three meals a day you do a lot of waiting to get served and for the whole group to finish.
7. Dietary Restrictions In Another Language
If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, eating out in a country that speaks a different language can be risky. You have to learn how to translate your needs to the server and hope they understand. A tourist with food allergies isn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved.
8. Ignorant Tourists
The worst tourists are the diners who show up to a restaurant and request food or cutlery from their home. You're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy, you should respect the eating etiquette of the country you're in. It's ignorant to scrunch your face in disgust at the food that's foreign to you.
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9. Eating Out Gets Expensive
It adds up quickly when you're eating out for three meals a day. Food can often be your biggest expense depending where you're traveling. If you're on a tight budget, it takes advanced meal planning to keep you on track.
10. Don’t Understand The Menu
Today's special is a surprise! If the cuisine is foreign to you or you're reading a menu in another language, you may have no idea what you're ordering. Not understanding what's on the menu can be frustrating for the restaurant staff as well as the patron.
While we hate some things about travel eating, there are other aspects we can't resist.
1. New Experiences
Dining in a foreign country can lead to incredible experiences you'll never forget. You may stumble into a family-run restaurant serving home-cooked meals or try a traditional dish you've never tasted before. One of the best parts about traveling are the establishments like cafes, bars, and food markets you get to experience.
2. Local Produce
Eating the local and seasonal produce is a beautiful experience. As a tourist you get a thrill when you taste fruit that doesn't grow back home or try something that you've never heard of before. Trying local food is a tasty learning experience.
3. Learn About Culture
A lot of traveling is learning about culture. Food is a huge part of culture and you can learn so much by eating at local restaurants and tasting traditional food. Your mind can go on a historical journey while your taste buds take a delicious trip.
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4. Restaurant Atmosphere
There's so much variety in the food and beverage industry, especially in a city. You'll come across all kinds of establishments offering unique experiences. Typically, the vibrant atmosphere in restaurants is buzzing with happy tourists and locals alike.
5. New Recipes To Bring Home
Whether you're feasting in Italy or snacking in Japan, you're bound to taste a dish you have to try at home. You can bring a taste of your travels back with you by recreating recipes you loved. Eating abroad opens up many doors for foodies.
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6. Food Markets
Have you truly experienced the culture without a visit to the farmers' market? Food markets are where you'll find the freshest produce and taste traditional dishes from authentic vendors. Stepping foot into a market is like walking into a brand new world of food.
7. Food Festivals
Food festivals are like markets on steroids. If you can time your travels with a food event than we highly recommend it. You'll find the best of the best at a food festival, where traditional food is made at its finest. You'll often come across unique or rare food that you can only find at festivals.
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8. Eating Like A Local
You're immersing yourself in the full travel experience when you eat like a local. It's fun and educational to buy your groceries from independent grocers or pop into a cafe for a local tea. You'll understand why there's a boulangerie on every street corner in Paris after experiencing your first baguette.
9. Supporting Communities
When you buy your lunch from a street vendor or your breakfast from a local bakery, you're contributing to the community. You can feel good about supporting local businesses by eating their food!
10. Wineries & Breweries & Distilleries
Many destinations will either have wineries, breweries, or distilleries or they'll serve local beverages. Some folks travel far and wide to visit a famous vineyard or take a tour of a distillery producing the local spirit. These places provide some of the best tours that are worth traveling for.
