Tips That Foodie Travelers MUST Know Before Planning Their Big Food Adventure

Vacations give foodies the amazing opportunity to try unforgettable dishes from around the world with authentic cooking styles, ingredients, and prep methods. In fact, even American favorites take on new life in their original country, giving food travelers a unique and unforgettable experience. Serious travelers and food maniacs should follow these tips by Claudette Rickett Schwartz to make their food vacation a true culinary joy.
Great Places Food Travelers MUST Check Out
The legendary writers at National Geographic brainstormed some amazing food destinations that the culinarily curious need to check out on their next trip or two. We picked a few of the best to provide you with an insightful look at the amazing world of global food adventures:
- Mexico City, Mexico: As the largest city in North America (about 21 million people in the metropolitan area), Mexico City has an almost unlimited number of delicious restaurants that serve authentic burritos and tacos that may surprise you (hint: there’s no cheese!).
- Sicily, Italy: Ah, Italy! Creator of lasagna, spaghetti, pizza, manicotti, and so much more! If we lived in Sicily, we’d probably do nothing but eat pasta and end up gaining 200 pounds. Any serious food fan needs to check out this city as soon as possible to get authentic dishes.
- Cape Town, South Africa: While not the first place that likely comes to mind when thinking of culinary destinations, Cape Town, nevertheless, has many excellent restaurants and local food favorites that make it a fantastic opportunity for expanding your palette.
Travel Tips for Serious Foodies
While planning the perfect food vacation might seem easy, it requires a lot of careful consideration. You can’t just jump on a plane to Italy and hope for the best! Instead, you should follow these tips, which were heavily influenced by the writers at MSN:
- Pick Your Destination Based on Food: Don’t fly off to a new country, assuming they’ll have the meals you want. Instead, choose a spot based on the foods you want.
- Stick To Your Budget: Every trip should have a specific budget, including for your meals! A food vacation can probably have more money for eating out: say about 15-20% of your budget.
- Trust the Locals: Customer reviews are a useful way to gauge restaurant quality but are nowhere near as on-point as the actual locals who eat at these places every day.
- Vary Up Your Meals: Try to pick different types of foods and meals to enjoy every day, as any of the destinations listed above will have literally hundreds of places and meal types to try.
Planning Your Trip Smartly
Serious travelers looking to enjoy some unbelievably delicious food while on vacation should follow these tips to ensure they get the best experience possible. They’ll not only make it easier to find an amazing place to visit but also help them find meals that suit their taste. So, whether you’re a solo adventurer or leading a family adventure, you should be all set and ready to go!