In the time of expensive luggage fees, hidden cheap flight rip-offs and the credit crunch holidays abroad have become less affordable.
And that's why many Brits have begun stuffing their luggage with tea bags, coffee and cereal in an effort to save on one holiday aspect: dining.
According to a study by travelsupermarket.com, the most popular food items Brits stash in their luggage for a holiday rank as follows:
1. Teabags (31%)
2. Coffee (15%)
3. Snacks, e.g. biscuits, crisps (13%)
4. British chocolate (8%)
5. Cereal (5%)
6. Marmite (4%)
7. Noodles, e.g. Pot Noodles (3%)
Cutting back
More than half of the respondents to another study said they're cutting back on drinking and eating out when on holiday, to save money. The research, from Tesco Travel Money, found 'eating in is the new eating in' for Brits abroad.
As more and more holidaymakers are choosing to slice and dice in their own mini-kitchens, the study also found that one in seven holidaymakers is spending just £100 per person per week on total travel. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents even claimed to be cutting down on entertainment and clubbing while abroad.
All of these changes represent a shift in values as the credit crunch drags on. Holidaymakers are still spending money on relaxation, but they're now choosing to refrain from doing so if that means giving up their favorite foods.
The study by travelsupermarket.com found nearly half of all Brits take their own food abroad, citing wariness to try the local cuisine. This is apparently so profound that the study found 3.3 million of us would refuse a holiday if it was in a place where they might not like the food.
Additionally, 58% of respondents said they've defaulted to the fast-food chains while abroad because they're familiar with the offerings and the prices.
There are, however, ways to eat and enjoy on holiday without breaking the bank.
Sam Baldwin, a travel editor for Skyscanner.net offered these tips for saving money on cuisine abroad:
- Lunch with the locals. Avoid the tourist spots and head to where the natives get their food, which are likely to be cheaper (and probably serve better food) than the tourist traps
- Go self-catering. Save money by shopping at the supermarket and cooking for yourself
- In some countries, eating out can be cheaper than eating in. For instance, in many countries in Asia, eating out is an everyday occurrence, rather than a special treat, and hence can offer better value than eating in. If you're in Japan, grabbing a quick bowl of noodles at Hachi-ban ramen is quicker, easier, and about the same price as cooking them yourself.
- Shop at the street vendors. It can be a gamble, but street vendors can offer a cheap alternative to sit down restaurants
- Drink tap water not bottled. Don't waste your money on bottled water, unless you're in a country where the tap water is not fit for drinking.
- Look out for all-you-can-eat lunch time buffets and fill up your tank
- Skip dessert from the restaurant and buy an ice cream from a shop instead
- Order local food and drink brands rather than imported ones
- Take a packed lunch when you go on day trips
Similarly, Peter Smith, the resident travel expert at travelsupermarket.com offered this advice for conscious spending on holiday dining:
- Find out where the locals eat, it's almost always cheaper there.
- Look for traveller deals like restaurants that offer two-for-one meals or a kids eat free special.
- If you stay at a bed and breakfast, fill up on a large breakfast so that you can skip lunch or get by on just a snack.
- At restaurants, consider the form of payment. Smith says he uses his Nationwide card at restaurants abroad because he often gets a better exchange rate than if he paid with cash.
- Throw a collapsible cooler in with your luggage and fill it up with local supermarket items at your holiday location for day trips.
Smith's biggest tip, though, is to stay away from the mini-bar.
"You're going to pay a ridiculous amount" for taking anything out of it, or even putting your own items in he said.
But for those who like a particular brand of a British product, like Cadbury chocolate, Smith says you're better off packing your own as it will always be more expensive abroad.
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