Sushi: Chic, sophisticated and downright sexy, sushi bars represent a remarkably affordable culinary indulgence. One example? The Buddha Sky Bar in Delray Beach, Florida. The hip urban atmosphere makes a fabulous backdrop for enjoying their $6 dim sum and their $13 blue crab California rolls. Haru Sushi has a number of rolls priced at less than $20, and hosts nightly happy hours at several of their locations in New York City, including Wall Street, Broadway and Park Avenue. Reduced-price items range from $4 cocktails and $6 tempura to $5 spring rolls and basic vegetable sushi starting at $3.50. Haru also has several Boston locations.

Chefs: If you’re staying at the same vacation rental for a period of time and don’t want to be bogged down with cooking responsibilities, consider arranging for a personal chef to deliver healthy meals for you and your traveling companions. Depending on your menu items, the cost can easily be less than dinner out at a mid-range restaurant. Personalchefsearch.com is a great place to start.

Sipping: Avoiding quickly-consumed cocktails and beverages in favor of those intended for slow sipping is a great way to enjoy the finer things for less. Don’t get me wrong. I’m perfectly capable of slamming down a pitcher of margaritas at lightning speed. It just usually results in an outrageous bar tab. Two alternatives are whiskey and red wine. Each can be enjoyed at a rate per glass that easily costs less than a couple of rounds of cocktails made with other top-shelf spirits. At the Mirbeau Inn and Spa’s wine bar in Skaneateles, New York, you can experience higher-end bourbons and wines individually, or sample entire flights at bargain rates.

Sugar: Frugal foodies know that some of the best deals on gourmet goodies can be found at designer bakeries and candy shops. I’ve selected sugary samples of decadent fudge, hand-dipped chocolates and buttery baked goods around the world, with prices typically ringing in at less than $5 per treat. One such sweet shop is called Cupcake. Located on King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, this baked goods establishment sells an array of artisan cupcakes baked fresh daily. Toppings include homemade cream cheese frosting, fresh fruit and other fun yummies, with a per cake price of $2.75 a pop.

Photo Credits: Zigazou76 (cupcakes), Isante Magazine (wine) and Cool Mikeol (sushi)

But pet travel isn’t the only reason hotel room meals might be a necessity. A hectic business schedule, attempting vegan travel, a hectic business schedule and traveling with food allergies can all contribute to the need for in-room dining. When travel circumstances result in the need for hotel room meals, here’s how you can make the most of it.

Water:

There are several ways to use tap water while traveling, including breakfast cocktails, powdered protein drink mixing and even getting your laundry done on the fly. Add a little heat however, and this free travel essential can really go the distance. By creatively using hot water on vacation, you can whip up a sore throat treatment during a ski getaway, an easy dinner side in the microwave and create a hearty instant breakfast. Another great helpful water resource for travelers is the ice machine. Not only is it perfect for chilling that in-room bottle of champagne, you can also use it to create iced tea when temperatures are too balmy to enjoy hot beverages.

Fridge:

If you’re going to be somewhere for a few days, consider stocking your hotel fridge with a few flexible supplies. Frozen veggies work well enough for simple side dishes, crudités and dipping sauces are great for snacking and sandwich supplies are always a good idea when you need something to eat without too much effort. It’s also nice to have some healthier beverages like tomato juice, coconut water and almond milk available to avoid giving in to the soda selection from the vending machine.

Microwave:

There are a fair number of hotel room meals you can prepare in the microwave oven. From easy ramen recipes to saffron rice with veggie burgers and steamed veggies, there are plenty of things you can prepare that will be much healthier than anything you’ll find at the fast food drive through line. Boxed pureed soups from the grocery store make a stylish sip-and-save lunch to go when microwaved and transferred to a travel mug. Oatmeal with water and frozen berries can become a steamy, healthy breakfast in minutes. With careful grocery shopping, you should easily be able to come up with enough variety to get you through a few days.

Coffee Maker:

Even if you’re short a microwave, you can still prepare a few hotel room meals in your coffee maker. There’s always the ramen plan of course, but also oatmeal and even a slow-cooked, soft-boiled egg if you can be patient. I also like to make large batches of tea to enjoy with ice throughout the day.

Freebies:

There are number of freebies provided by hotels that you can use to make the most of your travel meal plan. First of all, the breakfast buffets are typically too large to take full advantage of if you need to get up early in the morning. Common items are oatmeal envelopes, whole-grain bagels with individual containers of peanut butter, whole fruit, yogurt containers and flavored tea packets. Boiled eggs also make frequent appearances. All of these can be enjoyed later in your room. For people like me who don’t like huge meals early in the day, it’s easier to eat closer to lunch.

Shopping:

While it’s true there are certain things you can only shop for once you reach your destination, there a few items you can strategically purchase ahead of schedule. With limited packing space, I recommend leaning towards flat pack foods that come in envelopes. (See also: 7 Easy Lunch Ideas for Work) Gourmet tea bags, precooked packets of sandwich salmon, Tasty Bite envelopes of Indian food and packets of miso soup are all things you can easily tuck into an extra pocket of your messenger bag or carry-on luggage.

Preparedness:

Veteran travelers know that hurricane preparedness isn’t the only kind you need to worry about. The more crowded your agenda, the more important it is to have your ducks in a row. Save money and stress by shipping protein bars, peanut-free snacks and other shelf-stable items directly to your hotel. This is particularly helpful for those with food sensitivities, busy schedules or under calorie restriction. If you know what grocery stores are nearby, decide ahead of time what items you might like to pick up. For stores that are nationwide such as Sam’s Club or Costco, my husband and I have favorite food items we know to pick up, such as hummus, chopped vegetables and simple salad supplies.

Gear:

This is more apt to work well on car trips. Granted when I’m on vacation, I’m more apt to enjoy a meal out. But when I have a business agenda or am traveling for family or medical events, it’s easier for me to manage my time and calorie intake if I have most of what I need in my hotel room. Since walking in with grocery bags can feel a bit awkward, I tend to prefer rolling insulated bags or even an additional piece of rolling luggage. Other helpful gear items we favor include a multipurpose tool, a sandwich press, corkscrew and a can opener. We also carry our own zero waste lunch kits which include things like a bandana napkin, travel flatware and collapsible bowls.

Hotel room meals may not be fancy, but they are achievable. They are also a money-saving strategy that allow you to channel extra monies and energies into business objectives, medical procedures and even vacation attractions. What are some of your favorite hotel room meals?

Photo Credit: Theme Park Mom

Perks: Vacationers visiting Whistler, British Columbia enjoy a variety of resort upgrades and perks when booking getaway packages through the destination Web site, www.enjoywhistler.com. Depending on the length of stay and package reserved, travelers may be treated to such luxuries as a snowmobile ride to a romantic candlelight fondue dinner at 6,000 feet, early lift rides to a high-altitude buffet breakfast in order to beat other skiers to the slopes or the age-old Napoleonic tradition of champagne sabering. Guests of London’s luxurious Lanesborough on the other hand, have access to in-room laptops, private phone and fax lines to make conducting business on vacation a breeze, and cell phones to use during their visit. Personalized stationery and business cards are also printed upon arrival.

Activities: Many hotels offer standard complimentary experiences that would typically cost between $75 and $100 elsewhere, adding significantly to the value of your room rate. For example, the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona offers free guided stargazing sessions with a professional astronomer on a weekly basis. Constellation charts and complimentary-to-use telescopes are part of the turn-down amenities available for all suites, and no-fee guided fitness hikes to nearby Pinnacle Peak depart directly from the spa. Similarly, the One and Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas offers free bicycles to use on their on-estate trails, complimentary morning beach yoga sessions on a cliff-top exercise platform and no-cost daily access passes to the popular Atlantis water theme park.

Liquor: If you like to indulge but are concerned about the bar tab, consider booking accommodations at an establishment that includes a bit of cheer with their room rates. For example, Embassy Suites hosts nightly manager’s receptions which allow guests to experience happy hour for free. In addition to snacks such as hummus with pita chips and cheese trays, the receptions provide complimentary beer, wine and well drinks as well as the occasional featured beverage or specialty cocktail. Similarly, suites at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen come stocked with limes, salt and a bottle of Don Julio.

Photo Credit: Pictures of Travel Places

Over-scheduling can cause serious vacation drama. With today’s all-inclusive family resorts however, stressing out over outside attractions is no longer necessary. Sure, if you’ve got a full two weeks to hang out then working in that train trip to Machu Picchu or scheduling a day at the Kennedy Space Center is fine. Otherwise, there’s likely plenty to enjoy right on site. Here some of our top tips for making the most of family resorts.

Consider What’s Included:

For example, at the One and Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, children have access to their own day camp complete with activities, arts and crafts, waterfront bike-riding trails and more. There’s also a separate family pool perfect for splashing. Room rates include day passes to the nearby Atlantis theme park, but also to free private transport back to the One and Only if the crowds become too overwhelming for the little ones. Other family resorts, such as the Marriott in St. Kitts, offer package deals which include all meals and beverages for the grownups.

Amenities Make a Difference:

Business centers, self-service laundry machines, basketball courts and hot tubs are frequently available as free perks at a number of family resorts. This makes getting away with the kids possible, even if you’re working a deadline. Toss in a heated sauna and some complimentary kayaks, and you’re in business. Another often-overlooked amenity at family resorts is free shuttle service. For those nearby attractions that do manage to make their way into your vacation agenda, transportation for the cost of a nominal tip is markedly more affordable than cab fare.

Get Back to Nature:

Family resorts in ecological locations lend themselves to low-key free activities that will entertain the kiddos for hours. Children are naturally drawn to nature, and watching them participate in animal experiences and waterfall exploration with wonder is a true treat. For instance, a vacation to the affordable Plantation resort located on Florida’s Crystal River, can include a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with the manatees, a scallop fishing experience and some time in a pontoon boat. Likewise, at Termas de Papallacta, a family resort in Ecuador within a day’s drive of Quito, guests can enjoy nature trails, llama encounters and horseback riding in addition to affordable spa treatments and unlimited access to the venue’s natural hot spring pools.

Get it to go.

If you’re really limited with what you can find and would still like to pull off a picnic lunch as a way to enjoy one of the world’s great piazzas or national parks, don’t underestimate the power of takeout. It might not be as inexpensive as cooking at home from scratch, but it will still be cheaper than a restaurant meal. My husband and I have purchased Subway sandwiches to go in order to make the most of pet-friendly rest areas further down the highway, and grabbed deli takeout while blogging at an outdoor public Wi Fi area during a temporary displacement after a flood. The point is, it doesn’t always have to be an elaborate picnic to be successful.

Incorporate a grill.

Whether you are cooking from a teardrop trailer or whipping up hot, fresh picnic food from the tailgate of your truck, barbecuing at least part of your picnic definitely takes it to the next level. This makes grilling gifts a great idea for the fellow travelers in your life or as a family gift for yourselves if you are the type of couple to take frequent road trips. Need some ideas? Shrimp kabobs, skewered mushrooms and even hot dog buffets can all be accomplished affordably by bringing along a small cooler. If you don’t want to lug a grill, you can always reserve a picnic pavilion at your favorite state park or public beach. This keeps family reunions fuss free and makes for extremely affordable beach travel.

Choose a lovely location.

In order for you to feel like you are having a more phenomenal experience while still choosing a frugal meal option, it helps if the location is spectacular. For example, on our last day in Petra, we wanted to simply enjoy the scenery and reflect upon our time there. Since there are no restaurants within the massive archaeological site, a picnic was the only solution. We packed wine, dates, pita bread, fruit and eggplant dip inside our backpacks and hiked up to a great lookout point where we spent the entire afternoon. Similarly, we lounged on the grass and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on world-famous piazza in Pisa when we lived in Italy. The buildings are exquisite and people travel from all over the world to see this multi-building attraction made famous by the leaning tower. It only makes sense to spend some time enjoying the view if you can. Other fun picnic spots around the world include beach-side Tel Aviv, the Washington Mall and Shenandoah National Park.

Be flexible with your ingredients and menu plan.

If you’re in Hindu India, chances are finding a rotisserie chicken might be difficult. Go with what’s available. If you’ve just gotten off the train in Paris, a baguette or a slice of quiche with individually-bottled wine are likely two of your best picnic lunch ideas. Find yourself in Florence? A panini with a cappuccino and biscotti go might be a better bet. Then again, there’s always the wine, cheese, fruit and bread plan.

BYO picnic gear.

If you spend any amount of time on the road as a budget traveler, you’ll come to realize that having a few critical pieces of gear is a good idea. Corkscrews, Leatherman tools, travel silverware and collapsible bowls along with a bandana to serve as both napkin and miniature picnic cloth are part of my personal repertoire. So are reusable chopsticks and a stainless steel water bottle.

Regardless of where you are in the world, it’s possible to pull off a penny-pinching picnic lunch with style. What are your favorite picnic lunch ideas? Do you pack your own from home or pick up supplies from the road?

Photo Credit: Neils Photography

Home Exchanges

Got a home? Consider swapping it out with another home owner in a foreign country so you can both have a low-cost getaway. There are several sites out there in internet land which allow you to do this, but one of the most respected is HomeExchange.com. The basic gist is that you register your home and begin looking for one in a country you want to visit. If your location suits the owners of the other house as well, and you both feel comfortable with each other, voila! Free housing on your international getaway. Who knows? You might even score free housing for the London Olympics.

Hostel Bookers

If you only require a place to stay for a short time and don’t want to run the risk of ending up in a hovel of a hostel, then check out HostelBookers.com. You’ll be able to research the accommodations ahead of time and occasionally even find hostels that function more like boutique hotels with Wi Fi, private bedrooms and chic décor. Believe me, they do exist. One exceptional option that we enjoyed in Lima, Peru was the Inka Wasi hostel which was elegantly decorated and came with a marble bathtub, comfortable fireplace seating and a daily sit-down breakfast.

House Carers

Have you ever been a home owner? Then you have the skills that someone else wants, my friend. House sitting assignments are available all over the world with people and families who simply want a presence in their home to ward off burglars, care for their pets and bring in the mail. One place we secured a nearly month-long house sit was in Amman, Jordan. We cared for the homeowners’ pets, picked up after ourselves and enjoyed a twice-per-week maid who had been hired to care for the home. In our downtime, we enjoyed the city’s restaurants, museums and general nightlife as we recuperated from several months on the road. A popular site for researching opportunities is HouseCarers.com, but there are certainly others available for you to begin your research.

Airbnb

A new trend in hospitality is the renting out of extra rooms and guest cottages by home owners to travelers in search of a screaming deal. The primary place you can find one of these bargain spaces is Airbnb.com. The site features guest spaces for rent by home owners in a wide variety of locations. Prices vary according to size and lavishness of the accommodations, and you are allowed to filter by desired amenities and parameters such as Wi Fi, fireplace, pet friendly spaces and more. I’ve seen affordable listings in cities like Miami, Chicago, Atlanta and even Boston.

Get a Gig

If you don’t mind singing for your supper so to speak, there are many overseas employment opportunities where your accommodations and utilities are included with your job package. Other common perks include free private school tuition for your children, shipping allotments, settling in allowances, annual round-trip plane tickets and more. One career path with prevalent options is overseas teaching, but there are certainly others. Nursing, private security and on-site corporate liaison positions come to mind. A quick internet search will reveal a number of opportunities in places like Bangkok, Kuwait City and Venice, Italy.

Camping

Granted, there are some circumstances where this certainly more comfortable than others. And pitching a tent for a family camping experience in the dead of winter might not be many people’s idea of a good time. That being said, there are plenty of times when camping might be your most appropriate and affordable choice. For example, Scotland is a country that’s not only walkable through its national network of trails and walking routes, but also a country where camping for free along those trails is actually encouraged. Score! In the United States, families enjoy camping in Shenandoah National Park every summer, with complimentary access to the trails and children’s educational programs as part of the deal. (See also: Glamping on the Cheap)

Vacation Rentals

If coordinating schedules with other home owners doesn’t particularly suit you, then consider trying out a vacation rental as part of your travel savings plan. The costs will be markedly less than even a mid-range hotel room, and you’ll typically have access to your own kitchen. Other common perks include garage parking, private swimming pool, a yard for your dog and beach access.

Having a roof over your head during your travels doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Try any or all of these seven savings strategies and you’ll be stretching your vacation dollars to the maximum.

More than 100 years old and located in the cigar capital of the world, the Columbia restaurant’s historic Ybor City location is the original restaurant from which the other Florida locations were born. The restaurant has also been awarded the national prize for best Cubano sandwich for a number of years.

I first visited the Columbia at their Sarasota location on a trip to Longboat Key. I was so taken with their menu and atmosphere, I simply had to see where it all began. So on a walking tour of Ybor City, Tampa’s world-famous Latin quarter, my husband and I stopped by for lunch.

What we tried:

We started off with an appetizer selection of black bean cakes which were much more succulent than either of us expected. In fact, we wouldn’t mind heading back sometime and filling up on a double order of those little num nums. They were that good. David had a fish sandwich with plantain chips that was fine, fresh and perfectly respectable for the basic fish sandwich that it was. The real star of the show however was the crispy breaded eggplant Riojana. If you think you’ve tried every spectacular eggplant dish on the planet, get ready for some full, party-in-your-mouth flavor. It’s really a killer entrée.

What we noticed:

The history and charm of this century-plus-old establishment really shines through, particularly in their courtyard seating area and during their evening cultural dance performances. If you have a chance to receive a facility-wide tour from Joe, their goodwill ambassador, don’t pass it up. Joe’s been with the family at the Ybor City location for fifty years and has had his share of celebrity sightings and customer experiences. The private rooms of the Columbia all have unique features and artwork, including some elaborately-decorated tile.

Editor’s note: Ybor City is one of several walking tours in Tampa Bay that are worth your time, and lunch at this establishment is not to be missed while you’re in that part of town. Also of note on the menu are the house sangria, the 1905 salad and of course, their award-winning Cubano.

Photo Credits: The images in this article were photographed by the Trek Hound team.

If you’re trying to stay on the road for a long time, learning how to make nutritious cheap food is going to be critical to your extended travel budget. This means you’re going to have to develop a list of ramen recipes you trust.

And they’d better be easy, because chances are you’ll be lucky to have a hot plate and a tea kettle. Here’s a gathering of simple meal ideas using ramen, designed with the frugal traveler in mind.

Backpacker’s ramen with chicken and vegetables.

This recipe for backpacking poultry and vegetable ramen from Matt Fischer is made with canned chicken, ramen and vegetables that will stay fresh (enough) in your pack for a few days. If you have a flexible cutting board, multi-purpose tool and something to eat your food in, you’ll be all set.

More elaborate trail recipes for ramen are also possible.

These “trail chef” recipes from Backpacker.com demonstrate a bit more flexibility and use additional dehydrated items creatively. They even demonstrate how possible it is to have dessert ramen in the wilderness. How cool is that?

Coffee maker ramen for the budget business traveler can be quite a flexible meal.

Basically, you’re preparing ramen in a coffee maker, but by putting broccoli pieces in the filter area and tossing in a little sauce and perhaps some pre-cooked shrimp you can actually have something pretty close to take-out food. This is particularly helpful if your hotel is in the middle of nowhere and all you have access to is the grocery store and the nearest fast-food drive through. Those travelers adhering to a plant-based diet can keep things on track by selecting vegan ramen flavors to combine with vegetables and a bit of peanut sauce.

Full-meal ramen ideas can be incorporated at a hostel.

If you are staying at an establishment with a full kitchen, try your hand at a beef and vegetable ramen stir fry dish, or something equally well-rounded and nutritious. There are many different stir fry combinations you can try. The point is to take advantage of the stove and preparation tools to prepare an affordable meal on the fly. After all, you’re trying to save more money for travel activities and attractions, right?

When it comes to affordable meal ideas you can tuck into your luggage, ramen is certainly more affordable than those expensive pre-made trail meals. So branch out and get creative. Ramen isn’t just for work-at-home lunches. It’s a great resource for adventure, business and long-term travelers as well.

Photo Credit: Jeffrey W.

On our journey to El Oriente in Ecuador, we stayed in small, developing town known as Misahualli. While the selection of places to rest your head was somewhat slim, we did manage to secure lodging at a small eco lodge called France-Amazonia.

As eco lodges go, France-Amazonia can hardly be called a luxury resort. That being said, it is a clean, quaint and secure guest house with a reasonable amount of charm. They have a locked parking area for your vehicle, private bathrooms in each room, a bar, pool, thatched hammock area with bonfire access, private path to the river for canoe access and a fresh breakfast served each morning.

Apparently, they used to also make food to order for lunch and dinner as well, but when we were there the venue had new owners and this wasn’t on their list of services. They did however, order food for us from downtown so we could enjoy dinner on site for a fee and still have access to the bar without having to drive.

The other convenient thing about this location is that if you are booking one of several available river tours, you can use the private trail ( more than a little slippery) to access the river and your tour operator will pick you up right there at the hotel. It’s nice not to have to walk far back to your room at the end of the day, as opposed to still needing to arrange transport from the waterfront area of Misahualli.

We enjoyed our rooms, the pool and the bonfire area with bar access and would stay here again. The service is somewhat casual, as the owners live on site and you need to flag them down with a bell near their living area should a need arise. Not all rooms are first floor, so if climbing up the stairs with your luggage is an issue, be sure to book a ground room. We paid less than $50 for ours, which was upstairs and adjoined to the room of our other traveling companions with a private balcony and lockable common door.

Photo Credit: Trek Hound – Other pictures from Ecuador’s El Oriente are available are available through a creative commons agreement on our sister site, Pictures of Travel Places.

Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort in the mountains of Ecuador is an amazing escape from the typical tourist rush.

Drivable from Quito, the resort is a rustically-romantic getaway that successfully blends luxury with nature. Nestled high in the mountains of Ecuador, Papallacta provides thermal pools, a full-service spa, fine dining and access to nature trails. We stayed there for a night during a month-long vacation in Ecuador. Here’s a run-down of our experience.

The Papallacta spa was fantastic.

We were pleased to find that the Papallacta spa was a full-service establishment with a fireside quiet area to enjoy while we waited for our treatments. Mid-week rates were a steal, with a one-hour hot stone massage costing only 30 bucks on a Thursday night.

How was the food at Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort?

The restaurant served a fair amount of food that was sourced locally, including fish and vegetables. While we’d heard great things about the service, they were apparently breaking in a new staff person while we were there because it left a bit to be desired. That being said, it was a nice restaurant and the food was definitely fabulous.

The rooms at Papallacta were rustic but definitely comfortable.

While I believe there were regular rooms available, we stayed at one of the guest cottages with step-out-the-door access to multiple thermal pools of varying temperatures and steaming hot waterfalls to sit underneath. The cottages had a room that would sleep five, a huge bathtub and shower combo, and a front room with a glass-front wood stove, couch, dinette set and several kitchenette appliances like a toaster oven, sink area, small fridge and a microwave.

There was also a front porch sitting area to enjoy the mountain scenery after a dip in the thermal pools. There was also another side of the cottage that you could book as an adjoining room if your family or traveling group was large. We found the cottage to be very comfortable and used the kitchenette to have a private breakfast rather than heading to the restaurant.

Termas de Papallacta definitely has some perks.

Step-out access to steamy, thermal pool luxury, a full-service spa, hiking and equestrian trails with a two-room suite and fine dining to boot make the Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort worth the trip. Add in the mountain scenery and relaxed atmosphere, and you’ve got yourself a romantic getaway you’ll remember for years to come. The partially-furnished kitchenette in our room at Papallacta was a huge perk as well, allowing privacy and cost-control for at least some of the meals consumed while we were there.

Personal Papallacta verdict?

In my opinion, Termas de Papallacta is a nice establishment that’s worth spending the money to visit. The fact that Wi-Fi was only available in the main lobby area seemed like a bit of a quirk to me, because I am a freelancer who works from the road. That being said, it is supposed to be a luxurious nature getaway and the capacity to check in with clients back in the States was definitely available on site. Papallacta makes a great getaway in its own right, as well as a fun and scenic drive-and-stop to combine with a trip to Ecuador’s Orienté to explore the headwaters of the Amazon River.

Editor’s Note: These and other pictures of Papallacta are available at one of our sister sites, Pictures of Travel Places for you to use for free through a creative commons agreement. We ask only for a link back to the photo gallery.

Photo Credits: Trek Hound