Daytrips: For those with tight schedules and limited funds, scheduling daytrips to nearby venues will likely provide the best deal possible for your travel dollars. Residents of southwestern Maine for example, can easily squeeze in a day excursion to Conway, in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley. The destination offers outlet shopping, fun dining options and year-round mountain access for skiing, hiking, scenic drives and even mountain biking. Similarly, those making their home in San Francisco, California are a mere 30 miles south of Sonoma County, where they can experience world-class wine tasting opportunities and free vineyard tours through the Sonoma Vineyard Adventures program.

Weekends: End-of-the-week getaways can take you out of the city for a fraction of the cost of a longer vacation. Providence, Rhode Island is a mere hop, skip and a jump for Boston natives looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. The destination has an artsy vibe and a great food scene, making it a great couples’ destination. For New Yorkers, New Haven, Connecticut is a mere 90-minute drive away. Offering everything from vegan cafes to sustainable sushi, this New England town makes food part of the vacation fun. Year-round concerts and cultural adventures also play a strong part in the New Haven travel experience.

Direct: The ability to fly direct can drastically reduce ticket costs, leaving more money available to enjoy additional attractions, or perhaps splurge on an evening of fine dining. One North American destination with a number of direct-access flights is Montreal. The city has a fair amount of international style, and is well known for its food, festivals and other forms of fun. Urban centers aren’t necessarily the only options for direct flights, however. Bangor, Maine residents looking for a bit of sun and sand can hop direct flights to Clearwater, Florida, where they can enjoy world-class beaches, a bit of theater and visit with Winter, the world-famous dolphin.

Photo Credit: Pictures of Travel Places

On the Fly:

Pick up paying gigs as you go. The International Educator features classified ads from schools around the world offering tax-free salaries, relocation allowances, plane tickets and paid housing for certified classroom teachers. Native language speakers can teach business and conversational English with job leads from ESL Café and Serious Teachers. Not a teacher? Not a problem. A web site called AnyWorkAnyWhere.com lists jobs around the world for nearly any type of work, including management, driving and delivery, resort staff, tour guides and more.

Speaking Gigs:

If you have an area of expertise and reasonable public speaking and presentation skills, then you have a way to make money while traveling. Whether you go through an agency or book events on your own, the per appearance rate is typically enough to make it worth your while, and some people manage to earn a full time living with only 2-4 paid opportunities per month.

Inventory Acquisition:

Whether you’re shopping for antiques or purchasing affordable artisan crafts to resell when you fly back home, acquiring low-cost inventory that shoppers in your home area would otherwise not be able to have access to is a decent way to pick up extra cash and finance future travel. Certain monetary restrictions apply when bringing goods back into the country of course, but if you have a well-located barn for antiques storage or a high-traffic flea market in the neighborhood for selling funky overseas bling, you just might have a part-time income on your hands. You can also sell through online auction sites like eBay, if maintaining regular booth or store hours doesn’t suit you.

Stock Photography:

You don’t have to come home with very many digital trip pictures before you become truly curious about making money with stock photography. This isn’t a cake walk by any stretch of the imagination and the fact that it’s such a numbers game means you won’t start making fat stacks of cash overnight. That being said, many people around the world are earning anywhere from lunch money to a full-time living depending on their skill level and the depth of their portfolio.

Writing:

There a few different ways you can go with this. The traditional route is to pick up article assignments from various editors. It’s a bit unpredictable, but once you find a few regular clients you’ll be on your way. You can also start your own travel blog, or other topical web site. Monies here can come from a variety of sources, including affiliate marketing and ad networks such as Google and Chitika.

Telecommuting:

Places like Flex Jobs and Virtual Vocations list daily openings for positions suitable for the telecommuting crowd. Some of them are writing gigs it’s true, but others are customer service jobs, tech support employment and even case management. Find something that suits your skill level to make money while traveling and still have time for a bit of sightseeing each week.

Product Development:

One of the easiest and cost effective ways to make money while traveling is to use your writing skills as suggested above to develop ebooks, white papers and even article collections on sites such as Hub Pages and Squidoo in order to create a passive income stream that you can enjoy without having to check in every day. That being said, there are other digital products you can create from the road such as video clips, mobile phone wallpapers and more. Ejunkie.com lets you open a store front for as little as $5 per month, and puts your product in front of affiliate marketers around the world who will be more than happy to help promote your product for a share in the profits.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to your destination of choice, or spend a few years touring a particular continent. Now that you know it’s possible to make money while traveling, you don’t have to feel tied down by traditional employment any longer. Happy trails!

Photo Credit: iStock

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

Planning: Rates can range widely, so it pays to research the parking situation in advance. Bestparking.com is an online decision-making engine that lists fee prices for parking facilities in major cities and airports in the United States and Canada. The site also comes with a variety of smart phone apps. By selecting the city or airport in question, say Atlanta for example, travelers are able to determine in real time when driving that extra couple of blocks will make parking financially feasible.

Booking your reservations online and in advance can often result in discounts as well. However, for the best deal possible, consider the time of day you will need to park. In many cases, meter fees are not charged after a certain hour of day. This strategy proved useful during a cocktail-hour business meeting with colleagues in Orlando. By arriving after fee hours, I was able to save enough on parking costs to cover the cost of my bar tab. Score!

Validate: Many restaurants, theaters, and even urban shopping venues will validate parking fees for patrons. One example is Centro Ybor, a shopping, dining and entertainment venue in historic Ybor City, Tampa. Another is Catch, a restaurant inside the Marriott on Biscayne Bay in Miami. In downtown areas where costs can reach as much as $30 per hour, this strategy can shave serious dollars off the total cost of dinner and a show.

Distance: Depending on the quality of public transportation in your destination city, it can often be far less expensive to park outside of town and take the train into the middle of the tourist action. This strategy has worked well for me when traveling to both New York City and Washington, D.C.

Alternatives: Sometimes a hybrid approach will save you the most money. When visiting high-traffic tourist attractions in cities, consider leaving your rental car at the hotel for no charge and taking advantage of the free shuttle services many of them offer. A generous tip to the driver will still sink you less than either parking or a cab. In certain circumstances, you can even skip the parking situation altogether. For example, on a month-long trip to Quito, Ecuador, my husband and I skipped long-term parking at the airport altogether and spent our monies instead on an airport transfer service. A private car and driver allowed us to leave our vehicle at home in the garage, and save more than $300 in fees. A similar alternative exists in New York City area. GO AIrlink NYC offers affordable shuttle service to the airport from surrounding areas.

Photo Credit: This image was photographed by the Trek Hound team, and is available for your use through the creative commons agreement with our sister site, Pictures of Travel Places.

Food: For weekend tournaments and games where the school bus will be returning late, restaurant tabs are often unavoidable. This is where checking your credit card’s points program can come in handy. For example, one of my credit cards allows customers to use accumulated reward points to purchase gift cards from a variety of restaurant chains that are typically near highway exits. Frugalupstate.com’s Jenn Fowler favors powdered lemonade and iced tea mixes that come in small tubes. By purchasing multipacks at her local dollar store, she’s able to provide her children with a simple beverage option that can be enjoyed from their individual water bottles.

Fuel: Some grocery store chains partner with nearby gas stations to offer discounted gas prices as part of their loyalty card program. If this is the case where you shop, consider gassing up there on the way to your teen’s next sports tournament. Gasbuddy.com is a helpful web site for finding which fueling stations are offering the best gas prices on the day you are traveling. Having this information ahead of time will help you decide upon the best place to top off your tank before heading home. According to soccer mom and freelance writer Tisha Kulak-Tolar of Trifecta Strategies, carpooling is king when it comes to saving money on gas for student sports travel. She often saves money on fuel by sharing driving duties with other parents.

Organization: Kulak-Tolar also points to organization and planning as two of her top money-saving strategies for sports travel with her children. To avoid duplicate purchases of things like insect repellant, sunscreen and extra first aid supplies, she keeps a kit stocked in the back of the minivan along with extra blankets and sweatshirts for unexpected drops in temperature. When it comes to orderly storage for the gear and belongings of multiple team members however, my money’s on individual rolling duffels. If each child has their own, they can easily transport their gear, shower supplies and uniforms between the school bus or van and the host school’s locker room.

Photo Credit: Family MWR

Pitch a tent.

If you’re looking to visit someplace warm, then camping just might make your short list of top spring break ideas. It’s a great way to reduce your accommodation costs and keep things low key. Certain chains offer discounts for those with membership cards. One example is the national KOA campground franchise. Their just-outside-of-Washington, D.C. location boasts complimentary water and electricity as well as no-cost Wi-Fi at each campsite. Cabins are also available for those who like to limit how much they “rough it”.

The venue also offers shuttle service to a nearby commuter railway which that drops you off in front of the Smithsonian, which is free to visit. Hot showers, a maintained swimming pool and pizza delivery are all available at this location, which also plans family-friendly activities for those who are spring breaking with a school-age crowd. For those who want a little more nature, there’s also the option of camping at Shenandoah National Park.

Local is lovely.

If you already reside in a sought-after area, then reign in the budget by exploring spring break ideas that embrace local activities and attractions. Here in the Tampa Bay area for example, we have the beach at Fort DeSoto. It’s free to access and has been repeatedly voted one of the top 20 beaches in the United States. We also have the Lowry Park Zoo, multiple museums, several Tampa Bay walking tours and of course historic Ybor City for the club crowd.

Rentals rock.

If you’ve never explored the world of vacation rentals, then you are missing out on the mother of all money-saving spring break ideas. Whether you utilize this strategy for ski vacations in Breckenridge, or to maximize budget beach travel in places like Bermuda or the Bahamas, rental properties allow you pair up with friends on the overall tab and save further travel funds through in-house kitchen meal preparations.

Discounts save more than dimes.

Whether you are utilizing coupon books from the local convention and visitor’s bureau, considering a Groupon getaway or using Discover Card travel rewards for cruise deals and passes to local theme parks, vacation deals are worth scouting out. If you are traveling abroad, there are other international credit card use issues too. Be sure you do your research in order to save the most money possible.

Do you have any favorite spring break ideas you’d like to share? What are your favorite places to enjoy spring break or vacation travel in general?

Make paperwork a priority.

Lost opportunities for reimbursement can derail a business trip taken in order to increase commission earnings. The costs you incur on behalf of your company are not insignificant by any means, so it’s important to file complete expense reports and set aside time each day to document receipts for meals, rental cars, tips and more. Consult your accountant on which unreimbursed items are allowable deductions by the IRS. International credit card use can also come with hidden costs. Be sure to check out this Trek Hound resource on using credit cards abroad.

Proper packing can help pinch pennies.

Even if you’re combining business with pleasure, packing light can help reduce baggage fees and necessary tips to those who help you carry luggage. For those who frequently participate in business trips for the purposes of conference and trade show travel, this is even more critical. Wheeled luggage makes walking a few blocks more feasible, reducing cab fees. Easily packed and efficiently stored booth paraphernalia means your display area costs less to move between locations.

Plan accordingly for down time.

Whether you have to deal with unexpected flight delays, or find yourself with multiple small blocks of time in which to conduct your other affairs, it pays to keep up with communications and small projects when your schedule allows. For business trip veterans, this means maximizing the use of tablet devices such as a Kindle Fire and getting groovy with any exceptional travel apps available for their smartphone. For exceptionally long international layovers, priority pass lounges offer an exceptional value for the business traveler. Their resting spaces, complimentary internet access and open bar make downtime a dream compared to sitting in the uncomfortable chairs near the main gate areas. Short layovers where gate waiting is a must are best utilized for quick email checks, document reviews and on-the-fly phone calls to colleagues.

Penny pinch your way to reduced overhead costs.

Not only is it possible to reduce travel accommodation costs, you can also save money on things like meals and transportation as well. For day trips across town, taking a Segway may save some scones and using hot water from your hotel room can result in a few simple meals that will shave significant dollars off food costs as well. Free hotel shuttles can eliminate cab costs depending on where you’re going, and leave you with only the burden of a small tip. Maximize your use of hotel business centers to save yourself a trip to the copy store. Free printing and faxing are worth their weight in gold, not to mention the fact that you won’t have to cab it to Kinko’s. Many hotels also have luxurious soft seating areas near fireplaces with complimentary tea and coffee bars. These make excellent places for low-level business meetings  and meet and greets.

Prepare for possible delays.

You never know when things like weather and stalled contract negotiations will extend your business trip. It’s best to prepare for the long haul by digitizing and uploading critical contact information, project notes and tech gear to be able to work remotely if you need to stay an extra day or two. As long as you have internet and phone access, you’ll be able to get things done. Provided you have access to the proper information, that is. It’s also critical to pack the proper grooming supplies. Image is everything so you want to be able to look your best on the road with minimal fuss and drama.

How do you keep costs under control on a business trip? Do you have a tried and true strategy or do you simply roll with the punches as they arise?

Photo Credit: BTO University

We chose this particular weekend because it allowed us to skip the traditional August rush that occurs with most European travel destinations. Early September offers crowd-free exploration, a bigger ability to bargain and significantly lower prices on lodging. At one of the art galleries on Lake Bled for instance, the couple who owned the venue treated us to complimentary beverages, first-class attention and one of the best restaurant recommendations we’ve ever received.

Bottom line? By booking your excursions when other’s typically don’t, you’re able to experience the world’s top sights and destination for a fraction of the cost. Here are some of Trek Hound’s top tips for making the most of off-peak travel.

Celebrate Seasonal Price Shifts:

The time period just before and immediately after high travel season – known as shoulder season – is one of the best times to have a directly-comparable experience for a reduced cost. The weather will be quite similar to what high-season travelers experience, but local venues, attractions and even tour guides will likely be more motivated to bargain their way into your tourist itinerary. The off season is an even cheaper time to plan your getaway. Rates can drop as much as 80 percent, providing a number of penny-pinching exotic getaway options.

Do Your Research:

Use your favorite travel web sites to research exceptional off-peak travel deals. Expedia, Hotels.com and others feature a constant feed of travel deals that can serve as inspiration for open-minded and flexible travelers. If mountain travel is high on your list, and you don’t mind skipping the ski vacations this year, you can score great deals on lodges that offer great hiking, biking and writing retreat options during the off season.

Learn to Love the Local Options:

Many states offer deals for residents that get even sweeter during the off-peak travel season. Theme parks, waterfront resorts and boutique hotels are all worth your time to check out. Florida, Maine and other locations with strong seasonal variations are likely where you’ll see the best bargains.

Weather Flexibility:

The more diverse the attraction selection at your destination, the more flexibility you have with regards to seasonal weather shifts. For example, if getting to Lebanon during the peak summer months isn’t an option, consider traveling there in the fall. You’ll still be able to take in the ruins at Baalbeck, the Jeita grotto and the Ksara wine caves among other notable attractions.

If you don’t find the winter weather in London or Berlin suitable for street strolling consider turning your vacation into an art tour. The British Museum and the Pergamon (Berlin) are both world-class options that will enable you to spend at least one full day out of the wind. Is heat more the issue? The Israel and Egyptian national museums of both Jerusalem and Cairo respectively provide phenomenal cultural displays and allow you to cool off from the heat of the city streets.

Clearly, you don’t have to compromise completely when you opt for off-peak travel. If you’re willing to tweak your vacation itinerary, the world can be your adventure oyster.

1 . Get comfortable with closer shots.

The greater your proximity to your subject, the more intimate your pictures will feel. This strategy also leaves no room for doubt as to the main subject of each shot. In short, proximity makes your images pop, which is necessary both for selling your work and for building a successful travel blog. Some of my favorite zoom shots are photographs of indigenous populations in places like Otavalo and Misahualli, Ecuador.

2 . Don’t forget the foreground.

I’m a big fan of including strong details in the foreground when possible. It adds depth and interest to the finished images. Over the years, my husband and I have used tree branches, bush leaves and other plant parts to frame Khmer temples in Angkor Wat, cathedrals and archaeological sites in Peru, and European castles in Bolzano, Italy. If you’re going for a pastoral animal image, use a bit of rustic fencing for your foreground. This same strategy can be used elsewhere as well. During a visit to Jerusalem, my husband got a great shot of the Dome of the Rock photographed through some razor wire.

3 . Keep it simple.

There’s beauty in simplicity. Sure, you’ll occasionally want to take a panoramic nature picture or cityscape. Otherwise, you’re better off to avoid wide shots that are filled up with too many objects. Another way you can streamline the photography process is by using a digital camera. It will give you the freedom to delete experimental pictures and try them a second time if necessary. Without the extra film and printing costs.

4 . Build your portfolio at zoos and theme parks.

Theme park venues and zoos are virtual smorgasbords of travel photo opportunities. Disneyworld, Six Flags and even Tampa’s Busch Gardens offer loads of costumed image fodder, ride shots and of course animal close-ups. Similarly, the Lowry Park Zoo which is just down the highway from our home is one of our go-to stops for safari-style wildlife shots, which is why we purchased an annual pass to be able to visit whenever we want. It’s provided material for imagery featuring bald eagles, orangutans, rhinos and more.

5 . Charitable causes can pay off.

Rescue projects and volunteer programs also provide photo opportunities. Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida offers private photography opportunities in addition to regular tours. Lisa Chavis and Cheryl MacDonald of What Boundaries Travel volunteered with Global Vision International in South Africa, getting up close and personal with the local Masai people, expanding cheetah families, elephants, lions and more.

6 . Get the proper gear.

A black dollar store umbrella – held open in one hand – cuts down on reflections when shooting things inside large glass windows. Three-packs of specialty lens filters – available for ten dollars – deal with glare, florescent lighting and less than ideal outdoor lighting. Professional photographer John Milleker recommends sticking with either Nikon or Canon when it comes to making your first big camera purchase. Both products that have proven themselves to the pros, and their attachments will get you by from camera to camera over the years, saving money and purchasing time. He also recommends the manual as the best free source of training you can get your hands on. Spending time with your equipment and its features will help you know what to do when a money shot presents itself.

7 . The devil’s in the details.

Milleker’s top tip for framing your travel shots? Look for eyesores before you shoot and remove them. It will save you loads of Photoshop time later on. The most common problem, according to Milleker, is tree branches that look like they are sticking out of the subject’s head. Travel writer and nature photographer Carol Coffey, author of the book Out of My Comfort Zone, has her own way of dealing with the details. She doesn’t fight Mother Nature. Preferring the light of morning and early evening, Coffey says her favorite times to shoot are before 10:00 and after 2:00. She also doesn’t stress about clouds and fog, believing they add beauty and drama to her finished work, which is available for viewing on her web site.

8 . Don’t forget festivals if you’re in the market for great cultural photos.

Around the world, carnivals and cultural festivals allow low-cost and often free photo opportunities. The colors from various traditional costumes make for dramatic imagery that is sure to draw in your readers and generate image and article sales. The annual carnival in Venice, Amsterdam’s tulip festival and even the annual Burning Man event in the States are all sources of unusual travel pics that are sure to rave reviews.

9 . Indigenous markets provide an inside peek to local culture.

Some of the coolest travel photos I’ve ever taken are from indigenous markets around the world. They are also some of my favorite travel memories. Souk shopping in Kuwait, searching for souvenirs in Cairo’s Khan el Khalili, and bulk grocery shopping for pantry staples in Saquisili, Ecuador have all provided great photo fodder.

1 0 . A little cultural sensitivity goes a long way.

While the local women of Petra are usually comfortable having their photo taken, there are other parts of the region where it is certainly not appreciated. Be sure to research the norms of where you are traveling too. Another way to be a bit more sensitive is with a zoom lens. It’s one thing to be OK with an image or two being taken. It’s another to feel like someone is there photographing your every move. Sometimes you are better off to be a bit out of the way with a good-quality zoom lens. Chances are you’ll get better candid shots that way as well.

11 . Don’t underestimate the power of basic black and white.

If the outdoor lighting is bad on a particular day, consider switching your color digital photos over to black and white or sepia. You’ll get a fun vintage look to your imagery that looks great framed against a colored wall. I especially like to try this with photos I take from world heritage sites where there is a great deal of ancient architecture. Purchase inexpensive black thrift frames for an affordable polished look.

These are a few travel photography tips for beginners to get you started as you begin to travel. More pro tips will be added as contributed. Happy trails, everyone!

Snacks: For car trips, quart-sized canning jars filled with bulk-purchased snacks such as almonds, sunflower seed kernels and dried cranberries can be stored efficiently in multi-section fabric wine bags from the grocery store. Making your own fun food is another way to save money on vegan road trips. Lifestyle writer Rea Frey Holguin favors whipping up batches of buckwheat pancakes for grab-and-go travel snacks, while raw veggies paired with hummus and nut butters make my short list of vegan travel faves.

Strategies: Having a few survival strategies up your sleeve will prove helpful for successful and affordable vegan travel. Vegan Eating Out, a resource Web site for diners avoiding animal products, lists vegan menu items for various restaurants around the country. When in doubt, affordable makeshift meals can be created through the combination of various side dish items such as rice, beans, vegetables and small salads. Grocery stores, when available, can be a helpful source of plant-based food items. Fruits, vegetables, boxed soups and ramen are all affordable options to tide you over between restaurant options.

Splurges: If you have enough time at your destination, search out a hidden vegan-friendly local gem to enjoy for a special outing. Norfolk, Virginia for example has a number of dining venues suitable for vegan travelers. Path on 35^th Street serves a number of mid-range vegan breakfast options, while La Bella on West 22^nd offers a number of animal-product-free dinner options for Italian food fans. Similarly, Queen of Sheba – an Ethiopian restaurant in Tampa – serves a number of vegan appetizers and entrees that clock in at less than $10 each.

Chains: For hurried highway days, knowing which restaurant franchises serve vegan options will help you get on and off the road in a jiffy. Chipotle Mexican Grill for example, serves vegan burrito bowls with organic ingredients, while Pizza Fusion features vegan pizzas, salads and a fun triple-dipping-sauce appetizer paired with seasoned flatbread. Chili’s has a roasted-corn guacamole with fresh hot tortilla chips that will take away the hunger pains in a pinch, and Denny’s offers an organic veggie patty I typically order with mushrooms and pickles. (See also: Best Gift Cards and Restaurants for Vegan Fast Food)

Photo Credit: Suzettesuzette