food and drinks

Know Before You Go: Average Cost of a Mini-Bar Soda Around the World

by Kirsten on July 14, 2010

Most of us already know to avoid the mini-bar at all costs. The items are ridiculously priced and usually you can find a local store to pick up some snacks and drinks to have on hand in your hotel room. But what about those times we are temped? Perhaps we are dying for a jolt of caffeine and would love to have a chilled Coke or Pepsi. Is it worth spending the money? It may be, but take a look at the various prices of a Coke out of a hotel mini-bar across the world. You may re-think your choice dependant upon your destination!

The average cost of a soda from a mini-bar across the world:

Paris – $11. 76
I am not at all surprised that Paris tops the list. Known for their pricey food, high cost of living, and expensive hotel rates, this soda is outrageously expensive! My suggestion – skip the soda and get a nice drink down the street at an outdoor cafe. It probably will be cheaper and a good reason to sit and people watch!

New York – $7.10
Another expensive place to visit, the cost of a soda from the mini-bar reflects the high prices of the area. Definitely a lot better than Paris, but still ridiculously high, you can easily buy a bunch of six-packs for the same price of one! Skip!

Tokyo – $5.68
Although it is known that in Asian countries the dollar goes pretty far, I am surprised to see how pricey this small soda is! Tokyo is a bit more expensive than other cities in the country, so that may account for some of the cost, but still pretty shocking. Again – pass on the mini-bar!

Sydney – $5.12
I never knew that Australia was a pricey place to visit as well as to live until just recently, so the high cost of a Coke is not surprising to me when taken from a hotel mini-bar. I wouldn’t dream of paying this much for a soda!

Buenos Aires – $4.76
A place I am dying to visit, Buenos Aires is known for its beauty, chic city life, and warm people. Not so warm – the cost of a soda from the mini-bar! Wow. Knowing you can get a delicious meal for fractions of the cost of what we expect in the States, this surprises me! Definitely skip the mini-bar and go to a local spot for a drink and/or food. You will be surprised how far your money can go in Buenos Aires!

Cape Town – $2.63
I may think about spending this on a soda, until I remember that this is outrageously expensive, STILL! For one can of soda? I don’t think so. I guess if I was really, really thirsty I could take the leap, but in normal situations, I’ll pass.

What do you think of these prices? Are you willing to pay the price when desperate? Or would you skip it? Leave a comment with your thoughts below!

Love, K.

PS – I just love Travel + Leisure mag. When I saw this tidbit of info, I knew I had to share it with you! Thanks T+L!!

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The Ultimate Guide to Tipping While Traveling

by Kirsten on June 26, 2010

No one tips better than Americans. In fact, we tip so well that many other countries have started to change their own tipping strategies, following our lead. Although we tip so well within our own country, and this includes Canada, it does not mean that we should follow the same strategy in other countries. Over-tipping can be confusing for those on the receiving end, and also a way to bring unwanted attention to yourself. Follow these tipping guidelines for the various areas of the world, and you’ll be assured to make tipping while traveling a bit easier on everyone!

America and Canada
Recently the tipping across the states and Canada has gone up a bit. Many abide by the rule of doubling the tax and rounding up, but it’s safe to say that 15-20% is safe at all restaurants. Waiters and waitresses income is often dependant upon tips, so unless you had horrible service and are trying to make a point of it, make sure you aim for at least 15%.

America – 17-20% at restaurants. 10-15% at bars, or a $1 per beer, $2 for cocktails
Canada – 15-20% at restaurants. Same as above for for bars.

Get the tipping guide for each country across the world by clicking here!

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How to Save Money on Food While Traveling

by Kirsten on June 9, 2010

Food. We all need it, most of us love it, and it can become a real event while traveling. Expenses related to eating when we are on vacation can be astronomical. In fact, it’s recommended you set aside hundreds of dollars per trip just for your food expenses! Thankfully, there are ways to cut back on the cost of food while traveling, reducing the overall spending money you bring on your trip.

Follow my advice below, and you can guarantee to save a nice chunk of change!

Rent a condo or apartment
One of my favorite ways to travel is to rent a local condo or apartment instead of staying at a larger hotel. Not only can you save money on your nightly rate, but you also get a kitchen in most places! It is great to be able to go to the local grocery store or farmers market, pick up some goodies, and make a breakfast every morning. In fact, there are a ton of places that offer balconies with spectacular views of the surrounding area, a perfect spot for your morning coffee and breakfast.

Research local restaurants, diners and food stands
This is one of the most important ways to help save money on food, and something I do before every vacation. Search trip review forums for local advice from destination experts on the best places to eat for cheap. Sometimes the food found in these places are way better than the touristy trap restaurants – such as a local street stand or tucked away cafe. I much prefer eating at a true local place rather than a major restaurant that is geared toward tourists.

Buy food from grocery stores
If you don’t have a kitchen or kitchenette where you are staying, this does not mean you can’t pick up food items from the local grocery store. (Which by the way, visiting a grocery store when traveling is FASCINATING!). You can pick up sandwiches, yogurts, fresh fruits, fresh meats, fresh bread, fresh cheeses, you name it. Make a picnic out of it and you have a substantially more cost-effective breakfast or lunch than eating at a restaurant!

Eat out for dinners – but find other options for breakfast and lunch
Even I can admit that eating out is a lot more fun than having to figure out your own food. I love to relax and take my time, enjoy a glass of wine or beer, and making an event out of my meal – it is one of my favorite parts of traveling. Dinners will be the most expensive, but it is imperative to experience the local culture of dinner-time while visiting a new location. The United States tends to eat dinner very quickly, where other countries drag it out for hours on end. It is truly a unique and fun experience, one that I highly recommend to all travelers. Take your time, don’t rush, and make dinner an event.

Find a hotel that includes a meal
If you plan ahead of time, you can research hotels that have special deals with food costs worked into the nightly rate. Usually it will be a breakfast, but nevertheless, having a free breakfast daily is a big savings. Imagine that you spend $15 per person on breakfast each day. If two of you are traveling, and you are gone for 5 days, that is a savings of $150 alone!

All Inclusive options
This is my least favorite way to save money on food, but it does work in some instances. All-inclusive resorts include all your meals and sometimes your drinks. The problem is that often the food is worse than mediocre and you get to eat it OVER AND OVER again. Usually by the time I leave the property, I am so over the food, I cannot wait to get home and eat something different. Or worse, I can’t stand the food and end up going off-property to eat, which totally defeats the purpose of an all-inclusive. Remember – you pay more per night for an all-inclusive, so weigh your options carefully! Another thing to think about, when staying at an all-inclusive, you tend to leave the property less, which does not give you as rich of a travel experience. Traveling is about exploring – so get yourself out there!

Stay at a Bed & Breakfast
There is a reason these places are aptly named “Bed & Breakfast”. Yes, they include breakfast – smarty pants. Often breakfasts at B&B’s are delicious, with home-made baked goods, fresh fruit, gourmet omelets. They are not mass producing the food like they do at larger hotel chains or resorts, so you can bet that the food will be exponentially better. If you are not sure about the place and their cuisine – do a quick search on reviews and see what other travelers had to say!

Do you have any other tips of how you save money on food while on vacation? Leave a comment below!

Love, K.