Eat better – Airplane tip

If you want to eat a better meal on your next long-haul flight, request a vegetarian (or kosher) meal when you book your tickets.

In addition to being fresher, the vegetarian and kosher meals on airlines — which are often the same — are often tastier than their meat-based meals. In addition, on U.S.-based flights, the meals often are less mixed together, making them easier to dissect/remove parts that don’t appeal to you.

Turn spare change into jewelry – Souvenir tip

As a poor student in the 60’s, I was lucky to pull together the money for a trip to France, but didn’t have a single sou left to buy souvenirs. What I did instead was to carefully scour my change and collect one French coin of every denomination minted that year.

After I got home and got a little money together, I found a jeweler who made my centimes and francs into a beautiful charm bracelet. It represents the time and place of a life-changing trip, and decades later, I still wear my all-time favorite souvenir.

Rent an apartment – International travel tip

As parents of 3 young children, rental apartments have become our favorite lodging when traveling.

Most country’s tourist boards maintain lists of rental apartments, and one can check reviews of the “chosen” apartment from the internet.

We visit the local butcher and purchase meals to finish at the apartment. The farmer’s market becomes much more fun when you get to take the produce “home” to cook locals will always tell you the best way to prepare it. Further, restaurants will often provide you take-out, so the romantic meal can still be had while the children sleep in bed.

Not only are rental apartments budget-friendly, they offer you the chance to “live like a local” while you’re visiting the destination.

Book a room with a refrigerator – Hotel tip

One of the easiest ways to save money while staying in a hotel is to book a room with a refrigerator.

Food is one of the biggest expenses while traveling, and dining out can add up fast. If you have a small fridge in your room, you can easily have cereal or yogurt for breakfast, or sandwiches for lunch. If you dine out or order in, a refrigerator is a perfect way to store your leftovers.

And remember these words to live by: Cold pizza is always good for breakfast!

Eat street food! – Dining out tip

When traveling, don’t dine out at a fancy restaurant. Instead, head to a street vendor, especially if you’re in a foreign country.

I promise it’s delicious and safe to eat. Furthermore, you’ll probably get a better feel for the local culture and cuisine dining alongside locals. Plus, you’ll save big bucks, as street food is notoriously inexpensive.

My favorite places for street food? Mexico and France!