Having visited India several times in my life, I can confidently say that eating a cold dish is a one-way trip to the hospital. It’s because food handling standards in some countries are not quite the same as in developed nations.
Foods to avoid include chilled sauces and desserts. It’s actually a pretty easy tip to follow because most food is made hot and fresh. However, chilled foods are a problem because bacteria is permitted to develop and the food may be several days old.
An investment of a few dollars saves countless travel bucks!
A collapsible fabric cooler takes basically no room in your luggage, since it flattens when packed. Easy-to-carry coolers have shoulder straps, and some may even double as backpacks. Many coolers store wine upright; half of the top flips up to accommodate the taller bottle. Expensive snack items and beverages bite into travel funds, but one trip to the hotel ice machine and one stop at the local convenience store add up to extra cash. These coolers can turn an ordinary picnic lunch into a wonderful travel memory.
Bonus: you can use it as a dirty clothes hamper at the end of your trip!
Before you go out of the country, make a few wallet-sized cards that list what you can and can’t eat in the native language(s) of the country you’re visiting.
I like to list what I’m able to eat on one side of the card… and list the foods I can’t have on the other. This makes it so the server and kitchen can’t easily mix them up.
This is especially helpful for vegetarian and vegans, people with religious dietary restrictions, and people with food allergies.
Just because you might drop a few bucks on the table after eating dinner in the States doesn’t mean that’s appropriate behavior everywhere. It’s best to check local customs before deciding to do the same in another country.
Some countries, such as New Zealand, Australia and Japan, don’t customarily tip and the result can be confusion for your servers. In other countries, such as France, the tip is added to the bill automatically.
Take the time and check online or ask locally if tips are customary before making the gesture.
We go on vacation to be someplace different. Yet many people eat the same old foods on vacation as they eat at home. On your next vacation, challenge your family to a food “dare” contest. Here’s how:
The meal might not be tasty or balanced but it’s sure to be memorable.