Eat early – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

One of the best parts of a vacation is trying new and tasty cuisines. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most expensive parts. To give your wallet a break and still relish in the joys of fine dining, opt for eating out earlier in the day.

As a rule, breakfast, brunch and lunch menus are less expensive than dinner menus. A big meal earlier in the day is also a great way to keep you energetic for the day’s sightseeing activities.

It’s okay to splurge on dinner every once in a while, but consider something quick, easy and inexpensive for most of your later meals. Bonus: by not filling up late at night, you’ll feel more awake, ready to tackle your destination’s nightlife!

Gadlinks for Thursday, 1.14.2010

by Katie Hammel on

It’s almost Friday! Here’s a few more travel tidbits from around the net to help you soldier on until the weekend.

More Gadlinks here

What’s in a dive bar? More than your guidebook is telling you

by Grant Martin on

Dive bars have a special place in this traveler’s heart. They’re places where sullen, engaging, vociferous and colorful locals get together, down a few pints and tell the real story of a destination. They’re the corner bar in the middle-class neighborhood south of Stockholm, the late night dive hidden down an alley in a pocket of the Barri Gotic in Barcelona and the smoky joint with board games and the 78 year old bartender off of the Addison corridor in Chicago.

They haven’t always got the the newest digs, hottest style or top spot in Time Out’s regional guide, but the story that they tell is cleaner and more visceral than all of those vapid places combined. It’s the story of being a local in a place not unlike home, of lives reeling in motion, working, commuting, loving and drinking in an orbit just removed from our own.

Today at Gadling we’ll be featuring our favorite dive bars and dive bar stories from around the world, from Aaron Hotfelder’s profile of the BEST DIVE BAR IN THE MIDWEST (coming next!) to Melanie Nayer’s own interview with Guy Fieri from the hit show on the Food Network Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Stick around, get comfortable and lets work off our weekend hangovers together.

Stick to your diet – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you want to avoid gaining weight on a cruise, call the cruise line and ask them to send you a menu — or go online and print it out before your trip.

Create your own menu for the week from the existing cruise menu and stick to it when you go on your cruise. If you know what you’re planning on eating before you go on your trip, you’re less likely to eat foods that you normally try and stay away from. Sticking to your diet will stop you from feeling guilty about eating too much and help you relax.

Do your homework before leaving – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Fish tacos in San Diego, deep dish pizza in Chicago, crab cakes in Maryland: anywhere you travel, there’s likely a specialty food to go along with it.

Thanks to the Internet and sites like Yelp, researching has never been easier when it comes to finding the best food and restaurants in a particular locale. Don’t forget to check the web for local tips — and be sure to consider sourcing information on Facebook and Twitter.

Before your next trip be sure to do your homework and it will pay off when you arrive and are ready to experience the local cuisine.

One last tip: try to find the places locals prefer … and avoid restaurants who thrive on the business of tourists.