Condo rentals and vacation homes offer a great vacation experience at a lower cost than most hotels. To lower costs even further, plan on doing most of the cooking yourself. You can save a small fortune by buying most of your food on sale and avoiding the tourist traps (also known as restaurants) in the area.

1. Make a menu for all the meals you will likely eat on your vacation. Do plan for one or two eating out experience and find the establishments the locals frequent to get a real feel for local cuisine.

2. Shop ahead. Spend several weeks ahead of the vacation looking for great deals on cereals, chips, crackers, condiments and even meats.

3. Separate and freeze foods that won’t keep until the vacation (like chicken breasts or pork chops). Go ahead and make hamburger patties, or brown up some ground beef and freeze that as well.

4. Cook planned-overs. You know your party of 10 won’t eat an entire spiral ham. Plan for the ham for dinner, and used the leftover meat in a strudel, sandwiches, and omelets during the rest of the week. You plan ahead to have left-overs AND plan what to do with them.

5. Know what is available in the kitchen where you are staying and pack (or purchase depending on cost and purpose) any other items you might need.

6. Bring along ready made treats and meals. There is bound to be a least one time when you need something quick and easy. Having a bag of fishsticks or hotdogs will mean you can have supper on the table with little or no hassle almost as quick as everyone can get changed and cleaned up to eat.

7. Stick to what you know best. The vacation kitchen is probably not the best laboratory for trying new recipes or new techniques. Stick to the tried and true meals that you know your family enjoys.

8. Buy local for things life bread and milk. You won’t be able to save enough on these purchases to make them worth the hassle of packing up.

Choosing to cook in for your vacation meals can save you a small fortune off your travel budget. If you have a gift for the culinary and its something that you enjoy doing then plan to cook your way through your next vacation. With a little planning (and some volunteers for clean up) it can be a vacation for you as well.

Rachel Ray has made the concept of eating inexpensive while on vacation into a franchise. Her $40 a Day shows are great about finding hidden restaurants or local favorites and eating the best for less. You can have the same experience when you are traveling.

1. See what kind of deals your hotel offers. Some have happy hour in the lobby with free appetizers or finger foods. Some have a made to order breakfast or at least a continental breakfast for free. Some may offer coupons to near by eateries.
2. Check out the yellow pages. Look for restaurants that run specials or that have coupons in the yellow pages. Do check with the front desk before you begin cutting up their phone book.
3. Share with a friend. Some places offer a two for the price of one deal. Split the costs with a friend. If you are alone (and the hotel room has a mini-frig) then get the second meal for later.
4. Enjoy all the complimentary gatherings. The last conference I attended had a free cocktail gathering – with FOOD! I was able to enjoy the company of the other attendees and eat dinner all at the same time – and it was free.
5. Don’t large size your dinner. Look for smaller portions or just order from the sides. You don’t have to make a four course meal out of it just because it’s on the menu.
6. A doggie bag is your best friend. Eat a portion of your dinner now and save the rest for dinner or tomorrow’s lunch. Two meals (or more) for the price of one.
7. Ask the hotel staff about where you can eat for less. Sometimes there are local restaurants that offer the best deals in town.
8. Go for the familiar. There are several franchises that offer great deals – many of which you already know about from your own home town. When in doubt, go with what you know.
9. Pack as much of your own food as you can. If you are traveling by car, pack a cooler with drinks and snacks and sandwiches. If you are traveling by air, pack some bottled water and snacks (to save on costs at the hotel). If there is a mini-frig, go to the store and stock it with things instead of buying from the vending machines or the mini-bar.

Taking a trip can be an expensive venture. Eating while you are traveling can be the most expensive portion of that trip. Instead of turning away from the idea of going on that adventure because of the costs, find ways to cut the costs by being creative and frugal.