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Travelling means different things to different people, but the one thing that unites all travel is the experience it brings along. Whether you are looking for an unforgettable travel experience in an offbeat location or immersing yourself in the culture, tradition, and food of a location; the type of experience may differ, but it will be an experience still. One of the most important decisions to be made throughout the duration of your travel is where to have your meals?
You may be interested in a culinary travel adventure and ready to try out new restaurants and cuisines, or you may want to eat simple and delicious food to give you the energy for the other experiences throughout the day. Whatever be your preference, finding the right place to eat is an essential part of every itinerary. Here are a few tips for you to make choosing the right restaurants easier. Believe it or not, this will help enhance your overall travel experience to any destination!
Nothing beats good old planning when making a choice – be it a life-altering decision or simply finding a restaurant to eat at during your travels. One of the exciting parts about travelling is planning the trip. This certainly includes checking out the food options the place has to offer. Here are some things you can consider for planning a great culinary travel experience.
In a hyper-connected world, this may seem a no-brainer. But the information overload can confuse you, more than assist in decision-making. But if you use the right methods, there is a wealth of information waiting to be discovered.
Some other great sources of information are personal blogs and online reviews. Personal blogs typically do not have paid promotions (though some may still have affiliate marketing links). These are a great source to find about the popular restaurants and the experience of a fellow traveller in these places. If it includes any of the restaurants in your shortlist, you know where to head to for at least one meal!
Online reviews are a goldmine of information about the restaurants and their services in any tourist destination. There is a possibility of a bias in some of the reviews, but a little extra research can help you filter out the genuine ones.
Once you have a list ready, you have some idea of where to eat during your travels. If you find something unique to your destination, include that in your itinerary. It can really enhance your overall travel experience to the place. However, once you are at your destination, try not to be too rigid about your plan. You may stumble on an exceptional culinary travel adventure by just exploring a little.
The easiest way to discover great restaurants in any travel destination is to ask the locals. Ask your hotel staff, cab driver, or guide about places they like to eat at. The place may not be mentioned in the travel guides, but you can discover some great places to eat by asking around. You may also get to know about any specialty dishes and the restaurants that serve them. This will surely be a unique travel experience that you can look back at, long after your return.
Once you reach your destination, explore the neighbourhood and observe the place. Are there any restaurants in the area that have huge lines waiting outside? Chances are, the food there is good, which is why people are ready to wait to eat there. You do not need to join the queue, though. Walk up to the place and ask if they take in reservations. You can come back later with a reservation. Alternatively, you can try to reach a little early when the crowds have not yet started to form, and try out the place.
An important tip is to avoid places that are too touristy. Chances are they are getting so many tourists that you may not have a great service. Not really the culinary travel experience you would like to have, isn’t it! Instead, check out places that are a little away from the major tourist attractions, and you may discover a great restaurant.
It is one of the easiest ways to find out about restaurants in any travel destination. Is there a restaurant whose décor and ambiance attracted you as you were roaming the streets? Why not go in and try out the food too! Chances are you may not like the food, but also the chances are you may discover something that others haven’t so far. Experimentation will only add to your overall travel experiences in any destination.
If you do not want to risk going to unknown restaurants and experimenting with the food, this is a great way to discover places to eat. Nearly all tourist destinations have curated food walks that help you explore the cuisines and food history of the place. Signing up for one of these walks can be an offbeat travel experience as well as help you discover food choices in a new place. If you like any particular food item or a place, you can consider going back for a more holistic experience.
If travelling is about experiences, why not add to your travel experiences by exploring different cuisine options available to you. You do not need to overdo it, but trying out one new cuisine available at your travel destination can turn out to be an unforgettable travel experience. If there is a restaurant that specialises in any particular cuisine, you can add it to your itinerary.
Food is undoubtedly an important element in every trip. Why not make it a part of your overall travel experience and explore the options available to you. You can research restaurants at your destination, and sort them by cuisines or budget. When at the location, explore the area for culinary travel experiences you must have and experiment with different types of cuisines. Mix it up with the standard fare to ensure you remain fit and energetic for your travels, yet are able to try out new tastes and dishes.
Ans: There are many ways to find good restaurants, beginning with an online search. Nearly all restaurants have an online presence. Online reviews on aggregator platforms and personal blogs of travellers are other great sources of information. Of course, nothing beats the recommendations from locals when at a new place.
Ans: The specific parameters can vary from person to person. However, some standard pointers to check when choosing a restaurant while travelling include budget, location, service quality, ambiance, and preferred cuisine. A place that does well in most of these parameters will undoubtedly enhance your travel experience.
Ans: When travelling to a new place, it may seem difficult to choose a good restaurant, especially because you are not familiar with the place. Looking out for some common red flags can help in such a scenario. If a restaurant is empty during rush hours, there is a possibility something is wrong there. Another giveaway is too many marketing fliers everywhere and people pestering you to try out the place.
Ans: Food is an integral part of any travel experience. You can enhance your experience by consciously making a little effort towards choosing the places where you eat during your travels. Trying out highly recommended places, checking with the locals on good places to eat, experimenting with places that attract a lot of guests, and going on curated food walks are some ways of having a great culinary travel experience.
Ans: Great restaurant recommendations can be found in two stages. First, before travelling you can look up online resources like personal blogs, reviews, and aggregator or recommendation websites. You can also interact with previous visitors to the destination on online forums, and ask for personal recommendations. The second stage is when you are at the destination. Here, you can ask the locals or fellow travellers for their recommendations of good restaurants.
