Going out to eat with friends, family or your partner is always a pleasure. You get to enjoy good food and have a pleasant time in the company of those closest to you. Since you really shouldn’t be deprived of moments like that, no matter how bad the economy is, have a look at these tricks for cutting costs in restaurants.

First of all, your choice of restaurant is crucial to saving your wallet. Restaurant chains and small neighbourhood establishments offer you good food at reasonable prices.

In addition, many restaurants offer free loyalty cards which give you the chance to accumulate points that can be exchanged for money to use on another occasion. Check out the offers available at different establishments before choosing.

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At times of economic crisis, it would seem logical to try and reduce costs when travelling, that is to say, opt for cheaper destinations, travel using low cost airlines or stay in hostels instead of hotels. But, for those of you who don’t want to give up on getting to know the essence of the main European capitals despite your limited resources, your best option is that of the new concept of boutique hotels.

Why? Because what seems cheap can work out more expensive in the long run. If you’re only going to visit Paris, Milan, Prague, Berlin or London once in your life there is no point in you trying to scrimp by choosing accommodation in the outskirts miles away from any point of interest, shopping area, or especially, any of the city’s attractions. In the end, you always get to know a city when you try to live like the locals.

Now the main trend for hotels is to be situated in the very heart of the cities, where you find the best bars and restaurants.

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There are lots of ways of travelling: letting your travel agent deal with everything, going on a spontaneous adventure or adapting every element of your trip to your budget so you don’t come up against any financial surprises. At the moment, many of us are interested in this last option. Travelling can also be fun on a limited budget.

When you plan a get-away, a mini-break, a long weekend or a trip, bear in mind the cost of getting there, of accommodation, of public transport at your destination, the money you will spend on leisure and souvenirs and the amount you will spend on food. The latter can be a significant amount, especially if you are visiting capital cities or major tourist destinations, as it can really eat into your budget and is difficult to anticipate in advance.

There are fast-food chains in every city and they can fill the lunchtime or dinnertime gap for a moderate price. But if you fancy eating a bit better without spending much, I suggest you take a look at the supermarkets in the area.

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