Eat
before you get to the airport
as dining prices in the departures section are much higher than what
you might expect.
Restaurants listed in local phone books are divided according to
type of cuisine, so
you can easily find an Italian or French restaurant.
The food in
bars
is usually
reasonably
priced in comparison to restaurant dining.
When traveling, try to
eat
healthy, stay away from buttered, fried, creamed,
scalloped, sugary, rich food and stick to grilled red meat, poultry and
fish, eggs, fruit, vegetables, nuts, yogurt, milk, cereals, low-fat
bread.
Do
not skip
meals in order to avoid eating oversized amounts of food.
Avoid
large
meals before bedtime.
If you are a
vegetarian
or
on a certain diet,
ask a local person (a clerk at your hotel) to write a note describing
your food preferences in the appropriate language that you can show to
the dining location's waiter before ordering.
When buying food at
groceries
and
open-air markets
only shop at stalls that post prices. Some vendors charge the locals
one price and tourists another. Be aware of the local weight standards.
Watch the scales while your food is being weighed. Shop in the mornings
for fresher produce. Watch your posessions, these places are liked by
pickpockets and purse snatchers.
Look
for crowded restaurants. An empty restaurant is usually a
bad
one. So make dining reservations in advance or prepare to wait for a
table.
Most US dining amentities accept 15% as the
standard tip. Bar
tenders usually get 15-20%. In Europe and Asia check your dining bills
for the "service part" portion as your tip may be already included in
the bill. At fancy restaurants, tip the maitre d' between $5 and $10 if
he gets you a dining table. Tip $1 when you check your coat, and
another $.50 to $1 for restroom attendants at the dining amentity. For
personal
service from the wine
steward, opt for 10 percent of the wine bill.
RECOMMENDED
Visit
DINE.com
- a premier resource of unbiased reviews and information on thousands
of restaurants. All the reviews come from visitors to Dine.com - not
paid reviewers.
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