{"id":117457,"date":"2020-09-26T05:48:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T09:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/news\/travel-with-large-family-food\/"},"modified":"2024-10-22T09:20:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T13:20:42","slug":"travel-with-large-family-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/en\/guide\/travel-with-large-family-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling With a Big Family : Food | Family travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]After discussing accommodation<\/a> and transportation<\/a>, the “Travelling with a large family” series looks at food while travelling. We’ll discuss several conditions, strategies that will make you smile and of course the common sense that prevails at all times.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”A word from the expert” el_id=”a_word_from_the_expert”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

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Food makes up an important part of the budget, which can quickly become a sinkhole for large families. With children, you can be imaginative in order to save money, whether it is thanks to airport or hotel buffets, or by being clever in earning points for your groceries while travelling!<\/p>\n

Jean-Maximilien Voisine - Pr\u00e9sident-Fondateur de milesopedia<\/pre>\n<\/blockquote>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”47785″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Eating while travelling” el_id=”eating_while_travelling”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]Every day, three times a day, excluding snacks… that’s several meals to budget for. For a family of five, that’s 210 meals over two weeks. For eight, it’s 336. And we can agree that the age of the children will have a big impact on the budget<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
You know teenagers…[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”102570″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Buffets in airport lounges.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”buffets_in_airport_lounges_”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]Airport lounges,<\/b> which are available with certain credit cards<\/a>, are a must<\/em> for parents who maximize their use of these lounges, in order to fill their ever-hungry tummies for free, especially those of teenagers in front of a buffet!<\/p>\n
 These lounges have been used many times during departures, stopovers and even arrivals, for example in Orlando on the way to Disney.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”73006″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]Depending on your subscription to lounges and the age of the children, the access may be free or counted towards the number of visits allowed. Read the fine print in the booklet that comes with your credit card! Otherwise, you risk paying the same price in cash or admission for an adult as you would for a four-year-old child.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”97887″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_custom_heading text=”Snack bags when travelling” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”snack_bags_when_travelling”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Another solution to avoid buying food at airports is to prepare bags FILLED with snacks, or small dishes for the duration of the flight. On the way there and on the way back.<\/p>\n
Each child receives a big bag, explains one mother, which contains a gold mine of snacks: small bag of “Gold fish”, bag of peanuts, cereals, cookies, ramen noodles, chips, a packet of gum, a chocolate bar, chewy bars, fruit bars, fruit compotes, muffins, etc.<\/p>\n
They eat what is perishable first and of course they drag their water bottles to fill.<\/p>\n
This allows children to manage their loot without the parents having to spend a fortune before boarding or during the flight.<\/p>\n
Wet wipes must be included in the bag![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”97871″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Breakfast at the hotel” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”breakfast_at_the_hotel”][vc_column_text]Our best tip to save money for breakfast: choose hotels with breakfast included. For example, most of the Best Western chain<\/a> include breakfast. This is also the case for Marriott Bonvoy<\/a> with Residence Inn. Go eat breakfast later than you usually would<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Some families say they bring items from the breakfast buffet (e.g. cheese, fruit, muffin, chewy bar, bread and peanut butter\/jelly) as afternoon snacks. Then all they have to do is plan an early dinner.<\/p>\n
It should be noted, however, that several hotels have begun serving portions in large dishes to avoid this practice. For example, yogurt is in a large jar rather than in small containers, jams are served in bowls and juices in pitchers, etc. Of course, there will still be some options such as a fruit or a muffin, but they are scarcer than before.<\/p>\n
Some chains like Marriott also offer hearty free breakfasts if you have the status to do so. Some bills easily exceed a hundred dollars when you are a family of five or more.<\/p>\n
Finally, when breakfast is not included in the accommodation, our families buy the groceries the night before. The fridge in your room, although small, can be very useful<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Few families go to the restaurant for breakfast.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”73110″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Hotel lounges” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”hotel_lounges”][vc_column_text]Some hotels also offer lounges where you can go, with your family, in the evening! It’s ideal for saving on dinner, since their buffets are often very well stocked![\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”47413″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Restaurants” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”restaurants”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]These families are good at planning! Let’s see what they do at the restaurant.<\/p>\n
If you must eat at a restaurant, then do it for lunch, as the menus are often cheaper.<\/b><\/p>\n
Ordering two<\/strong> plates for three<\/b> children is more than enough. You can even order three bigger meals<\/b> for 6, and that’s plenty,<\/p>\n
Avoid combos<\/strong>: try ordering a dozen hamburgers at the restaurant and then buying juice and side dishes at the grocery store. The family chicken meal offer is also well appreciated as well as two extra large pizzas for everyone.<\/p>\n
Local Groupon<\/b> offers are also worth checking out, as well as the websites for the restaurants you visit. It is even possible to find buffets where younger children can eat for free.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”76830″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Cooking for yourself” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” el_id=”cooking_for_yourself”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]Cooking for the family is a way to save money in itself that can be improved.<\/p>\n
First of all, sign up for loyalty programs in the country’s grocery stores such as Leclerc<\/strong><\/a>in France or Safeway<\/strong><\/a> in the United States, including Hawaii to take advantage of discounts. Don’t forget about Costco<\/strong><\/a>, when available.<\/p>\n
Favour picnics on the road: buy bread, cheese, fruit, nuts at the grocery store, and go enjoy it in a park.<\/p>\n
Depending on where the holiday takes place, you can compromise between cooking yourself on site and going to a restaurant:<\/p>\n