When someone asks what is the best decision to make when traveling, the answer is always the same. Focus on food during your trip.
Why? Think about it. What are your favorite travel memories? Most likely this is a meal.
Whether it was that little taco stand that changed your life or the insanely good tasting menu that exceeded all expectations. Like no other activity, eating brings travelers closer to their destination.
Here’s the deal…
Food tourism is currently more popular than ever. And gastronomic travel is the main driver. Food vacations allow travelers to engage with their destination on a level that traditional vacations don’t.
You have access to restaurants that immerse you directly in the culture, history and identity of a place.
But food-centered travel requires foresight. If not done correctly, visitors end up eating at chain restaurants or overrated tourist traps.
Here are some tips for planning your culinary trip so you can eat right on your next vacation.
What you will learn:
- Why plan a culinary vacation?
- Restaurant research tips
- Tips for planning your itinerary
- Reservation tips
- Tips for enjoying every meal
Why plan a culinary vacation?
Consider this…
Food tourism is a global trend that continues to grow year after year. Hilton recently released its 2025 Trends Report, which predicts that in 2025, 81% of travelers will be most excited to try local cuisine while visiting a new destination.
These are bananas! Locals who want to sample dishes that define their city’s food scene are the main motivator for vacation spots.
Travelers will continue to spend at this rapid pace through 2030, according to a recent culinary tourism market research report. The culinary tourism market is expected to grow by 19.9% annually until then!
Why should you care?
When food is your top priority on vacation, every meal is an adventure. Each restaurant is a destination in itself.
Whether you’re enjoying great food in Las Vegas at places like Stubborn Seed or wandering the streets of Bangkok in search of the best Pad Thai. Many travelers remember meals long after museums and hotels come to mind.
Restaurant research tips
The research carried out before a culinary vacation determines its success.
To go into a city blind is to expect disappointment. The best guests abroad know the exact schedule of restaurants to eat at weeks before their first flight.
Here are some steps you should take when looking for restaurants abroad.
- Find food blogs specific to the city you’re visiting. Bloggers spend years building relationships within their food scene. They know the best restaurants inside and out. Search Google for recent articles about your destination.
- Use Instagram and TikTok. While blog posts are great, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok show the food as it actually looks when it’s served. Search for city-specific location tags and photos posted by real guests.
- Read interviews with chefs. When browsing a list of restaurants you want to try, putting faces to the names is of great importance. You’ll also learn valuable information that can help you decide which restaurants are a must-visit and which you should skip.
- Search Reddit or Facebook for restaurant recommendations. If you simply search “Best Restaurants in (insert city here)” on Reddit or Facebook, you’ll likely get restaurant recommendations from locals and travelers alike.
Think about your own must-try restaurants before booking your next trip.
Tips for planning your itinerary
If food is your top priority, plan to eat in as many restaurants as possible.
Who wouldn’t want to eat at five master restaurants in one day?
Here’s the problem with this…
Burnout.
Yes, it is possible to eat too much while traveling. Be careful when planning your itinerary.
Plan a restaurant that is your main priority for the day. Build the rest of your itinerary around this meal.
The best approach is to eat one “hero” meal per day.
Their Hero Dinner is the restaurant that requires reservations months in advance. Or the place with the expensive but unique tasting menu.
It’s the restaurant you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Fill your day with activities that don’t involve food. Schedule breaks to walk and explore.
You never know when you’ll spot that little mom and pop sushi shop with the freshest fish you’ve ever tasted.
Here is a sample itinerary with a focus on food:
- Wake up
- Light breakfast/coffee to go
- Time for sightseeing!
- Hero’s meal (lunch or dinner)
- Second meal (optional)
- NIGHT-NIGHT
Tips for getting reservations
Securing reservations at your dream restaurants is a struggle.
Large restaurants typically release reservations exactly 30 days from the day you book. Some even hold reservation lotteries.
If you want to eat at these sought-after locations, you’ll need to plan accordingly.
Set up multiple calendar reminders when your top restaurants open for reservations.
Popular locations often sell out within an hour of opening the links. Be ready to book as soon as your reservation window opens.
Search for restaurants on more than the obvious reservation platforms.
Resy.com, Opentable.com, and tock.com are great sites to browse. However, some restaurants only accept reservations through their websites.
Try to book during off-peak times.
If you want to dine at a popular restaurant, look for less crowded visiting times. Tuesday lunchtime will be less fully booked than Saturday evening.
Always have a plan B.
This cannot be emphasized enough. Always think of a backup restaurant.
You can do all the prep work in the world, but things happen. Someone may have mistakenly booked your reservation for two people, or the restaurant may not have enough menu options for your party.
Don’t worry if you are turned away from a restaurant. You also have another solid option for flipping.
Tips for enjoying every meal
How you approach eating affects the overall enjoyment of each meal.
No one wants to impatiently rip apart pieces of steak and leave bite-sized holes everywhere because they’re too hungry to enjoy the meal.
You never want to be that guy.
Eat lighter before meals.
You never want to come into a restaurant hungry. But you also don’t want to eat your weight in pasta before lunch.
Find a happy medium. A little snack here and there will keep your taste buds entertained before dinner.
Let the chef cook.
Many kitchens pride themselves on tasting menus, where there is little scope for personalizing dishes.
Stay true to what you know best. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the foods you eat. Your waiter is there to inform you about the menu.
Write things down.
You can do this by taking photos of your food or even jotting down the dishes and wines you enjoyed the most in a journal.
You will forget 90% of this information if you don’t record it somehow.
Slow down your roll.
Enjoy every dish. Seriously, you’re on vacation!
Don’t rush to eat just to be told you can check the restaurant off your list.
In conclusion
There you have it. Some tips to keep in mind when planning your next culinary vacation.
Remember…
- Plan your restaurants before booking your trip
- Build your itinerary so that you visit a must-visit restaurant each day
- With a little preparation and flexibility, you can get to the restaurants of your choice
- Approach every dining experience with intention
Food is an important factor for most travelers these days. More and more people are deciding where to go next based on where they want to eat next.
Don’t let yourself be left behind. Plan a culinary vacation that you will remember for a lifetime.