Rick Steves Cautions Travelers To Avoid This Dining Option In European Hotels

Travel expert Rick Steves does not just help people narrow down where to go and what to see when they're planning a European adventure. He also frequently offers tips for making the most out of your trip regardless of the destination. These tips often revolve around saving money and seeking out authenticity — and that extends to local cuisine.

However, as Steves finds ways to eat great food without high prices, there is a common hotel and meal package offer which he chooses to avoid, even though it sounds like a budget-friendly dining option. "Some hotels offer room rates that include dinner in their dining room (called 'half-board' or 'half-pension')," he explains on his website. "While it might not be that expensive, it does limit when and where you eat. I prefer the freedom to explore and sample local restaurants or shop for picnics." Steves advises against eating breakfast at the hotel, too. This is definitely on brand for how the expert wants people to travel, given that he enjoys getting a feel for local life. Doing so includes finding hole-in-the-wall restaurants and shopping for picnic supplies in a grocery store or farmers' market.

"Half board" sometimes means two meals are included with the price of your hotel stay, and one is likely a buffet. Another hotel dining package deal is "full board," wherein you can get three meals per day at the hotel's on-site restaurant. Think of half board and full board as limited versions of the all-inclusive option commonly offered at resorts. All-inclusive generally means food and drinks are available all day, rather than just meals.

Rick Steves' fellow traveler, the late Anthony Bourdain, would perhaps agree with Steves' advice to forgo your hotel's dining options. Rather than hotel dining experiences, episodes of his television shows including "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" focused on street carts, historic restaurants, and anywhere in between. In an interview with Bon Appétit, Bourdain stated that he does not drink at hotel bars, either. "Find out where the people who work at your hotel do their drinking," he explained. This strategy can easily apply to food, too. So instead of dining at your hotel, maybe ask hotel staff where they recommend going for affordable, local eats. This will help you combine food with valuable exploration.