Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash
During my backpacking trip across Western Europe in 2019, I learned something about dining luxuriously on a budget in the most ironic manner.
After splurging on a meal at a beach-front Naples restaurant in order to get some high quality seafood pasta, I felt guilty for overspending.
I’m sure you’ve been there. That feeling of frustration when you realize, “Oh crap, I could’ve saved that money for something I actually need.”
After all, when backpacking, the last thing you want to do is go broke - especially through excess purchases.
I subsequently told myself that this would be the first and only restaurant I do this in; that I’ll never spend this much money on food or any other redundancies again. And I stuck to my word, buying only what I could afford for the remainder of my trip.
Yet the reality is that there was a way I could’ve gotten that meal for a lot cheaper. As a matter of fact, I could’ve gotten a bunch of luxurious meals for a fraction of what I paid for this seafood pasta at this Naples restaurant. And I still would’ve been within my spending-plan limits.
I just didn’t know what the way was - because I hadn’t unlocked the secret… yet.
And now I have; not only am I about to use it, but I’m also going to tell you what it is.
Ready?
Travel credit cards and loyalty programs.
If you haven’t taken advantage of these yet, I’m about to explain to you how you can do so in order to leverage the benefits of your credit cards, maximize your travel & dining rewards, and make your adventures feel lavish, while knowing deep down that you spent pennies on those experiences.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Leverage Credit Card Dining Rewards Programs
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Many travel credit cards offer special rewards and bonuses when you dine out - like the American Express Cobalt® Card, the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, or the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* credit card in Canada, and the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card in the U.S., to name a few.
Bet you didn’t know that, huh?
If you want to take advantage of these strategies on your travels, then look for cards that provide extra points for dining purchases, or have partnerships with specific restaurants or food delivery services.
For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 3x points on dining worldwide - including delivery and takeout services.
You can then use these points to redeem for dining gift cards, statement credits, or even direct bookings at exclusive restaurants through your card’s travel portal.
While this may require a bit of forethought if you plan to travel to specific destinations, it’s worth it for the amount of benefits you can rack up through dining points.
After all, if you’re going to eat, why not earn while you’re doing it?
2. Utilize Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs for Dining Deals
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash
While I know many backpackers - myself included - prefer hostels when it comes to saving money, you’ve got to admit that sometimes, you want to splurge and experience a hotel.
Airline and hotel loyalty programs often have their own dining rewards networks - like the American Airlines AAdvantage Dining program, which allows you to earn 1X to 5X AAdvantage miles per dollar as well as 1,000 AAdvantage miles when you spend $25 or more at a participating restaurant within 30 days, or the Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town initiative, which gives you 2X to 8X the Bonvoy points per dollar, and three dining bonuses ranging from 1K - 3K Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $30 and leave a review within your first two months of owning the card.
By signing up for these programs and linking your credit card, you can earn extra miles or points every time you dine at participating restaurants.
Programs like United Airlines MileagePlus Dining, or Hilton Honors Dining offer incentives such as bonus miles for your first dine and additional points for subsequent visits.
These points can then be used to offset travel expenses or book culinary experiences directly through the program’s portal.
Speaking of portals…
3. Take Advantage of Culinary Experiences through Travel Portals
Many travel credit card portals offer curated culinary experiences that can be booked with points.
For instance, American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards have sections dedicated to unique dining experiences, such as chef-led tours, cooking classes, and exclusive tasting menus at top restaurants.
These experiences can be booked for a fraction of the cost using your accumulated points, allowing you to indulge in high-end dining without breaking the bank.
Bonus Tip: Join Dining Membership Programs
Some credit cards offer complimentary memberships to dining programs that provide discounts, early reservations, or exclusive access to culinary events.
For example, the American Express Platinum Card offers access to the Global Dining Collection, which includes special benefits at a curated selection of top restaurants around the world.
If you’re a foodie like me and actually enjoy expensive cuisine, then these memberships can enhance your dining experience while traveling on a budget.
Anyways, that’s it for this article, folks.
And since it’s the end, I conclude my story at the start of this post by writing that the lesson I learned about dining luxuriously on a budget was - quite simply - that it’s possible.
You just have to know the hacks.
And now you do.
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Until our next treasure trove of travel and backpacking tips in the upcoming week, stay adventurous, hone your resilience, and keep growing through travel. Have a great week, and an even better set of adventures till we next meet!