The Type Of Restaurant Rick Steves Warns Tourists To Avoid When Traveling In Europe

There are many reasons to get excited if you are traveling to Europe this summer. That's because there are so many sites to visit, historical lessons to learn, majestic art to appreciate, and cuisines to partake in, only you'll want to be sure that you avoid a certain type of restaurant across the continent that is not known for sitting well with visitors.

According to travel expert and globe-trotting blogger Rick Steves, any restaurant in Europe with a sign that reads "We speak English" is one to be skipped at all costs. That's because these eateries are attempting to cater to all kinds of travelers with generic food items spread across menus in multiple languages, catering to all while not being particularly appetizing to anyone — effectively making them a tourist trap. In this case, how can you manage to make the most out of your trip to the continent without having your wallet taken advantage of?

If you are flying from North America, the biggest expense is getting to Europe. The best way to stay on budget is to find a cheap flight to Europe and even consider booking an "open-jaw flight." This is where your travel plans involve booking a flight that lands in European City A and another that departs out of European City B back to your original departing city. Going pointed out how open-jaw might be more cost effective than a typical round trip airfare booking if you plan it out right.

When it comes to food, there are plenty of ways to be thrifty. Simify breaks down eating in Europe into four categories: restaurant dining, patronizing cafes and bistros, buying food from street vendors, and doing your own grocery shopping and cooking. A meal at a sit-down establishment tends to start on the lower end of $10 to $15 then goes up to around $20 to $30, unless it is a fine dining eatery which can be $50 or more for each person at the table. Purchasing snacks and food on the street or preparing dishes on your own can be as cheap as $5 to $10 per meal.

When it comes to eating in restaurants in Europe, Steves recommended that travelers seek out local establishments with handwritten menus that provide daily specials and are written in the language the country speaks as one of the best ways to get a meal without spending your travel money on mistakes like bad food.

The Artsy-Traveler agrees with Steves, adding that a telltale way to know if a restaurant is not only inexpensive, but has quality cuisine, is to notice how many locals are dining there. If you do not see any, then move on to another eatery. This might require you to go off the beaten path, but you'll tend to find lower prices, better food, and far fewer crowds.

Location and destination also plays a part in the type of European food you'll be offered and the cost to eat it at a restaurant. While London, Paris, and Rome might be the epicenters of European vacations, cities like Lisbon, Granada, and Istanbul are cheaper destinations that still offer incredible food.