Travel Tips on Dining

• Chinese Eating Etiquette NEW
• Are you dying to try a popular (but expensive) restaurant, but worried what it will do to your budget? The solution is to go for lunch rather than dinner. The price will be lower, and as an added bonus you’ll have the rest of the day to walk off the big meal.
• If you are invited to a traditional restaurant, expect your Japanese host to order for you. You can indicate what you like beforehand if you have a preference, but otherwise just trust their judgment.
• Don’t be wasteful, but you should leave a small amount of food on your plate when dining with Japanese hosts. This lets them know you are full, and that the meal was sufficient.
• Tipping is unnecessary in a Japanese restaurant, as your bill will most likely include a service charge.
• Look for hotels and B&Bs that include breakfast in the cost of the room. Not only will this speed your morning along, you can save your money for a more tasty meal later in the day.
• If you are dining alone or with just a couple of friends, some small German restaurants may require you to join some other diners at their table. Just go ahead with your meal as if you were at your own table.
• A tip of 10% is considered sufficient for German restaurants and taxis. You can leave more for exceptional service.
• In Spain, some restaurants will drop your bill by 10-20% if you eat at the bar rather than at a table.
• Spaniards are very social, and spend a lot of time in cafes and bars. To match their eating schedule, eat a light breakfast, a small snack around 11 a.m., a late lunch (1:30-4), a snack around 7 or 8 p.m., then a light dinner around 10 p.m.
• Don't count on airline food for your meal. There could be turbulence that causes the meal to be delayed or cancelled. Carry some nutritious snacks onto the plane just in case.
• Even if you're not on a restricted diet, consider requesting one of the special meal choices when flying. These are often tastier than standard meals, and are made with more care. Call the airline at least 24 hours ahead of time to order, and confirm your request at check-in.