by Gail Kerry

Created on: August 18, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

There are three distinct strategies for finding great food while travelling. The first method is the haphazard (or sheer luck) approach and is the highly preferred route for impetuous travelers. You simply walk out of your hotel after arriving in a new city until you stumble onto a place that looks appealing. If you are an adventurous sort and revel at the opportunity of being the first to discover a terrific eatery without taking advice from the travel experts, this may be the right way to go.

If you enjoy planning minute details of your trip beforehand, the haphazard approach is definitely not recommended. The second method intended for travelers who do not appreciate surprises, is to utilize any one of a multitude of outstanding reference guides such as AAA, Frommer's, Fodor's or Zagat's to direct you to a food establishment which suits your taste, dress preference and budget criteria.

The third method of finding great food is to ask the locals. When using this approach, you should ask several different people in order to get a consensus. Otherwise, you may be receiving a recommendation from a relative of the restaurateur. A concierge at a hotel is a good reference source, since it is their job to provide recommendations to tourists and business travelers, but it is still wise to confirm his/her recommendations with a non-interested party.

While there are some advantages to each method, a combination is the best way to go. First consult at least two travel guides and look for commonalities. If two guides both highly recommend a restaurant, it is probably a safe bet. Next, check with the concierge and see if the restaurant is on his/her short list. If not, ask them specifically about the restaurant you have in mind.

Pinpoint the neighborhood with several recommendations and before you make a final decision, take a look at each establishment yourself to see if it is appealing. Some establishments go through changes long after their information is printed in restaurant guides. A well known chef can leave or one owner sells to another and before you know it, the restaurant can lose its appeal.

Pay attention to clues which will indicate a lot more information about the establishment. If a restaurant has great food at an inexpensive price, you are sure to find many local senior citizens on the scene. For some reason, food becomes more important after retirement and stretching a dollar becomes a pastime to many seniors. On the other hand, an empty parking lot can indicate exorbitant prices or terrible food, regardless of a high food rating.

Finally, don't be afraid to go in for a look-see, and order a drink at the bar. Without committing to dine there, it will give you a few moments to assess the service and comfortably view the menu. If nothing appeals to you, have your cocktail and move on.

Avoid chain restaurants whenever possible, because part of the fun in travelling is trying something new. Taste your way through no-name eateries in cities and towns across America and throughout the world. Most importantly, remember that your dining experience away from home is an opportunity to gain a lasting memory which you may savor for years to come.

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