Has this ever happened to you? You're in a new city, hungry, and not knowing where to go. The website Travelzoo has put together some tips on how to plan ahead and find a great meal when you're out on the road.

Plan ahead and book a culinary walking tour: Culinary walking tours are becoming more and more popular in cities worldwide. If done early in your trip, this is also a great way to sample several dishes, get a lay of the land and then decide what places you might want to come back to at a later date.

Read local publications and posts from local food bloggers: Do some research and read up before you go. Posts from local food bloggers and news reporters is a quick Google search away. Some regional magazines or newspapers even have yearly dining lists that can take a lot of the guesswork out of a visit.

Ask real people: People who actually live in the area can be a wealth of knowledge. Hotel concierges and taxi cab drivers, for example, can be extremely helpful. Asking people you meet can also be a good icebreaker for gathering even more tips and suggestions.

Search out regional options: It’s always important to try the food of the area, not just things you can get at home. Also, stick to the basics. If you’re in an area where there’s only one pizza place that’s busy on a block full of traditional restaurants, it could be it's popular only because it’s a novelty.

Avoid eating near the biggest tourist attractions in town: Restaurants near tourist attractions often times have an easier time prospering, meaning the food doesn’t have to be all that good or interesting to get a decent crowd. Usually places in neighborhoods are a better bet than those on the main drags.

Download related apps: The real value in smart phone apps such as these is when you're searching for more specific information: when’s the best time to get a table? What’s the one thing everyone raves about? Do they take reservations (perhaps for later on in the trip)?

Look for lines: If people are willing to wait in line to dine at a certain restaurant, that says a lot. Once you find a spot that looks hot, do your research to find a better time to come back, or even better, see if they take reservations

Find out if kids are welcome: If the restaurant host looks perturbed or put off by kids, clearly it’s not a place for the family to grab a bite to eat. If it looks too stuffy, or filled with only couples or adults, go elsewhere. Why ruin the night for you and the other guests.

Source: Travelzoo


See Also:

More From KIKN-FM / Kickin' Country 99.1/100.5