traveling on a budget

**lisettelovebug** · 04-03-2007, 06:06 PM

We are heading down to Florida on Thursday. Going to try to drive all night and then off and on throughout Friday. We don't know where we will be stopping for food because we have never been done there. We'll be going down to Harrisburg and then on to I-95 all the way down. Does anyone have any tips for eating cheap when traveling? We don't want to eat all fast food, because we don't need to have upset tummies!! We may stop at one or two and we are planning on stopping at IHOP. Does anyone know any good little diners or restaurants on the way to FLorida? Any help anyone could give me would be helpful. Oh and any tips on traveling with an 8 month old and 8 year old would be great too. Thanks.

**staceyy** · 04-03-2007, 07:52 PM

You can carry water, soda, fruit, bread, peanut butter and jelly, and snacks such as graham crackers and chips with you. You can also put hotdogs in a thermos with boiling water, and take hotdog buns and condiments with you.

You'll also want to take activities and toys to keep your children occupied.

We carry the restaurant coupons from the Sunday paper with us. Coupons from places like Arby's, Burger King, Subway, Quiznos etc. We also sometimes stop in grocery stores and buy prepared foods or load up on the salad bar. I also always carry my grocery coupons when I travel.

**starsapphire** · 04-03-2007, 08:41 PM

Yes, like Staceyy said, grab a cooler and pack food with you. DH and I are going out of town this weekend too and we're bringing our own drinks, coffee creamer and sugar (we're staying at a hotel and they always have bad coffee and never enough) and snacks. I told DH I was willing to pack more so we wouldn't have to eat out as much but he's kind of against it. I think I'm going to pack more food anyways

its cheaper to grab fruit/granola bar for breakfast than pay $20 in a restaurant. I just may win him over yet

**mustang80** · 04-03-2007, 08:49 PM

My tip for the 8 month old would be...if you are traveling straight through.

We are in NJ and usually drive straight through (15 hours) if we can. If you can drive through the night, the baby will sleep. We did this with DD5 when she was 23 months old and it worked like a charm.

**TheRootedNomad** · 04-04-2007, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by mustang80

My tip for the 8 month old would be...if you are traveling straight through.

We are in NJ and usually drive straight through (15 hours) if we can. If you can drive through the night, the baby will sleep. We did this with DD5 when she was 23 months old and it worked like a charm.

DH and I hve done this multiple times when the boys were small enough they had to be in carseats. (That always seemed like it would be miserable to me being cramped that tight) Neither of us are nightowls so we would drive in shifts and as soon as one would even think they might be tinking about getting tired we'd switch.

We use to make the trip from Long island to Florida when I was a teenager but it's been too long since I've traveled I-95 to be helpful with reateraunts. We're more the I-75 (going down) or Penn Tpke (going up) kinda people.

For food- Definately pack drinks and actual food. Fruit like apples and grapes travel well, dry cereal in baggies works well for little ones, and I second the peanut butter/jelly/laof of bread thing. We always take basic snack food as well and have been known to take fried chicken and biscuits.

**jinx** · 04-04-2007, 08:59 AM

I would pack supplies, like juices, water, snacks, and even the making for simple sandwiches. Traveling on major routes like have little to offer at the rest stops. They are all fast food. Are you a member or AAA or another auto club they have books available that list places to eat in the towns along the way. although I have never driven in that direction, we did drive up to canada this year. Aside from fast food there isnt anything good at the rest stops. To get to a sit down place you have to get off the exits, then it is mostly the chains, like Fridays, to find a truely local place you have to travel way off the exit, adding more time to your trip.

**nodmicks** · 04-04-2007, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by starsapphire

Yes, like Staceyy said, grab a cooler and pack food with you. DH and I are going out of town this weekend too and we're bringing our own drinks, coffee creamer and sugar (we're staying at a hotel and they always have bad coffee and never enough) and snacks. I told DH I was willing to pack more so we wouldn't have to eat out as much but he's kind of against it. I think I'm going to pack more food anyways

its cheaper to grab fruit/granola bar for breakfast than pay $20 in a restaurant. I just may win him over yet

This is what we tend to do also. Awhile back we took the boys and friends to a big waterpark hotel. It was very pricey. We grilled burger/brats, packed sandwich stuff, cereal, milk etc. We ate all our meals in our room but did take the kids out for icecream. In a thrifty hotel we might go out to eat but not at $200 for a night.

**wanderinggrandma** · 04-04-2007, 09:31 AM

If you truly are going way south--try Scrubby's BBQ in the Davie area. It is very family friendly, reasonable and good!!

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-04-2007, 09:36 AM

I was going to suggest bringing a cooler too, it's a quick and cheap option for food and it will already have what everyone likes and needs inside and maybe bring a bag of chips/pretzels too for those tiny cravings. Have a wonderful trip!

**geckoace** · 04-04-2007, 11:28 AM

please post when you are done cause we are going to do this same drive in june....
my only recommendation is steak and shake, which i know they have IN florida but im not sure about before. they are nice and cheap and have yummy food

**Sari** · 04-04-2007, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by geckoace

please post when you are done cause we are going to do this same drive in june....
my only recommendation is steak and shake, which i know they have IN florida but im not sure about before. they are nice and cheap and have yummy food

I really don't think Steak-n-Shake is that cheap. A grilled cheese sandwich costs $2.99! (I know this b/c it's the only fast food restaurant near my job.) But they are good and greasy. If you have time to stop at some dine-in restaurants in Jacksonville let me know, I can give you some recommendations.

**geckoace** · 04-04-2007, 11:44 AM

that makes me sad.... when we were in ohio last eating at steak and shake, breakfast was 1.99 which saved us at the end of the trip. i was like the highlight LOL

**justpeachy92** · 04-04-2007, 12:46 PM

I suggest the doing the cooler thing for lunch and snacks, you can stop at a rest area and have a picnic for lunch and everyone can walk around and stretch their legs. As for dinner I would say golden coral. Coming down 95 there is one in North Carolina. I want to think it is exit 98, but don't old me to that. It would be the exit for Jrs, you should see billboards for shopping there as you get closer. There is also another buffet style restuarant on that exit. With Golden Coral as for pricing if my family of 6 goes there for dinner cost is $46, for lunch is around $30 the higher price for the buffet starts at 4pm. Steak n shake is yummy, but the food is also very greasy and a burger from McDonalds would be less upsetting to the tummy. Steak n shake also costs more, a burger and fries will run you $6 with the coupons that had in last sundays paper and that doesn't include a beverage.

If you want to do the golden coral here in NC it isn't right on the exit, can't think what way you turn when getting off exit but you should pass a Mcdonalds and a couple of gas stations, come to redlight that intersects with highway 96 (brightleaf blvd is street name) turn left there. Golden coral will be on your right at by superwalmart. Across the street is a chick fil (sp), I know you didn't want fast food. Though their food is fast I considered it among the healthiest of fast food, they have an indoor play area where kids could burn off some energy too before getting back in the car.

**justpeachy92** · 04-04-2007, 12:54 PM

For the 8 year old pack a back pack of stuff he can do in the car, coloring books and crayons, hand held game if he has one. If he doesn't have a lap desk a cookie sheet would work. A frisbie to through at a rest area to burn off energy, or a ball to toss around.
games we play on trips, ABC game you find the letters in ABC order on signs you pass.
I spy, if you are spying things out of the car they should be far enough ahead the kids can see them before you pass them.
When we travel between NC and Pa, we take highway 81 to 17 through Virgina, is a scenic route and bypasses all traffic around DC. On this stretch we play the flag game, count the number of flags you pass on your side of the car, if you pass a cemetary or a church you lose your flags and start again. The game ends when we get to 95, and winner has the most flags.