I often suggest picking your hotel based on its proximity to restaurants, shopping, entertainment, etc. What good is saving $20 a night, when the only entertainment option is in-room porn and you have to drive an hour every day to get to the attraction you wanted to go to in the first place? When booking a room, many sites will list the surrounding businesses, and obviously you can get on Google Earth or similar sites and see how far away the hotel is from where you want to be.

I always look for hotels that are near the city center if possible. They may be more expensive, but it is a good bet there will be better food and fun options than staying on the outskirts of town where you may get bitten by a rabid hooker in the parking lot. When I travel, I am probably a little too parsimonious. I tend to go to one of the fast food restaurants where you can get full for under a dollar. It seems like every city in the world has a McDonald's or Burger King or the like, and I make great use of them. I have noticed especially in higher priced countries, these hash and dashes offer tremendous value.

Now, if that much grease is not your style, you can go to a grocery store or market to get meals. The good thing is, most stores now have delis and sometimes fresh food bars where you can get some pretty good stuff for just a few bucks. Especially when I travel internationally, I find markets to have everything one could want and more. You have to be a little inventive, but hey, we are talking about saving money here, it's worth it.

If you are more the luxury traveler, that does not mean you are left out in the cold. Again, I suggest steering clear of the hotel food, and find a local eatery that serves quality food at a reasonable price. A little research before your trip goes a long way here too. There are usually local message boards for the town your are going to where people suggest the best restaurants in a town. Why not trust the locals? Check guide books as well. You might be surprised that a restaurant with a Michelin star to two might be about the same price as a crusty hotel buffet. Most restaurants have their prices online now, so you can even compare that if you want to get all OCD about it.

There is no need to get ripped off just because you are on vacation. With just a little planning and forethought, you can fill your tummy for a lot less than a hotel would cost you, and get better quality food to boot.