Preparation Tips for Going on a Food Tour
If you're thinking about going on a food tour then you're probably excited about it. If it's in another corner of the world different from your own you are probably very excited and with good reason.
Food tours are a great way to get to know and meet new people. If you're excited and a little apprehensive, that's normal and all you need to do is make sure that you know exactly how to prepare ahead of time so that you get the best experience possible.
If you're ready to take a deep dive into how to prepare for your exciting food tour take a look below to see exactly what you should be doing to get ready for this big event.
Find Out More About Your Destination
Before you hop on that flight you must make sure you know as much as possible about the destination where you will be going. It's a must that you should conduct research and find out as much about the place as possible.
Find books and websites where you can immerse yourself fully in the culinary scene that will be unleashed before you very shortly. Find out about the specialties and pinpoint all those must-visit places that you will find along the way.
There will also be markets and food stalls that you will want to check out as well. Some places where you can look are travel guides, food blogs, and even online reviews that will help you gain deep insight into the destination you will be going to. The more you learn the more comfortable you will get with the idea of going on your food tour.
Create an Itinerary
Once you're comfortable with all the food you want to try and places that you want to go the next step in the entire process is to create an itinerary. This is the key to making sure that you're maximizing your food tour experience at all times.
You need to know what time or day you will be visiting certain food vendors and markets. Make sure you look at the location so you know the opening hours and even how near or far the places you will visit are from where you will be staying. You want to make sure that you leave lots of room for spontaneity.
You don't want to feel as if you're in a straight jacket. You are on vacation and you want to have fun and enjoy what you are popping into your mouth. Make some rewarding culinary adventures by being very flexible but still planning your schedule.
Create a Realistic Budget
One thing you should always consider is how much money you are willing to spend. You don't want to end up with holes in your pockets after you come back from vacation.
Make sure that you get this in check by making a strict budget. You should always make room for any miscellaneous things that can happen because you are on vacation but you should try to keep costs down.
The good thing about food tours is that it is very likely that you will be eating street food and also going to local eateries. This will make things a little bit more affordable so make use of these opportunities.
Look at Your Dietary Restrictions
You're going to need to take any dietary restrictions you may have into consideration. You must plan around these as much as you possibly can this way you'll ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
For example, if you have to eat gluten-free foods, you need to make sure you pinpoint the location where it is possible for you to do so on the food tour.
It can be a little disheartening to see everybody chomping away at that delicious roasted beef and cheese concoction, you may not be able to have,
You need to bear all of this in mind when you are going on a food tour.
Be on the safe side and make sure that you are always asking questions about the ingredients and the cooking methods that are used. You don't want to trigger your allergies or create dietary conflicts that could see you feeling sick and missing out on the best parts of your tour.
You keep yourself above the weather and not under it, make sure that you don't shy away from finding out all you need to know.
Pack Right
You must make sure that you are packing all the right things for your food tour. One of the major things that you must have is a reusable water bottle. You're going to get thirsty along the way.
To avoid having to seek out water wherever you go, it's a good idea to have your own water bottles that you can fill and take with you every day.
If you're going to warm climates this is especially important as dehydration can be a major problem. You don't want to end up holding your head as it throbs in pain or swallowing only to find that your throat is completely parched.
Another thing you might want to bring along with you is hand sanitizer, napkins, and portable utensils.
This will ensure that you are always keeping your hands clean and that you will always have your eating accessories at your fingertips. One thing that you cannot forget to pack is your camera or smartphone for the occasion.
You're going to want to make sure that you become like the Hollywood studios and capture every moment that you can. You may not get the chance to come back to the area in your lifetime and you want to make sure that you always have beautiful memories on film and in pictures.
Dress as Comfortably as You Can
You are going to want to make sure that you are dressing as comfortably as you possibly can. There will be a lot of ground to cover. All your clothes should be lightweight and breathable.
Just make sure that you have a firm knowledge of the weather in whatever part of the country you are visiting. You need to find out what the weather is like at that particular time of the month during the day and night.
You don't want to pack your designer sandals only to find out that your feet can get very cold because the mornings are chilly and things only start getting warmer during the latter hours of the day.
This could get very uncomfortable for a while and no matter how delicious that food that's going into your stomach it is going to leave a chill that can take the fun out of your excursion.
If the opposite is true and things get colder as a day goes on you might want to consider opting to layer your clothes as the day carries on. This means that you will need to bring extra pieces with you.
On the plus side, this type of weather is the perfect time to enjoy those fresh coffee beans or a cup of delicious tea.
Immersion Is Key
When you go on a food tour you want to make sure that you feel as if you have completely lost yourself in the food and culture of the place. It's not just about eating, it's also about meeting wonderful people and opening your mind to the world around you.
You will find exploration in every corner when you are on a food tour. Always try to embrace it.
You will have moments that you will never have again with the locals so take time to ask questions and learn stories about how the food was made and why it is made the way it is.
All these stories you will take with you when you go back home. Unleash your spirit, immerse yourself in the culture and feel as if you're flying high on eagle's wings as you get a bird's eye view of the food and customs of the people. Also, take pictures with some of these people as well if they will allow it. It will make great memories.
Get Fit Ahead of Time
You don't have to operate as if you are training for the Olympics but you do need to make sure that you are in great shape because you will be walking around quite a bit.
You don't want to be gasping for breath and feeling aches and pains all over your body. All of this can happen if you start stretching muscles that have never worked for a very long time.
You can avoid all of this by prepping your body. You can start to do daily walks or exercises. You don't have to go overboard just make sure that you're trying your best to get your body moving.
When the time comes for you to go on your food tour all that walking will seem like nothing to you.
If you're ready to keep things into high gear and enjoy one of the most fabulous adventures of your life then do all the things that have been discussed here to prepare for it, you will most certainly come back beaming from having such a wonderful adventure.