How to Find the Best Food When You Travel

by Jan Mauer | Aug 2, 2018 | European Travel, Luxury Travel, Travel Tips |

Vacations, even simple weekend getaways, can be full of adventure — that’s part of the great appeal, after all. If you’re a foodie who values a delicious, high-quality meal to go with your adventure, you may find yourself asking how to find the best food when you travel. Check out these four apps that can direct you to the ideal spots for savoring the most delectable food around. Each app serves a different purpose, so take a look through the list below, and select the option that best meets your own travel needs.

GateGuru: Find the best food when you’re stuck at the airport.

Enjoy delicious food while you wait for your flight.

Usually, airports are not known for their culinary quality, although that’s changing in some places. GateGuru is an app developed by TripAdvisor that is a full-on airport genie for your phone. With this app, you can get lists of restaurants in the airport and see reviews from fellow travelers. In addition, GateGuru helps you check in, check your flight status, get a rental car and see maps of individual airports. (Available for iOS and Android)

OpenTable: Let technology choose the best food option for you.

Get great eating options based on previous dishes you’ve enjoyed.

App developers have a knack for creating complex algorithms that essentially “get to know you” by analyzing your previous food choices. OpenTable delivers up choices based on specific dishes you’ve previously indicated you loved (or hated). (Available for iOS and Android)

ChefsFeed: Let the experts help you find the best food around.

Get recommendations from top chefs.

If you’re searching for opinions from only the most discerning palates, why not consult those who know best? ChefsFeed allows you to pick a major city, and then provides you with a list of dishes that top chefs in that city would recommend from their favorite restaurants. (Available for iOS and Android)

Google Translate: Find out EXACTLY what you’re eating.

Use Google Translate to translate menus in a wide array of languages so you can be sure of exactly what you’re ordering. Just take a picture of the menu – it’s that easy!

You might like a little mystery when you’re ordering in a foreign country — but maybe not too much, right? WordLens started as a standalone app and is now a part of Google Translate. It uses your phone’s video camera and optical character recognition to make translations in real time when you hold your phone up to the text. Even better? It doesn’t require a network connection to work, so when you’re visiting that quaint little hill town in Umbria, you can still find out what’s on the menu. It’s currently available in 38 languages, including Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Portuguese. (Available for iOS and Android)

If you give one of these apps a try, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below. And if you’re looking for even more travel tips and guidance, call me at (732) 613-8640, or contact me here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Jan Mauer

With professionalism and her consistent ability to curate exceptional travel experiences for her clients, Jan Mauer of Exciting Vacations has built her reputation as a Travel Agent who specializes in luxury. Jan has spent more than three decades as trusted advisor to those who require both opulence and exoticism during their world travels. Her expertise about international culture and 5-star getaways ensures that every travel adventure of which you partake is a bespoke experience fulfilling your unique requirements for both luxury and authenticity. Call Jan at (732) 613-8640 or email her here for one-on-one guidance from one of luxury travel's foremost experts.