If you’re traveling in Spain, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how affordable it is. However, in my time living in Europe, I’ve acquired a lot of great tricks to make this already affordable, wonderful place that much more affordable.
1. Don't eat on the plaza
2. Go out for lunch, eat in for dinner
On weekdays in Spain, just about every restaurant you’ll find offers what they call a Menu del Día during the lunch hour (typically 1 – 3 pm). These are at minimum three course, prix fixe menus with a drink included for shockingly low costs. Menus will generally run between 10€ and 14€, with some places offering them for as little as 8€!
The most typical menu will give you three or four options for each course. And they’re all likely to be a similar portion to what you might normally order at lunch for a main. If you’re far enough away from the tourist zones, you’re also likely to get a full bottle of house wine with your 10€ menu for no extra cost. So be prepared to drink and eat a lot.
The prices go up a good deal during the dinner hour, and most places only offer the menus for lunch. So if your object is to save money, binge on menus in the afternoons and maybe get a light snack back at the hotel for dinner. You probably won’t want much more than that anyway.
