Vegetarians On The Go 5.18.11

Whether you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, finding things to order when you eat out can be difficult and there usually isn’t much variety either. At least you can go home and whip something up to make you happy. Unfortunately, when you’re traveling, it can be even more inconvenient to find something healthy and tasty several times a day to satisfy your hunger that still sticks to your food ethics. You aren’t the only one that has problems finding dining resources. There are also those with food allergies, gluten allergies, lactose intolerance…and those that just plain don’t like certain things. Restaurants are beginning to branch out and make a broader range of food selections that can satisfy more food restrictions, all while being a bit healthier.

Spinach dumplings

The first time we talked about traveling as a vegetarian, I was learning the basics, as I am not a vegetarian myself and wasn’t really aware that there were so many obstacles to being a non-meat eater and packing your bags to see the world. I found a lot of articles written by vegetarians and vegans that suggested you pack your own food, like peanut butter and soy milk products. Happily, you can get specialty food items in almost all destinations, so you can save room in your travel bag for things you actually WANT to pack, like clothes. You also save checked baggage fees, because you don’t need to bring those items at all. With a little more education on the subject, and chatting with a few vegetarian friends, I’ve now learned quite a bit about what you can and can’t eat and the different vegan substitute products on the market. I’ve even purchased some myself, in an effort to save money and eat better. And yes, you can save money by buying and using some of these products, like egg substitute, which you can use in your baking. It saves you money, because it last so much longer than a carton of eggs and it doesn’t go bad. But enough of my frugal shopping habits.

Swedish pancakes

As a vegetarian, you aren’t just looking for foods to eat at your destination, but on the way as well. I found a great list of dining establishments found in most airports that cater to your needs, so you can eat before your flights and on layovers without having to live on the baggie of carrot sticks you packed in your carry-on.

On the Ground

Argo Tea

• Chickpea Salad (vegan)
• Garden Lentil Salad (vegan)
• Parfaits: Acai Banana, Green Tea, Mixed Berry
• Ruggelah: Apricot Pecan, Raspberry Almond
• Signature Muffins: Banana Nut, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppyseed
• Spinach Tomato Pesto Panini
• Tea Bite: Roasted Tomato Cheddar
• Tomato Garden Vegetable Salad

Au Bon Pain

• Apple Strudel (vegan)
• Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Chickpea & Tomato Cucumber Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Curried Rice & Lentil Soup (vegan)
• French Moroccan Tomato Lentil Soup (vegan)
• Green Bean & Beet Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Portabello & Goat Cheese sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Vegetarian Chili (vegan)
• Vegetarian Lentil Soup (vegan)

Auntie Anne’s

• Pretzels: Cinnamon Sugar, Garlic, Glazin’ Raisin, Jalapeño, Original, Whole Wheat (vegan without butter)

Charley’s

• Delight Grilled Vegetable Plate
• Philly Veggie (vegan without cheese or mayo)

Caribou Coffee

• Bagels: Cinnamon Raisin, Multi Grain
• Banana Bread – reduced fat
• Chewy Granola Bar
• Cinnamon Coffeecake
• Oatmeal: Classic, 7-Grain (vegan)
• Muffin: Better Morning, Blueberry, Cinnamon Streusel, Double Chocolate Chip, French Toast, Mountain Berry
• Pumpkin Pecan Bread
• Scone: Cinnamon Chip, Cranberry, Cranberry Orange, Lemon Blueberry, Maple Oatmeal
• Southwestern Black Bean Salad (vegan)
• Veggie Daybreaker Breakfast Sandwich
• Yogurt Parfait – low-fat

Einstein Bros. Bagels

• Bagel: Sundried Tomato (vegan)
• Bistro Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Chipotle Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Fruit Salad (vegan)
• Kettle Chips Classic (vegan)

Jamba Juice

• Any Drink

Moe’s Southwest Grill

• Burritos: Made to Order (can be vegan)
• Chips (vegan)
• Personal Trainer Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Tacos: Made to Order (can be vegan)

National Coney Island

• Hummus Veggie Sandwich/Wrap
• Vegetarian Pita with Fries
• Vegetarian Tuna

Panera Bread

• Bagels: Blueberry, Everything, Plain, Sesame, Sweet Onion Poppy Seed, Whole Grain (vegan)
• Classic Café Salad (vegan)
• Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (vegan)
• Sourdough Bread Bowl (vegan)

Starbucks

• Cranberry Flax Muffin (vegan)
• Fruit Cup (vegan)
• Hummus Plate (vegan)
• Multigrain Bagel
• Oatmeal (vegan)
• Organic Fruit Scone with Pecans (vegan)
• Plain Bagel
• Protein Plate
• Raspberry Bran Scone (vegan)
• Ratatouille Sandwich/Roasted Vegetable Panini
• Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich

Stuffed poblano pepper

In the Air

Cibo Express offers over 1,000 packaged, ready-to-go menu items that you can grab to eat on the plane. Many are vegetarian or vegan and are fresh and organic.

Most airlines don’t serve real meals anymore, but they do offer snack boxes. The airlines that offer vegan/vegetarian options are as follows:

American Airlines (vegan)

Continental Airlines (vegan)

Delta Airlines (vegan)

United Airlines (vegan)

US Airways (vegan)

Air Canada

British Airways

Aer Lingus (vegan)

Virgin Atlantic

Lufthansa

Air Malta (vegan)

Turkish Airlines

Qantas Airways (vegan)

Air New Zealand (vegan)

Indian Airlines

Cathay Pacific (vegan)

Malaysia Airlines (vegan)

Qatar Airways (vegan)

Singapore Airlines

Vietnam Airlines (vegan)

Unless you’re on an international flight, chances are you’ll be paying for these in-flight meals and snacks, so you may be better off bringing your own to begin with from Cibo Express or from one of the many other dining establishments above. If you don’t mind paying for a meal, make sure you request a vegetarian or vegan entrée well ahead of your flight to ensure the meal actually makes it onboard for you. Usually, you can choose food options when you book your flights. If that is a choice when booking, make sure you order it then, because some airlines will not let you change it later once your reservation is in the system.

Chocolate layer cake with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce

There is so much more I want to get to regarding vegetarian and vegan travel, once you get off the plane, so check back on Saturday for my next installment of this topic. I had such great response to the first post I did, I hope this will further help you take better vacations and eat more things at different places. On Saturday, we’ll look at the top travel destinations for veg-heads, where you can find places to eat and how to order off a foreign menu when you aren’t fluent in the language. Sure, we’ve covered this before, but this will be totally different information!

Are you a traveling vegetarian? Have you found other food options at popular airport restaurants and delis? Had a good or bad experience with the meals on airlines? Let us know, so you can help your fellow trip-takers have smoother and more delicious travels! 

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. Join Ebates.

Have you entered yet?? Win a $25 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card here on my blog by following me via GFC or Networked Blogs. You can earn more entries by liking my page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, tweeting and/or posting about the giveaway. You will find all the details on how to enter HERE. Enter by 5/21.

It's been a while since I've offered up some deals of the week for you. I think it's time to bring it back, for the folks that may have missed deals on Facebook and Twitter. I have been pondering an extra post per week with just the best deals found. If this seems like something you would be interested in, please let me know.

Backcountry is having their "Memorial Day" Sale right now where you can save up to 40% off travel clothing and active wear from great retailers like Columbia, ExOfficio and Lolë. Save 40-60% off discontinued items as well.

BookIt wants you to travel to Puerto Vallarta over the summer for less! All-inclusive resorts are on sale with low, low rates from $55/night/person. You can also receive incentives, like upgrades, airport transfers, resort credits, tours, free nights and more! There is so much to see and do in Puerto Vallarta that even if you chose a regular resort, you will never be bored, but can still save money. 

Key West is a great place to stay and play. Check out these packages that start from $169 for a double. It includes accommodations and a long list of watersports to choose from. Great deal 

for those that love to be busy with outdoor activities like parasailing, snorkeling and cruising.

Travelzoo has you covered for theater and show tickets. Whether you are going to New York or Las Vegas, you can save up to 80% this week. Tickets for as low as $11. Check out shows in NYC like Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Stomp, Sister Act and Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In Vegas, catch discount shows like Jersey Boys, Barry Manilow and the legendary Blue Man Group.

Save up to 50% off Hawaiian vacation packages with Travelocity and Marriott Hotels, plus, use your American Express card and get $100 off instantly when you use the promo code: ALOHA100AMEX. Book by the end of May. If you only want hotel, you can just book that and still save big. 

Food For Thought 5.14.11

I’m a lover of food and when I go on vacation it’s no different. In fact, I’m even more of a food lover, because all the fresh air and exercise makes me ravenous. I don’t know what that’s all about, but it’s true that I often claim I am starving at least 4 or 5 times a day. I’m worse than a child. Maybe I truly am hungry, but maybe I’m also really excited about being somewhere new that I want to try all the amazing food they have to offer. Either way, it’s just not possible for us to stop to eat all day, because we would never get anywhere and we would be broke by Day 2. We do pad our food budget a little more, just for this purpose, but even so I’ve learned many things about saving on food when we travel and how to pack some snacks each day before we leave our lodging.

Today, I’d like to talk mostly about the fantastic travel accessories that you can take to help you stretch your food budget and be prepared for food-related emergencies. This might also be good for those that are diabetic and need to keep their blood sugar up throughout the day.

Get yourself the Ultimate Day-Trip Bag made by Picnic Time! Whether you’re just hauling the kids to soccer practice or planning a fun-filled ay inBarcelona, having drinks and snacks handy can really be a life-saver. When you’re more active, you get more hungry, and when you’re traveling, you’re often off your normal eating cycle. The Ultimate Day-Trip Bag is the only bag you will ever need when you plan to bring snacks with you. It has 2 insulated compartments that can keep food hot or cold, plus it has a bunch of pockets, so you can use it to carry all your essentials, too, instead of carrying a purse, too. There are removable padded backpack straps and a top handle. It looks like you can wear it as a crossbody bag as well, which is super convenient for a lot of travelers – even men will be willing to carry it. It has a cell phone pocket and an outside pocket for a water bottle. There is also room for your money, keys, sunglasses, camera and anything else you plan to take with you during the day.

Practical uses:

• Theme park visits – Load up on water bottles and/or sodas, sandwiches, fried chicken or other munchies. You’ll be able to ignore the snack carts and spend more time getting on rides, since you don’t have to wait in the long lines for a pretzel and you can whip out any of your snacks to eat while you’re waiting in ride lines or while you’re walking from one ride to another.
• Traveling with babies – Keep formula/milk chilled and make feeding time more convenient.
• Farmer’s markets – This is an awesome way to save money on your trips, because you can buy food for lunches and then go enjoy your goodies in a nearby park or even take it back to your hotel.
• Grocery shopping – Staying in a place with kitchen(ette)? Bring back your frozen or refrigerated items in this.
• Pack a picnic – If you already have a plan to eat your own food for lunch, pack sandwiches or whatever else you’re in the mood for and keep it cool/warm until you’re ready to sit down and relax.

Get a collapsible water bottle! This is one of those things that you never think is a good idea until you get one. Empty water bottles take up so much space in your bag…or are awkward to carry around. Also, if you’re like us, you drink a LOT during the day. Purchasing several drinks a day can really add up and create garbage with each one. Your collapsible water bottle is reusable, so no waste. Fill it with cold water before you start your day – if you’re lucky enough to have a fridge, put it in there overnight – and as you drink from it during your day out the bottle begins to flatten, until it’s empty. Then you can roll it up and stuff it in your bag or your pocket! Refill it throughout the day and save even more!

Who doesn’t love a spork? Granted, they aren’t always very practical and can snap in half just by trying to eat some potato salad, but you won’t have that problem when you purchase these fun and colorful polycarbonate ones. They come in a set of four, have a serrated edge for cutting, weigh practically nothing and are safe to pack in your carry-on. These come in super handy if you plan on bringing your own food or grabbing something at a market. You don’t have to rely on plastic utensils and lack of recycling facilities. Eat with your own tools and then take them back to the room to wash later to reuse another day. Great for having leftovers in your room, too.

If sporks aren't your thing and you want separate utensils, check out this picnic set from Rick Steves that has 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 knives and a corkscrew. They are nearly indestructible, come in a nice seal-able container and are also TSA compliant.

This next week I would like to do a second installment of my vegetarian/vegan travel blog post. I had some fantastic response to the last one and it occurs to me that vegetarians and vegans have a hard time ordering food and finding restaurants that cater to them, as well as eating on the plane and at the airport. Stay tuned and let your animal-loving friends know they can see the first post here and to look for the next one on Wednesday.

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. I will be conducting my first live chat on the new community with the three other great bloggers below on Tuesday May 17 at 5-6pm PST. We'll be discussing Saving on Summer Travel.

• Jodi from Live FabuLESS
• Sarah from Yes and Yes
• Dagmar from Dagmar's Momsense

Happy Birthday to Ebates! They are 12 years old this week and they are celebrating by giving their Facebook fans gifts! 4 lucky fans will win a $250 Philosophy Gift Bag (ends 5/15). Make sure you "like" the Ebates page and also go and join Ebates if you haven't already, because they are super awesome and give you cash back for buying things you already planned! Besides, what other websites PAYS you just to sign up AND to tell people about it? Get $5 for signing up and an additional $5 for each person you refer that signs up and makes a purchase. Plus, the more people you get to join the bigger prizes you can earn, including store gift cards and an iPad.

There are several giveaways I have going right now, so don't forget to sign up to win each one! Here are the details:

Win a Carry On Caddy bag full of travel-size organic toiletries. The bag clips to your carry-on and helps you whiz through airport security by enabling you to have your 3-1-1 bag at your fingertips. No more rummaging in your bag or repacking after the conveyor. You already have to put your shoes back on and stuff your laptop back into your bag. Make this one less thing to worry about. Enter to win on my Facebook page HERE. You can also get a second BONUS entry by subscribing to this blog via GFC or Networked Blogs and then leaving a comment on any of the posts. Enter by 5/15.

Shereen Travels Cheap is sponsoring a $10 Target Gift Card on Free Samples 2 Fill Up Your Mailbox's Big Giveaway on Facebook. They were kind enough to let us enter the giveaway after it had started and we've gotten a lot of new fans and page participants (which I love!). You can find out the rules on how to enter HERE. Enter by May 23rd.

Win a $25 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card here on my blog by following me via GFC or Networked Blogs. You can earn more entries by liking my page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, tweeting and/or posting about the giveaway. You will find all the details on how to enter HERE. Enter by 5/21.

Our next giveaway will be that celebrating our 2,000 fan mark. While we aren't there yet, we hope it will be soon and are going to be offering a big travel prize pack with several sponsors (including Travelon, Humangear-GoToobs, SoakWash and more). There will be a lot of ways to gain entries, including referring friends to the Facebook page. When you enter, the form will have a spot to enter the person who referred you to the Shereen Travels Cheap page. This goes back to the very beginning, so start/keep referring people, because the more you refer and the more entries you'll get into this giveaway!

Frugal Guatemalan Adventures 5.11.11

This installment of the Frugal Destination Series has us going to Guatemala, another fun Central American country where you can stay and eat for way cheap and also get a lot out of your trip. The great part about this is that there are so many things to see and do in Guatemala that it won’t hurt your budget to go back and everyone who goes will have a completely different kind of trip than others. I love places like that, as you well know. I love the Mayan ruins and culture, which Guatemala has in abundance. You can also find many free and inexpensive things to do on your visit, so even though I will list plenty to fill several itineraries, it’s by no means the final list or even the best things to do for everyone.

Antigua Guatemala is a real hotspot for tourists, because there are so many things to do and see in one area and it is way safer than Guatemala City. Brush up on your Spanish and pack your rain jacket, bug repellent and warm weather clothes and start looking for airfare deals!

Climb an active volcano! Pacaya Volcano is a continuously-erupting volcano near the city of Antigua. It is all hiking and much of it is not for the casual hiker, as you will have to hike a decent portion over lava rock. The hike to the "top" is around 1.5 miles, but if you're up to it, you will see amazing views and get to experience standing near an actual lava flow!

Shop, shop, shop in Chichicanstenango - On Thursdays and Sundays you can take advantage of the famous markets in K'iche. You can purchase just about anything: pottery, flowers, food, textiles, clothing and more. It's a fantastic place to get reasonably priced souvenirs and yummy food for lunches or dinners. Next to the market you will also find the Church of Santo Tomas. 400 years old and a major tourist draw.

This place is in RUINS - Ruinas Tikal are Guatemala's largest Mayan archeological site. You can reach Tikal National Park by a short flight and bus ride or you can go straight by bus. You can take a 1-2 day tour (or longer) here, as the drive from Guatemala City is 7 hours. If you choose to go it alone, you can get in on a guided tour once you get to the ruins. Here's some more info.

Visit “Central Park” - You must visit Parque Central in Antigua. It's the center of town where everyone passes through at one point or another. There is awesome people watching as well as historical buildings and a wonderful selection of restaurants. (It's FREE!)

Go jump in a lake - Lago Atitlan is said to be the deepest lake in Central America. 30 miles outside of Antigua, the lake is a volcanic formation and a great place to go swimming or go for a boat ride. It's surrounded by great little villages you may want to visit as well as volcanoes and farms producing corn, onions, squash, chile verde and other produce. Visitors have declared this lake one of the most beautiful places on earth. When you visit, you can decide if you agree. (It's FREE!)

Have a religious experience - There are many ancient churches to visit. You can enjoy the history they have to offer and also the amazing architecture. They generally have a tomb of someone notable and some offer a museum as well. See the tomb of Hermano Pedro in Iglesia de San Francisco, photograph the ornate facade of the Iglesia el Carnen and take a self-guided tour of Convento de Santa Clara. This is just a few of many churches (both standing and those not open to the public) that you can visit on your trip. (Some are FREE!)

Get cultured - It would be a shame to visit a place like Guatemala so steeped in culture and totally skipping any of there multitude of museums devoted to the Mayan people and other history.

Hit the bricks  - Does it seem weird to remind people to walk around the city and take in things around them? There's no better way to experience a city than to go by foot and see as much as you can. You'll have time to really be able to check out the colorful colonial home-fronts, walk the cobblestone streets and see the views of the water and volcanoes in the distance. (It's FREE!)

Do chickens take the bus? - If you're planning to travel anywhere outside of the city, you can save money by taking the Chicken Bus. You won't have any personal space and you'll really get to know your seatmate(s), but it can be a fun way to travel around and do it on a budget.

Are you nuts? - Take a trip to the Valhalla Experimental Station which is home to the organic Valhalla Macadamia Nut Plantation. Nuts fall to the ground when ripe and are harvested by hand. Stop by the farm and sample nuts, chocolates and beauty products and then stay for a meal of macadamia pancakes or other food from the menu (including sandwiches and breakfast dishes). (Tour is FREE!)

Mail call - Outside the servant's quarters of Casa Popenoe, a beautifully restored Colonial Mansion, you can see the pigeon loft, which provided the previous occupants with mail service. The house itself is a fantastic snapshot of what domestic life was like in Colonial times. The house was built in 1634, went into ruin and then was meticulously restored starting in 1932. (Super cheap!)

With all the free and cheap things to do in Guatemala, you will mostly just be paying for lodging and food, which will be pretty inexpensive as well. You will spend the most on airfare, but even so, it may be one of the most affordable vacations you've ever taken!

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. I will be conducting my first live chat on the new community with the three other great bloggers below on Tuesday May 17 at 5-6pm PST. We'll be discussing Saving on Summer Travel.

• Jodi from Live FabuLESS
• Sarah from Yes and Yes
• Dagmar from Dagmar's Momsense

Are you all about being frugal in your life? Travel isn't the only thing we need to save money on these days...and the more you save on one thing, the more you can save on something else you think is more important. Fun maybe! From here on out you will see Shereen Travels Cheap featured on Frugal Focus. You'll see travel deal posts, but you will also see fantastic freebies and coupons as well as tips and articles on living a more affordable life. Frugal Focus takes tips and deals posted by the web's best "frugal" bloggers and puts them all in one place for you. Check it as much as you like or save time by subscribing to the newsletter. Also, find a great list of frugal blogs and useful money-saving websites to help you live more frugally!

Happy Birthday to Ebates! They are 12 years old this week and they are celebrating by giving their Facebook fans gifts! 4 lucky fans will win a $250 Philosophy Gift Bag. Make sure you "like" the Ebates page and also go and join Ebates if you haven't already, because they are super awesome and give you cash back for buying things you already planned! Besides, what other websites PAYS you just to sign up AND to tell people about it? Get $5 for signing up and an additional $5 for each person you refer that signs up and makes a purchase. Plus, the more people you get to join the bigger prizes you can earn, including store gift cards and an iPad.

There are several giveaways I have going right now, so don't forget to sign up to win each one! Here are the details:

Win a Carry On Caddy bag full of travel-size organic toiletries. The bag clips to your carry-on and helps you whiz through airport security by enabling you to have your 3-1-1 bag at your fingertips. No more rummaging in your bag or repacking after the conveyor. You already have to put your shoes back on and stuff your laptop back into your bag. Make this one less thing to worry about. Enter to win on my Facebook page HERE. You can also get a second BONUS entry by subscribing to this blog via GFC or Networked Blogs and then leaving a comment on any of the posts. Enter by 5/15

Shereen Travels Cheap is sponsoring a $10 Target Gift Card on Free Samples 2 Fill Up Your Mailbox's Big Giveaway on Facebook. They were kind enough to let us enter the giveaway after it had started and we've gotten a lot of new fans and page participants (which I love!). You can find out the rules on how to enter HERE. Enter by May 23rd.

Win a $25 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card here on my blog by following me via GFC or Networked Blogs. You can earn more entries by liking my page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, tweeting and/or posting about the giveaway. You will find all the details on how to enter HERE. Enter by 5/21.

Our next giveaway will be that celebrating our 2,000 fan mark. While we aren't there yet, we hope it will be soon and are going to be offering a big travel prize pack with several sponsors (including Travelon, Humangear-GoToobs, SoakWash and more). There will be a lot of ways to gain entries, including referring friends to the Facebook page. When you enter, the form will have a spot to enter the person who referred you to the Shereen Travels Cheap page. This goes back to the very beginning, so start/keep referring people, because the more you refer and the more entries you'll get into this giveaway!