SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) July 31, 2007-- For the budget-minded traveler, there's always a tension between saving money and staying safe.
For instance, the heavenly aroma and low price of food from a street vendor's cart might tempt you to eat some unrecognizable meal-on-a-stick -- but you're upping your chances of getting sick in the process.
Still, there are ways to improve your odds of staying safe and healthy even while you're saving money.
"There are tons of ways to save a bit of money on food and transportation -- and often those are some of the most fun ways to travel," said Jay Cooke, an Oakland, Calif.-based editor with Lonely Planet, the travel guide publisher.
"One of the keys to street food is focus on stuff that's cooked," Cooke said. "The fresh fruit at the market might look wonderful, but if it's been washed by water that didn't come out of a bottle, it might not settle with American stomachs very well."
For more budget-minded tips check this Marketwatch report
Actually, street food is statistically safer than restaurant food. With a street vendor, you can see their kitchen and methods with your own eyes. In restaurants - particularly hotel or tourist restaurants - you have no idea what's going on in the back of the house.
Good rule of thumb: eat where the locals eat.
Posted by: DeLani | May 23, 2008 at 07:59 AM