How to Eat Cheaply in Florence and Rome

In today's economy, even budget travel can be considered a luxury. No matter how much of a deal you get on airfare and lodging, you still have to eat. While it's relatively easy to find cheap meals in the smaller Italian cities, dining in Rome and Florence can be quite expensive. However, it's only expensive if you don't know where to look.
Most people focus on the main streets and piazzas. While these areas are worth viewing, the real deals happen on the side streets. With careful planning and a willingness to explore the road less traveled, it's relatively easy to eat cheap in Rome or Florence. The following tips apply to both of these splendid Italian cities.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maps of Rome and Florence
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Currency in Euros

1. Book a hotel or pensione that offers bed and breakfast. This will take of your morning meal. If you are a member of any frequent hotel stay program, ask if you can get upgraded to an Executive Floor. This will give you access to the lounge, which features free breakfast as well as late afternoon and early evening snacks. These snacks can be a meal in themselves. While room upgrades are usually available for members of a specific point level, if the hotel is relatively empty, you may be able to strike a deal.

2. 
    
   Side street Rome restaurant.

   Purchase a map. Since the best dining deals are found on the side streets, you'll want to make sure that you know where you're going.

3. Put on your walking shoes. Both Florence and Rome are walker's cities. It's much easier to find serendipitous deals while strolling through the streets than it is if you are constantly taking taxis.

4. Visit the bars. Bars in Italy are quite different from those in the United States. They are used primarily as places where Italians get their morning coffee. These bars also have a variety pastries and croissants. However, their croissant sandwiches are their specialties. They are also surprisingly inexpensive. For example, two sandwiches and two cappuccinos can be had for a total of $15 US. Caveat: Make sure that you eat or drink while standing up. Sitting at a table costs extra.

5. 
    
   Real Italian? Not likely!

   Follow the Italians. The men and women in business suits do not eat their lunch or breakfast at the typical tourist places. As such, they pay a whole lot less. When you see the locals going into a particular establishment, that's where you should eat. Avoid obvious tourist traps, such as those similar in this photo.

6. Pay with cash whenever possible. Some restaurants will charge you a conversion fee. Unfortunately, so will your bank or credit card company. As a result, you get hit with two fees.

7. Make sure that there is no extra charge for set up fees. Some establishments charge for bread.

8. Avoid over eating. A typical Italian menu features antipasto, a pasta dish an entree and desert. The pasta and the antipasto is usually enough. However, some restaurants charge more for the antipasto if you don't order the full meal.

Tips & Warnings

• When all else fails, Rome and Florence do have a multitude of fast food restaurants such as McDonald's. Italians tend to eat late; usually after 8:30 p.m. Almost all food in Rome and Florence is delicious. There's no need to spend too much money.
• Hotel restaurants are extremely expensive