Money Saving Tip!
My first tip might be one of the biggest money saving tips for a drinker. I especially like this for long flights over the pond. When you have an 8 hour flight it can be ver
y difficult to sleep, especially in coach, which we almost all fly. Airline bottles that they sell on the plane can add up pretty quickly. The liquid rules after 9/11 changed so you can only have 3 ounces of liquid in each bottle you bring and they must all fit into one sandwich size Ziploc bag. You can find 3 oz. travel bottles in numerous department stores nowadays for this purpose. The main purpose would be for shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, etc. but you can also put alcohol in these bottles. Now instead of 10 dollars for a drink it is closer to a buck or two (or bring a high end spirit), and you can have the alcohol of your choosing instead of the limited selection on the plane.
Learn a Few Important Words
Learn to say please and thank you as a necessity, but the fun word to learn that will always get a great response is Cheers! Before you throw back a drink, take a second to spread good wishes to the locals with a cheers. It shows respect for the locals that you are making an effort to understand the society around you and that you are well intentioned. It fits the old saying, you must give respect to receive respect. In every country I have been in everyone is appreciative of this fact. A proper Prost in Germany, or Salud in Spain will go a long way.
Research Some Drinking Customs
Spend a few minutes online reading about the typical drink pours and customs of each region you go to as you may not get want you wanted as if you were ordering in your own country. I trave
led to Prague a few years ago and found this out the hard way. Ice, and mixed drinks were handled much differently in each bar. If you order a bourbon on the rocks you will get an ounce of bourbon and 1-2 ice cubes. They do not fill up your glass with ice and the portions are much smaller. Then if you order for example a whiskey and coke, they will bring you two glasses, neither with ice. You will receive one ounce of whiskey and a separate glass of coke. Another example, is that if you order a beer in Germany you may receive it at room temperature, and some people have a hard time adjusting to the difference in the taste and texture of the alcohol. I prefer to drink the way of each locality but some people have a hard time with that.
Keep an Open Mind
Be willing to experiment with your drinks. My favorite local beers where in Belgium. I loved visiting the scotch distilleries in Scotland and I can’t wait to drink local Rum in Cuba. These new tastes and sensations while taking in the local flavor of people and places is the best part of traveling and the things you will always remember.
BE SAFE!
My last suggestion is to know the laws and know the neighborhoods where you are travelling too. This is extremely important, as not every place has the same drinking ages, hours or rules. Also you don’t want to over consume and end up in a dangerous neighborhood. A good idea is to also not go out for a late night alone. Travelling with others is always the safe bet. Have fun on your travels everyone!
Here is a link to a few shows that will give you more info.
