Traveling to new countries is a challenging and fun adventure, and it’s all about experiencing new things – culture, people and, most importantly, food. But how to book a restaurant in the trendiest places?
For many, the highlight of any trip is the quintessential culinary experience. With something so important, the last thing you want to do is take risks. You don’t want to ruin your perfect trip because you didn’t manage to dine at your dream restaurant!
Here are some tips on how to make restaurant reservations and ensure you find a seat at the best restaurants when traveling abroad.
Plan well in advance
Most people tend to be very busy planning other things for their trip and push the “food” factor to the last minute. However, with the growing popularity of certain iconic restaurants, it is unlikely that you will be able to find a seat unless you plan ahead. Many well-known restaurants, such as those headed by famous chefs, start taking reservations 3-6 months in advance.
As soon as you book your trip, do your research to find out which restaurants you want to visit and how they book reservations to make sure you can get a seat without any problems.
Use a booking app
Thanks to the development of the digital age, we have access to everything at our fingertips through instant apps. There are many apps around the world that can help you book a restaurant table depending on the region you’re heading to.
Find apps that are popular in the country you are traveling to that allow you to book online in advance. These apps will not only help you book a table, but also help you find popular places in the city that you may not know about. Some apps will also provide you with details about special events, such as ladies nights at restaurants, and even help you get deals, such as happy hours or discounts.
Most apps will allow you to create an instant reservation and save you the hassle of calling the restaurant to try to make a reservation, which can be very difficult when traveling due to language barriers and also quite expensive.
Ask your hotel
Another great way to secure complicated restaurant reservations that most of us have probably never tried is to ask your hotel for help. Most hotels have good relationships with popular restaurants because they serve a large number of tourists.
If you have trouble securing a table, try asking your hotel to help you with this. Many restaurants provide extra tables to the concierge teams of reputable restaurants. Additional communication in your native language at the hotel can also help this process.
Just send an email to your hotel when you know which restaurants you need to make reservations at and they will most likely be happy to help.
Communicate with the locals
No one knows more about a city than the locals and foreigners who have been there for a while. If you know someone in the city you are visiting, talking to them will be very helpful as they will be able to tell you exactly how the booking process works in the region.
They can also tell you about all the restaurants that are worth visiting and how you can book a table in them. They may even have some insider tricks or connections that can secure you an impossible reservation.
If you don’t know anyone who lives in the region, try searching the internet for travel bloggers who have visited the country – they probably know a lot about the place and can help you with restaurant reservations. Do not hesitate to contact bloggers, they will be happy to help you!
Walks
If nothing works, you always have the option to just walk in. It may seem impossible to get a table in a popular restaurant that is always booked, but tables become free more often than you think. Restaurants usually have a few cancellations, and if you are lucky and walk in at the right time, you should be able to find a seat.
Your best bet is to try to go during off-peak hours. Arrive at the restaurant a little before the lunch service starts so that if there are any last minute tables, you can grab one. You can also try to arrive a little late when dinner is almost over, as there may be people who didn’t show up or finished early, which may create a few open tables.
However, lunch will probably be your best chance as restaurants are always busy for dinner.
It’s also harder for restaurants to say no when you’re standing in front of them, so they may work something out for you.
Most importantly, remember to be polite. Don’t be angry or bitter if they can’t help you – sometimes it’s just not possible.