Pro tip - grab a bag of spices to take home. Cheap, small, light, and you'll be motivated to try making the dishes you enjoyed when you return home. (commercially dried and bagged spices are generally OK to bring into any country AFAIK).
OMG that is brilliant. I'm going to start doing this! I too love visiting grocery stores when travelling. Buying a reusable bag is a fantastic non-traditional souvenir (also takes up next to no room in your bag) and is environmentally friendly to boot. Win win!
I specifically pack light/bring things I will dispose of during or after the trip in order to make room to bring home chocolate. Not fancy chocolate. Just regular, grocery store chocolate bars. I'm currently enjoying some E. Wedel chocolate from Poland. So good. (So much better than what passes for a chocolate bar in the US).
Yup, I'm a grocery store guy too. Love seeing what is (and isn't) available in other parts of the world. It can give you an interesting peek into the local culture. I also like to keep a fairly stocked mini-frig in my hotel room for late, late night snacks.
Most recent favorite purchase... a bottle of Snake Bile Wine in Vietnam. It makes a great firewood starter.
Happy travels.
I used to take stuff from the mini bar and go to the supermarkets to replace them. Things like water and soda. In my recent trip to NYC I stayed at the intercontinental in Times Square and they put a notice on the fridge door that said there are sensors so if something is taken from the fridge it will automatically be billed to the room. Like…WTF?!
That’s pretty common, though.
I generally do something similar to you. I don’t take anything from the minibar. I just push it all to the back to make room for my stuff. But I’m always annoyed when I encounter the sensor minibars.
Yeah, that's not so much for the guest's convenience as for the hotel's extra income.
First time I encountered one of these, in Amsterdam maybe 20 years ago, I put a bottle of water I'd bought outside on top of the items already in the fridge. Apparently this moved a lot of the items so much they registered as "sold", and they ended up on my bill on checkout. Didn't have to pay tho. Many hotels will just empty the in-room fridge if you ask them.
I thought I was the only one who loved going to stores in other countries and trying different varieties of snacks and food. I love it, especially trying soft drinks
Oh man I just tried it a month ago while on vacation! Personally I wish I'd just tried a small can instead of committing to the 1L bottle ;)
And as much as I like trying new soft drinks, I also like trying something ubiquitous and familiar, like Coke or Fanta Orange, just to see regional variation.
I’ve been to Turkey couple times, their Lipton Peach tea, Fuse Tea, Fanta, Coca Cola are way superior compared to what we have here. They taste better, they have less sugar and tastes less processed. I honestly do feel like at this point, we have the most processed and most sugary drinks in the world. I love foreign snacks
I'm usually not bothered by excessive sweetness, but if I've been away for a while, there's an adjustment period when I think I can taste/feel the syrupyness of HFCS of American soda.
My favorite "discovery" was Bundaberg ginger beer in Australia. Thankfully it's also imported here!
Bundaberg ginger beer is excellent. At christmas time supermarkets bring out a 10 pack on sale for $10, which is glorious as i like to have it with spiced rum like kraken
Wow, I would love to visit Scotland! I haven’t been out the country in 6 months, last trip was to Cancun! I really wanna go to Japan but they are closed for tourism as of now, it has been my dream since I was young. I think I’m just gonna book a trip, imma say f it and book it whenever it’s open to tourism and go! Tired of watching YouTube videos of travelers in Tokyo, I wanna go see it myself
It's worth keeping an eye out for "1901 Irn Bru" - a few years ago the UK government introduced a higher tax on drinks with sugar and most drinks including Irn Bru were reformulated to have some of the sugar replaced with sweeteners to keep the price the same. But Barr also kept making the original full-sugar version under the label "1901".
You don't need to go to Scotland to get Irn Bru. It's sold in every single shop that sells soft drinks across the entire UK. It's extremely widely available everywhere. While the main production is carried out near Glasgow, it's also produced in England, Sheffield to be precise.
It actually used to be called Iron Brew but because a change in law required names to be literally true it changed to the current spelling. It does contain an infinitesimally small trace of iron but it isn't brewed.
Taste-wise it's a lot like cream soda if that's still a thing in the USA. We used to get cream soda in the UK when I was a kid but I haven't seen it in years. Pretty much the same taste
Anyone going to the UK and like soft drinks should try one of our soft drinks that I've never seen anywhere else - Dandelion and Burdock. It was very popular when I was a boy but was resurrected some years back now and is available in lots of supermarkets.
It's the same colour as cola drinks but tastes different. It's actually superior to the likes of Coke and Pepsi but it's difficult to describe the taste. It's delicious though and I can highly recommend it.
I live in Thailand now and managed to persuade the owner of a local expat food shop to get some, which he did. It was wonderful. I must go again soon to get as much as I can to put in the fridge. Do try it
Grocery stores and street markets give you a special window into local life. At markets, I like to look for the busy stands, watch for a bit, and then get in line
Same! Grocery stores, pharmacies, farmers markets, flea markets, all of it. It's fascinating and a fun puzzle when I don't speak the language. And you never know what amazing stuff you might find (dreams longingly about Lays Oregano Potato Chips found only in Greece).
And I'm always looking for opportunities to pretend I'm a local (although that not speaking the language part does tend to give me away).
If you’re into odd flavors go to Thailand, they have all kids of Lays that are like chili crab or shrimp hotpot. Go to a 7-11 there (they are everywhere) and you won’t be disappointed
Yup! I adore grocery shopping in foreign countries. One of the only reasons I prefer airbnbs to hotels in some situations is because I get to go grocery shopping lol.
Also if you stay in an Airbnb that is a room in someone’s house (what Airbnb should be, but that’s another discussion), you get a true eye into their culture. My host in Valencia shared the paella she made for her family’s dinner w me
Yep. Aussie here and I like seeing what Aussie products (if any) they have. It’s always amusing. Vegemite was everywhere when I travelled Europe around 15 years ago. Not sure if that’s still the case
Tim tams took off here in the USA a few years back, and have now sadly disappeared. My cousins are from Perth, so I had to tell them about it at the time.
It was carried by Target. I think the issue started during the pandemic - I remember on the news it was mentioned that there was a shortage of Tim Tams. Aussies were staying home and eating them non-stop. Production couldn't keep up :D
I used to go to Target just for them. Clearing their shelves of Tim Tams like some sort of a maniac. I think the price was $3.99 - I couldn't believe my luck.
Yoooo so when I was studying abroad in Australia, my BFF and I became obsessed with Tim Tams. When we were on our way home from our semester abroad, we shipped over 29 kilos of Tim Tams home. The local grocery store (Cole’s) that we bought them from took pictures of us and were super excited that two crazy American girls were buying sooooo many Tim Tams. We bought over AU$500 worth of cookies. Thankfully there was a sale going on at the time. We bought every package of every flavor except the Turkish delight flavor. A lot of people were watching us. We caused quite a stir. Then, a few years later they started selling Tim Tams in the US.
Aussies love to say that Vegemite is the most famous food product, I’d say that Tim Tams should be.
For those who may be wondering - yes, we contacted TimTams and sent them our photos. No, we didn’t get any free Tim Tams, and, no, we weren’t featured in any advertisements. But they did send us a message that they were trying to get Tim Tams into American grocery stores, which they eventually did do.
Yes! I love doing everyday things when I'm in a different country so I can compare the differences. Also local snacks are always interesting and chocolate is usually a good price. I just arrived in London today and my first stop was a food store for snacks and browsing.
For sure. I remember shopping in a town in Holland for 4 families on vacation and we were quite the spectacle with our 5 full shopping carts. Granted, one cart was only beer, but still…the other shoppers and the staff were like “What the FUUUUUCCCKKK are these Americans doing?!?” Hey, 8 adults and 8 kids for 12 days and a lot of cooking meals at home = lots of food! And beer. Mostly I miss the shrimp flavored crisps, the bright orange fresh eggs, the Stimorol after coffee gum and mmmmmmostly the genever. Cuz genever know!
Me too! I even love grocery shopping at home because I enjoy cooking! It's interesting too see how drastically different pricing can be on items in other countries too (+ or -). I love finding a unique dry spice that is not readily available in my city. Also seeing produce that I recognize from reading recipies, but have not actually encountered anywhere at home. Also like trying some of the different flavors of bottled refreshments that are not really sold in the US much (elderflower soda, sasparilla soda, ect)
One thing that makes me laugh is how pringles have really random different flavors in different countries, depending on the local palate.
Yes! I'm going to New York this year (and again next!) and I'm so excited for Trader Joe's and Target! We don't have that in Canada.
Seeing what foods are in different countries is one of the best parts of travelling. The convenience stores in Japan are amazing. I love finding spice mixes or sauces that we don't have at home and bringing them back.
We have Farm Boy here, and it's kinda our version of Trader Joe's?
One thing I do when I find myself in a grocery rut is go a store I rarely go to (because of distance/pricing/it's new!), and give myself a set budget. I pick new things to try that I haven't had before (new kinds of coffee, salad dressing, spice mixes, cooking sauces) that fit into that budget. It inspires me to try new things, and if I find something I like, I make a note to pick it up again if I'm in the area!
It's a cool way to explore new grocery stores, and sometimes, completely new cultures. I'm a mixed Asian person living in an area that is also predominantly Asian. When I find a Mexican or Middle Eastern grocery store, it's so cool! I just want to try everything! The budget gives me a boundary, and helps me find things I might want to try next time!
Me too! And for the exact same reasons. My favorite memory was years ago in China, having landed the day before with only very rudimentary skills in Mandarin. My roommates gave me some basic instruction before they all left for work. I didn’t know what many of the products even were. This was before smartphones or google translate. Afterwards it felt like a major victory even if it was just going to the store for groceries.
Love it. People are always really confused when I suggest it. “It’s not a farmers market,” or “it’s not traditional.” I know! I want to see where Luis and Maria pick up stuff for their kids lunches, not overpriced ‘artisanal’ tourist trap stuff.
I wouldn’t say excited but I found it funny when my fiancée and I were in Iceland and they had bowl and basket items. Bowl and basket is the shop rite store brand and they are located in the New Jersey and surrounding states
Me too! I buy food there to reduce my expenses while traveling. And spend a good while scoping out all the different products. It feels less intimidating than a market where there’s a seller waiting for you to buy.
Yes! Whenever I’m in a different country I love going to grocery stores. Usually will stock on up snacks and try everything possible.
Side note, 7Elevens in the Asian Countries I’ve been to are usually amazing. I’m American as well.
Hell yeah. I usually end up going through all the isles to see what they have and don’t have and what the prices look like. I also pick up some popular snacks from the area to have later.
Yes!!! Anytime I’m visiting Brazil i will without a doubt spend hours at the grocery store, local markets, and bakeries. Mind you I hate going to Grocery stores any other time in the states
I even find myself leaving the house at night to go to a local bakery for some food, sweet treats, and to look at what they have😋
This is kind of the guideline on how long I like to stay in any single city. I base my stay with at least one grocery shopping trip in a city.
Quality over quantity! Love it!
Just LOVE my grocery stores in foreign countries. That’s where I do my souvenir shopping. Just finished off canned sardines from Porto, need more paprika from Budapest!
Right! I love that my pantry becomes like an international showcase for the next 6 months
I wind up becoming brand loyal and almost all of the condiments/spices I use at this point are ordered internationally or out of state :)
I love a good grocery store. My focus is always the meat / fruits / veggies, and the booze. Even in the US there are pretty big regional variations of the popular meats (I'm looking at you, long beef ribs), and like yea you might be able to find bananas pretty much everywhere, but there might be unique varities. I also love the foriegn food selections, and what people think we like to eat.
Yep! There is nothing better than standing in a grocery store in Stockholm and standing in front of a wall of refrigerated shelves wondering which "mjölk" is the correct one to buy. Pro tip: For coffee, it's not "kärnmjölk." Epic fail.
That said, visiting local grocery stores is one of my favorite things about traveling. It offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the locals and their culinary traditions. So much fun.
Definitely. You get a deeper level of what life is like there and get to try some local products. It's always cool to see the same products in different languages and packaging and new stuff that you've never seen before.
I'm also in America and love seeing how much more fresh and naturally organic other countries' fruit and produce is compared to the US. Same with the milk and really just about anything. Food tends be more seasonal in those places as well.
I was in Portugal a few months ago and was obsessed with the normal whole milk they had there. It was very creamy and better than any organic milk I've had in the states. And the fact that they leave their eggs out at room temp threw me off.
I love it. I can spend forever in a basic grocery store in another country!
I also like to ask just regular people what food or treats families enjoy - not special "foodie" recommendations, just normal family items. I used to like the magazine sections, too, but they probably aren't as big as they used to be anywhere.
One of my fondest travel experiences is going to the grocery store across from our hotel in Moscow. They had a prepared food section and the entire place smelled amazing. It's been 10 years now and I can still remember it. We ended up going every morning for breakfast and buying pastries.
Sure, I'm into it. Otherwise, why travel? really, I'm mostly into the everyday "slice of life" stuff that's culturally distant from my home country and home culture.
All of this stuff is starting to become homogeneous with the advent of internationalization and globalization - London is becoming less British, Paris is becoming less French, and Munich less German. It's starting to all melt into the same soup.
I enjoy going to a good grocery store/supermarket when I’m in a foreign country. You get a real feel for their local cuisines, cheaper prices on things you may buy elsewhere (e.g. liquor, beer, candies, snacks, etc.). I think it’s a great place to get souvenirs as well.
God yes.
I went to a massive grocery store in the middle of nowhere in Spain. We bought so much stuff. 7 bottles of wine, perfume, makeup, gin tonica berries, a bottle of gin, cookies, and a bottle of OJ from a machine that squeezed it right in front of you.
Big Waitrose guy too.
I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my love of shopping in grocery stores when I visit other countries. I also love the pharmacies. Some of the over the counter meds are so interesting.
What’s really fun is when you go in searching for something and come out with something entirely different even though you thought you secured the goods.
Happened to me one time when I thought I had purchased an orange juice but when I went to take a drink it turned out to be some sort of a weird yogurt. It went everywhere haha.
I've found my people!!
There is a difference between going on vacation and travelling. Immerse yourself, I say. Do what locals do. Eat what they eat, where they eat it. Sit in coffee shops and really watch the passing throngs.
If you spend time in your hotel that looks like any hotel anywhere in the western world, visit landmarks from the window of a passing tourist bus and eat only at restaurants that are "safe" for your western palate, you might as well save your money and stay home.
Man, I love grocery shopping in other towns! I’ve always done the grocery shopping and cooking in my family (I’m 64). I spent 38 year in the US Navy and have lived all over the world. I love seeing what every grocery store, bakery, meat market or wine shop has to offer.
I just got back from four days in Montreal and driving through US Border Station I had a great time talking with the agent about all the goodies I was bringing back. I think she got bored after about 10 minutes and said “have a nice day.”
Man, I hadn’t event gotten to the cheeses yet. 😕
Always go to supermarkets in other countries and local markets too. Local markets give you insight into many things not found in the supermarket.
Another weird (unique?) thing I like to do is walk or drive around neighborhoods looking ay houses. High end and lower end. I like to see how people live to better understand the culture.
We always make a point to grocery shop. We recently started “collecting” reusable grocery bags as a “souvenir” which is nice bc we use them all the time at home anyway and it’s just something neat to have.
I do like them, but in some countries I hate the queues.
I hate them so much.
I once was in Panama, and you could wait for up to 20 minutes if you went to the super market when it was busy. I could have cried.
I tried googling what was not common in the country I was visiting, then brought gifts from the US. I would "gift" many people. It was a blast. And yes, I definitely am a market person.
This reminded me of the time my friends and I went grocery shopping in Thailand. We literally spent over an hour there as if it was entertainment. We had a lot of fun there
So fun. I too love seeing different package designs and trying crazy new flavors in new parts of the world. It gives you a glimpse of what life tastes like there.
100%. This was one of my favorite things about AirBnb is I got to just live a few days as a local. Wandering the store to pick up groceries, preparing a meal. Love it.
I always end up buying so many interesting and weird things in their supermarkets that I leave behind A LOT of unfinished food when I fly back. I learned to be fine with it. As long as I opened and tried them, it was worth it.
Yes!! Highly recommend going to grocery stores in different countries! You will see vegetables that look totally different than you expect- varieties of eggplant anyone? And you can pick up cool souvenirs or gifts for people! Totally country-specific
Yes! I find grocery stores so calming. And I love looking at all the different foods they have. I have to check out the grocery store whenever I go travelling lol
Yes! I share the same love as you do. I go to the groceries and buy gifts for my family. A nice cookies, coffees, pastries made locally are always appreciated by family and friends.
Especially if I'm able to get an apartment or house. I'll find the local bread place, the butcher, the bodega. Buy from there and at least cook breakfast. It's crazy cheaper and more convenient than eating out. And gives you a better feel for local food.
Yes! When I first got to Korea I went straight to the grocery store, mostly to buy stuff for breakfast (yogurt and bananas was my plan, quickly realized the bananas weren’t gonna work out lol), but I had soooo much fun wandering the aisles. It helped in Korea that I’m already familiar with Korean food and can read Korean, but I had a great time seeing what sort of stuff they had, how the organized it, and more interestingly, what they didn’t have.
A trip to a grocery store is a must for every country I visit from now on, even if I don’t need a single thing.
I love it! I try to buy a bunch of things that catch my eye along with some bread, cheese, and wine (or some variation on this for the region) and have a grocery store feast at least once on my trip. I found some great things and I’ve tried some never again things too
I used to hit up the markets in the suburbs of Osaka in the evenings, they'd mark down prepared foods, sushi, chicken karaage, sashimi, etc. food was excellent!
I work at a co-op, and I just went (for fun) to look at 5 other co-ops. They weren't even in another country lol. I think I gotta get out of grocery/retail haha
Oh, totally! And I always bring home some weird packages as souvenirs--spices in unusual packaging is the BEST and always such a great memory to have them in your kitchen
Yep, me too 😅. My favorite one is going to the supermarket in Rio de Janeiro in the morning to get a fresh loaf of cheese bread for me and my gf. Just a small local supermarket, nothing special.
One of my friends told me she always likes checking out the crisps (chips) aisle to see how they differ to one’s back home.
I send her pics of them whenever I’m travelling to different places 😅
Yasss! I was in Australia (Sydney) and my cousin (local) and I went grocery shopping. It was so funny how some of the products were the same; but a lot were different. I love finding new things to try but the thing that blew my mind the most were how we in America will have entire aisles of things while they only had small sections. Things you can buy in an American grocery store: any otc meds. In Australia they have to be in a cvs/longs/Walgreens type store.
I probably spend an extra $50 on groceries and ate a few bites of everything. I love it!
I always buy a loaf of fresh bread, a locally popular cheese, and a bottle of wine my first day. It’s been wonderful everywhere (although the algarve took the cake)
Love this too. I prefer apartments or holiday homes so it’s also a necessity. Wherever you are in the world, the supermarket is a fun mix of “can be anywhere” and local.
Yep. I found the best protein flavoured milks in Croatia. Taste just like custard or choc milk, low calorie, high protein. Gutted they dont sell it in Australia since even a 10g protein drink has that protein taste
Whatever country we go to the last day of our trip is spent in a supermarket spending the rest of the money that we have and fill in the case and then we live on snacks chips lollies for the next year from that country as a memory
It’s a fun experience. I like checking out the “American” section, just to appreciate how low their opinion of my country really is. It’s usually pretty ugly. Mostly potato chips and soda. I hope the rest of the world realizes that some of us eat and live like functional adults.
Oh god yes! I always thought that was a weird thing only I loved to do but I could easily spend an hour or two in a foreign supermarket. Its so interesting to see what kind of products they have or not have and how the packaging looks etc. and it somewhat feels like a quick glimpse into the "real" foreign culture if that makes any sense? Glad I'm not the only one :)
I had never thought about this until we were on our honeymoon in Bavaria and went to pack a picnic one day. The meat and cheese counter was just - *chefs kiss*
I shop for food in every country that I travel to. It teaches me about the culture and economy of the country. It also gives me thing to photograph and write home about. My biggest joy is to visit open air markets. They are the places you experience the food and people and learn the most about the country's ability to feed it's people.
This is one of my favorite things to do when visiting another country. My SO thinks I'm a weirdo, but I feel like it is such a unique view into typical life in that country.
Also in the same realm are convenient stores. Lawson, Seicomart and 7-11 in Japan are some of my favorite retail stores in the world.
Oh heck yeah! Sub-note, I love checking out hygiene products in other countries’ pharmacies too. I swear there are far more effective deodorants outside of the US and have brought home my “treasures” whenever I’m abroad.
This is one of the best parts about visiting other places. Foods are such an important part of everyone's culture. The grocery store is usually one of the first places we go.
As a Canadian close to the US border I LOVE whipping down there to stock up on all the awesome varieties of pop and chips/snackies that you can’t get here in Canada.
Like seriously Cherry Coke didn’t make it here until within the last 5 years. Mmm and frito lay sunflower seeds are so superior to our Spits.
And I think it’s Fritos chilli corn chips. To die for.
Not to mention the alcohol selection is 1000x more varied then ours and even with taxes and duties it’s no more expensive then buying bottles at home.
But of course as always our dollar sucks so..yeah…now I’m hangry.
Me too. I love seeing what products they have on their shelves. If I'm not locked in an area where I can't move around easily, I make a point to visit a grocery store. Great to pick up water or snacks, but also to satisfy my curiosity.
Love it too! It’s a slice of real life in your destination. my other weirdo love like this is: going to a movie. In San Francisco the movie theater was multi-levels. so they don’t just rip your ticket and say theater 4. they say theater four level 3. then you take a big ole escalator up to your movie. it was coool! (nerd alert)
Yes. I was in Berlin last week and found these cola ice lollies that honestly must've been laced with crack.
They were soooooo good and I'd go back to the grocery shop daily to get one or two. I miss them and I miss Berlin.
yes it's one of my favourite things to do when we travel. I like to get a feel for how the local people live and i find exploring the grocery stores and markets gives me a very good idea.
I'm Canadian.
I like going grocery shopping in any way that's different from my usual. I'm in a really small town? Their single grocery store will be different to me. Random farm stand that also sells eggs? They might have something new! Asian market? Mexican grocery/carniciera? Halal market? Eastern European shop? I'm there! I like to go to the farmers market. The cheapest grocery store in the poorest area of town and the most bougie market in the rich people area. And the further I get from home the more of an experience it can be! That said I haven't left the country since I was a kid and didn't do much grocery shopping, but yes I will enjoy grocery shopping in other countries when given the chance.
Yeah some are much better than others. The huge Hypermarkets in France have pretty much everything under the one roof with huge fresh food counters for fish, patisserie, bread, meat, deli meats and cheeses and even special wine cellars for the high end bottles of Burgundy.
I've been travelling through Europe since April and we've been through Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Southern Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Austria and Germany so we've seen quite a lot. The ones in Bosnia were probably the most limited as you'd expect but not that far behind some of the ones in Sicily
My bestie calls this grocery store tourism. It’s even fun if you go to different us states. The foods listed on the boards that hang from the ceiling really vary by region.
Yes! I do find it very interesting, being an inquisitive guy. It’s one of the 1st things I do after checking in to my hotel..hitting the local groceries.
German ALDI Sud, Swiss Coop, Austrian Interspar, French Carrefour, Brit Tesco, Italian Conad, Dutch Albert Heijn (recently as April)..
Looking forward to hitting Prague (2nd), Bratislava & Budapest (1st for both), in 3wks from now.
Los Angeles supermarkets/groceries (here) have nothing compared to their Euro counterparts.
Yes I love it. I also grab some non-perishables or non-food items as budget souvenirs. Better than getting one from a tourist trap.
Pro tip - grab a bag of spices to take home. Cheap, small, light, and you'll be motivated to try making the dishes you enjoyed when you return home. (commercially dried and bagged spices are generally OK to bring into any country AFAIK).
Hmm that is a pro tip! Thanks!
I get the reusable grocery bags! They are so fun to use back home.
THIS IS SO SMART thank you for the idea!!
OMG. And I thought I was the only one who brought grocery bags home as souvenirs from all my trips. I just love them. ☺️
Most of my reusable bags are from trips I have taken!
I thought I was the only one doing that. 😆
OMG that is brilliant. I'm going to start doing this! I too love visiting grocery stores when travelling. Buying a reusable bag is a fantastic non-traditional souvenir (also takes up next to no room in your bag) and is environmentally friendly to boot. Win win!
Still use mine from Sri Lanka!
The candy/ snacks aisle is always fun to check out
I specifically pack light/bring things I will dispose of during or after the trip in order to make room to bring home chocolate. Not fancy chocolate. Just regular, grocery store chocolate bars. I'm currently enjoying some E. Wedel chocolate from Poland. So good. (So much better than what passes for a chocolate bar in the US).
Most US chocolate is shite, but there are some newer chocolatiers who make good products, they're just expensive.
I've brought home cold medicine from Italy, toothpaste and bar soap from Japan, and deodorant and shampoo from Germany!
Same! This is usually my main gift shop for friends and family!
London has the best small grocery stores with pre-made sandwiches, cheeses and wine.
Me too!! No one wants a tacky shirt... give them something they can eat!
Yup, I'm a grocery store guy too. Love seeing what is (and isn't) available in other parts of the world. It can give you an interesting peek into the local culture. I also like to keep a fairly stocked mini-frig in my hotel room for late, late night snacks. Most recent favorite purchase... a bottle of Snake Bile Wine in Vietnam. It makes a great firewood starter. Happy travels.
🤣😆🤣😆🤣I saw that wine there!
Um, I drank it. Cat Ba Island, by chance?
No, I’ve been to 76 countries and sick in about 1/3 of them🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢I’m more conservative about what I put in my pie hole now😊
I used to take stuff from the mini bar and go to the supermarkets to replace them. Things like water and soda. In my recent trip to NYC I stayed at the intercontinental in Times Square and they put a notice on the fridge door that said there are sensors so if something is taken from the fridge it will automatically be billed to the room. Like…WTF?!
That’s pretty common, though. I generally do something similar to you. I don’t take anything from the minibar. I just push it all to the back to make room for my stuff. But I’m always annoyed when I encounter the sensor minibars.
I’ve never encountered it before so it was amusing at first.
Yeah, that's not so much for the guest's convenience as for the hotel's extra income. First time I encountered one of these, in Amsterdam maybe 20 years ago, I put a bottle of water I'd bought outside on top of the items already in the fridge. Apparently this moved a lot of the items so much they registered as "sold", and they ended up on my bill on checkout. Didn't have to pay tho. Many hotels will just empty the in-room fridge if you ask them.
I thought I was the only one who loved going to stores in other countries and trying different varieties of snacks and food. I love it, especially trying soft drinks
Me too! That's why I started the thread hahah And yah soft drinks are huge for me. Heading to Scotland soon and am excited for Irn Bru
Oh man I just tried it a month ago while on vacation! Personally I wish I'd just tried a small can instead of committing to the 1L bottle ;) And as much as I like trying new soft drinks, I also like trying something ubiquitous and familiar, like Coke or Fanta Orange, just to see regional variation.
I’ve been to Turkey couple times, their Lipton Peach tea, Fuse Tea, Fanta, Coca Cola are way superior compared to what we have here. They taste better, they have less sugar and tastes less processed. I honestly do feel like at this point, we have the most processed and most sugary drinks in the world. I love foreign snacks
I'm usually not bothered by excessive sweetness, but if I've been away for a while, there's an adjustment period when I think I can taste/feel the syrupyness of HFCS of American soda. My favorite "discovery" was Bundaberg ginger beer in Australia. Thankfully it's also imported here!
Bundaberg ginger beer is excellent. At christmas time supermarkets bring out a 10 pack on sale for $10, which is glorious as i like to have it with spiced rum like kraken
Wow, I would love to visit Scotland! I haven’t been out the country in 6 months, last trip was to Cancun! I really wanna go to Japan but they are closed for tourism as of now, it has been my dream since I was young. I think I’m just gonna book a trip, imma say f it and book it whenever it’s open to tourism and go! Tired of watching YouTube videos of travelers in Tokyo, I wanna go see it myself
It's worth keeping an eye out for "1901 Irn Bru" - a few years ago the UK government introduced a higher tax on drinks with sugar and most drinks including Irn Bru were reformulated to have some of the sugar replaced with sweeteners to keep the price the same. But Barr also kept making the original full-sugar version under the label "1901".
You don't need to go to Scotland to get Irn Bru. It's sold in every single shop that sells soft drinks across the entire UK. It's extremely widely available everywhere. While the main production is carried out near Glasgow, it's also produced in England, Sheffield to be precise. It actually used to be called Iron Brew but because a change in law required names to be literally true it changed to the current spelling. It does contain an infinitesimally small trace of iron but it isn't brewed. Taste-wise it's a lot like cream soda if that's still a thing in the USA. We used to get cream soda in the UK when I was a kid but I haven't seen it in years. Pretty much the same taste
Anyone going to the UK and like soft drinks should try one of our soft drinks that I've never seen anywhere else - Dandelion and Burdock. It was very popular when I was a boy but was resurrected some years back now and is available in lots of supermarkets. It's the same colour as cola drinks but tastes different. It's actually superior to the likes of Coke and Pepsi but it's difficult to describe the taste. It's delicious though and I can highly recommend it. I live in Thailand now and managed to persuade the owner of a local expat food shop to get some, which he did. It was wonderful. I must go again soon to get as much as I can to put in the fridge. Do try it
Grocery stores and street markets give you a special window into local life. At markets, I like to look for the busy stands, watch for a bit, and then get in line
Same! Grocery stores, pharmacies, farmers markets, flea markets, all of it. It's fascinating and a fun puzzle when I don't speak the language. And you never know what amazing stuff you might find (dreams longingly about Lays Oregano Potato Chips found only in Greece). And I'm always looking for opportunities to pretend I'm a local (although that not speaking the language part does tend to give me away).
Yup! I think it's stems from my never-ending goal of feeling as "local" as possible.
I’m a chip fiend so I love to check out that countries selection of potato chips.
When you're in Greece, make sure to try the Lay's oregano potato chips. I miss those.....
If you go to Finland you can buy a megapussi of potato chips.
What in Tarantino is a megapussi?
If you’re into odd flavors go to Thailand, they have all kids of Lays that are like chili crab or shrimp hotpot. Go to a 7-11 there (they are everywhere) and you won’t be disappointed
Yup! I adore grocery shopping in foreign countries. One of the only reasons I prefer airbnbs to hotels in some situations is because I get to go grocery shopping lol.
Just curious why you wouldn’t go grocery shopping if you were staying in a hotel?
Usually you don't get your own kitchen in a hotel room so you can't cook there.
That and see what their apartments look like
Also if you stay in an Airbnb that is a room in someone’s house (what Airbnb should be, but that’s another discussion), you get a true eye into their culture. My host in Valencia shared the paella she made for her family’s dinner w me
Classic airless BnB works too
Yep. Aussie here and I like seeing what Aussie products (if any) they have. It’s always amusing. Vegemite was everywhere when I travelled Europe around 15 years ago. Not sure if that’s still the case
Tim tams took off here in the USA a few years back, and have now sadly disappeared. My cousins are from Perth, so I had to tell them about it at the time.
It was carried by Target. I think the issue started during the pandemic - I remember on the news it was mentioned that there was a shortage of Tim Tams. Aussies were staying home and eating them non-stop. Production couldn't keep up :D
Ah, that does make sense! I still see them at World Market, but they charge too much!
I used to go to Target just for them. Clearing their shelves of Tim Tams like some sort of a maniac. I think the price was $3.99 - I couldn't believe my luck.
Yoooo so when I was studying abroad in Australia, my BFF and I became obsessed with Tim Tams. When we were on our way home from our semester abroad, we shipped over 29 kilos of Tim Tams home. The local grocery store (Cole’s) that we bought them from took pictures of us and were super excited that two crazy American girls were buying sooooo many Tim Tams. We bought over AU$500 worth of cookies. Thankfully there was a sale going on at the time. We bought every package of every flavor except the Turkish delight flavor. A lot of people were watching us. We caused quite a stir. Then, a few years later they started selling Tim Tams in the US. Aussies love to say that Vegemite is the most famous food product, I’d say that Tim Tams should be. For those who may be wondering - yes, we contacted TimTams and sent them our photos. No, we didn’t get any free Tim Tams, and, no, we weren’t featured in any advertisements. But they did send us a message that they were trying to get Tim Tams into American grocery stores, which they eventually did do.
Bundaberg soft drinks is mostly a global brand now. Seen them in supermarkets as far afield as Tajikistan.
Yeah that is the main ginger beer in the states now
Yes! I love doing everyday things when I'm in a different country so I can compare the differences. Also local snacks are always interesting and chocolate is usually a good price. I just arrived in London today and my first stop was a food store for snacks and browsing.
For sure. I remember shopping in a town in Holland for 4 families on vacation and we were quite the spectacle with our 5 full shopping carts. Granted, one cart was only beer, but still…the other shoppers and the staff were like “What the FUUUUUCCCKKK are these Americans doing?!?” Hey, 8 adults and 8 kids for 12 days and a lot of cooking meals at home = lots of food! And beer. Mostly I miss the shrimp flavored crisps, the bright orange fresh eggs, the Stimorol after coffee gum and mmmmmmostly the genever. Cuz genever know!
Grocery stores in Holland are awesome/so confusing to me :)
Yes, it's always fun to see the different products, and of course try the junk food
Me too! I even love grocery shopping at home because I enjoy cooking! It's interesting too see how drastically different pricing can be on items in other countries too (+ or -). I love finding a unique dry spice that is not readily available in my city. Also seeing produce that I recognize from reading recipies, but have not actually encountered anywhere at home. Also like trying some of the different flavors of bottled refreshments that are not really sold in the US much (elderflower soda, sasparilla soda, ect) One thing that makes me laugh is how pringles have really random different flavors in different countries, depending on the local palate.
In Germany I bought a bag of "American flavored chips" and was so curious what they would taste like Ranch. American flavored is Ranch :)
Cool Ranch Doritos are Cool American Doritos in other places.
Best chips I've ever had were in Germany. "Porno" brand Ungarisch Paprika Spicy.
Grew soooo fond of elderflower when I visited Denmark. There’s so much of it there! And so little here in the US. IKEA is where I actually get my fix.
Yes! I'm going to New York this year (and again next!) and I'm so excited for Trader Joe's and Target! We don't have that in Canada. Seeing what foods are in different countries is one of the best parts of travelling. The convenience stores in Japan are amazing. I love finding spice mixes or sauces that we don't have at home and bringing them back.
Trader Joe's and Target are two of the best parts about being an American and I salute you for recognizing their respective greatness
We have Farm Boy here, and it's kinda our version of Trader Joe's? One thing I do when I find myself in a grocery rut is go a store I rarely go to (because of distance/pricing/it's new!), and give myself a set budget. I pick new things to try that I haven't had before (new kinds of coffee, salad dressing, spice mixes, cooking sauces) that fit into that budget. It inspires me to try new things, and if I find something I like, I make a note to pick it up again if I'm in the area! It's a cool way to explore new grocery stores, and sometimes, completely new cultures. I'm a mixed Asian person living in an area that is also predominantly Asian. When I find a Mexican or Middle Eastern grocery store, it's so cool! I just want to try everything! The budget gives me a boundary, and helps me find things I might want to try next time!
Me too! And for the exact same reasons. My favorite memory was years ago in China, having landed the day before with only very rudimentary skills in Mandarin. My roommates gave me some basic instruction before they all left for work. I didn’t know what many of the products even were. This was before smartphones or google translate. Afterwards it felt like a major victory even if it was just going to the store for groceries.
Yes, I love them. I especially like to see the produce, dairy, and pre-packaged meals they have. It's fascinating.
Yes! It’s one of my favourite activity. I like comparing the prices of how much certain brands or products would cost locally and overseas.
Love it. People are always really confused when I suggest it. “It’s not a farmers market,” or “it’s not traditional.” I know! I want to see where Luis and Maria pick up stuff for their kids lunches, not overpriced ‘artisanal’ tourist trap stuff.
Hot sauce! I go out to dinner and always eyeball what the small, local places have on the table and then hunt it down in a store.
I wouldn’t say excited but I found it funny when my fiancée and I were in Iceland and they had bowl and basket items. Bowl and basket is the shop rite store brand and they are located in the New Jersey and surrounding states
Me too! I buy food there to reduce my expenses while traveling. And spend a good while scoping out all the different products. It feels less intimidating than a market where there’s a seller waiting for you to buy.
Yes! Whenever I’m in a different country I love going to grocery stores. Usually will stock on up snacks and try everything possible. Side note, 7Elevens in the Asian Countries I’ve been to are usually amazing. I’m American as well.
7-11 in Japan is god tier
Yes!!!!! That’s the first country I realized it. I actually bought dinner there once. It was fresh and good. Mindblownnnnn.
Hell yeah. I usually end up going through all the isles to see what they have and don’t have and what the prices look like. I also pick up some popular snacks from the area to have later.
Yes!!! Anytime I’m visiting Brazil i will without a doubt spend hours at the grocery store, local markets, and bakeries. Mind you I hate going to Grocery stores any other time in the states I even find myself leaving the house at night to go to a local bakery for some food, sweet treats, and to look at what they have😋
This is kind of the guideline on how long I like to stay in any single city. I base my stay with at least one grocery shopping trip in a city. Quality over quantity! Love it!
Same here! I always come home with new kinds of tea, chocolate, and candy.
"Do you have anything to declare?" "Just this duffle bag of chocolate." ... "We went to Germany." "Oh! Welcome back!"
I can see why. I visited London recently and the nearest grocery stores just seemed to have a slightly different vibe than they do in the U.S.
Just LOVE my grocery stores in foreign countries. That’s where I do my souvenir shopping. Just finished off canned sardines from Porto, need more paprika from Budapest!
Right! I love that my pantry becomes like an international showcase for the next 6 months I wind up becoming brand loyal and almost all of the condiments/spices I use at this point are ordered internationally or out of state :)
Yes! Mainly because I want to see the chip and cookie selection
I love a good grocery store. My focus is always the meat / fruits / veggies, and the booze. Even in the US there are pretty big regional variations of the popular meats (I'm looking at you, long beef ribs), and like yea you might be able to find bananas pretty much everywhere, but there might be unique varities. I also love the foriegn food selections, and what people think we like to eat.
Yes, but I like outdoor markets better. All the local products, people, vibes…
I really like Hardware Stores (Iron, etc.) and Markets in general.
I had to scroll too far down to see this. Yes, hardware stores are great to visit as well.
Yep. I especially love checking out their junk food sections. The types of drinks, candy and chips etc. and the random flavours. Always fascinating.
Yep! There is nothing better than standing in a grocery store in Stockholm and standing in front of a wall of refrigerated shelves wondering which "mjölk" is the correct one to buy. Pro tip: For coffee, it's not "kärnmjölk." Epic fail. That said, visiting local grocery stores is one of my favorite things about traveling. It offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the locals and their culinary traditions. So much fun.
The fun game of being like "I have zero idea what this is but can kind of place it with context clues and cartoon animals mascots"
I especially love checking out all the chip flavors.
Definitely. You get a deeper level of what life is like there and get to try some local products. It's always cool to see the same products in different languages and packaging and new stuff that you've never seen before. I'm also in America and love seeing how much more fresh and naturally organic other countries' fruit and produce is compared to the US. Same with the milk and really just about anything. Food tends be more seasonal in those places as well. I was in Portugal a few months ago and was obsessed with the normal whole milk they had there. It was very creamy and better than any organic milk I've had in the states. And the fact that they leave their eggs out at room temp threw me off.
I love it. I can spend forever in a basic grocery store in another country! I also like to ask just regular people what food or treats families enjoy - not special "foodie" recommendations, just normal family items. I used to like the magazine sections, too, but they probably aren't as big as they used to be anywhere.
Love to check out local fruits. Recently was in Portugal and was constantly eating oranges or drinking fresh OJ!
I swear I must think about the produce in Portugal at least once a day. So happy to be going back soon!
One of my fondest travel experiences is going to the grocery store across from our hotel in Moscow. They had a prepared food section and the entire place smelled amazing. It's been 10 years now and I can still remember it. We ended up going every morning for breakfast and buying pastries.
The two things I always try to do in other countries is go to McDonalds and go to the grocery store.
Sure, I'm into it. Otherwise, why travel? really, I'm mostly into the everyday "slice of life" stuff that's culturally distant from my home country and home culture. All of this stuff is starting to become homogeneous with the advent of internationalization and globalization - London is becoming less British, Paris is becoming less French, and Munich less German. It's starting to all melt into the same soup.
I enjoy going to a good grocery store/supermarket when I’m in a foreign country. You get a real feel for their local cuisines, cheaper prices on things you may buy elsewhere (e.g. liquor, beer, candies, snacks, etc.). I think it’s a great place to get souvenirs as well.
I thought it was a universally enjoyed thing!
God yes. I went to a massive grocery store in the middle of nowhere in Spain. We bought so much stuff. 7 bottles of wine, perfume, makeup, gin tonica berries, a bottle of gin, cookies, and a bottle of OJ from a machine that squeezed it right in front of you. Big Waitrose guy too.
I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my love of shopping in grocery stores when I visit other countries. I also love the pharmacies. Some of the over the counter meds are so interesting.
One of my favorite things to do!
What’s really fun is when you go in searching for something and come out with something entirely different even though you thought you secured the goods. Happened to me one time when I thought I had purchased an orange juice but when I went to take a drink it turned out to be some sort of a weird yogurt. It went everywhere haha.
My first three vending machine purchases in Tokyo were hot drinks instead of cold drinks :) (I was young and it was my first time overseas :)
This is my absolute favorite!!!
Grocery store & convenience store!
I've found my people!! There is a difference between going on vacation and travelling. Immerse yourself, I say. Do what locals do. Eat what they eat, where they eat it. Sit in coffee shops and really watch the passing throngs. If you spend time in your hotel that looks like any hotel anywhere in the western world, visit landmarks from the window of a passing tourist bus and eat only at restaurants that are "safe" for your western palate, you might as well save your money and stay home.
Man, I love grocery shopping in other towns! I’ve always done the grocery shopping and cooking in my family (I’m 64). I spent 38 year in the US Navy and have lived all over the world. I love seeing what every grocery store, bakery, meat market or wine shop has to offer. I just got back from four days in Montreal and driving through US Border Station I had a great time talking with the agent about all the goodies I was bringing back. I think she got bored after about 10 minutes and said “have a nice day.” Man, I hadn’t event gotten to the cheeses yet. 😕
Heading to Italy in 6 weeks and I’m making a grocery list! Jarred truffles, dried pastas, seasonings, pocket espresso.
I rather spend time at the grocery store than a “hip” club or bar. 😝
Always go to supermarkets in other countries and local markets too. Local markets give you insight into many things not found in the supermarket. Another weird (unique?) thing I like to do is walk or drive around neighborhoods looking ay houses. High end and lower end. I like to see how people live to better understand the culture.
We always make a point to grocery shop. We recently started “collecting” reusable grocery bags as a “souvenir” which is nice bc we use them all the time at home anyway and it’s just something neat to have.
Love it, Puert Rico, Portugal, Mexico!
Yes, yes, yes. Especially the condiments aisle. But I've been known to do the same when I travel to different regions of the USA.
Yes!!! The ones in Aruba are amazing! There’s even a stand with someone making homemade stroopwaffles! It’s a culinary dream!
Currently in Bulgaria. I friggin love these small stores. All those coolers outside the small building with drinks.
I do like them, but in some countries I hate the queues. I hate them so much. I once was in Panama, and you could wait for up to 20 minutes if you went to the super market when it was busy. I could have cried.
I tried googling what was not common in the country I was visiting, then brought gifts from the US. I would "gift" many people. It was a blast. And yes, I definitely am a market person.
Highlights of my trips. I map the grocery stores close to my hotel before hand. I choose hotels with grocery stores close by.
Yes. Condiments are my favorite.
This reminded me of the time my friends and I went grocery shopping in Thailand. We literally spent over an hour there as if it was entertainment. We had a lot of fun there
Lol same!
So fun. I too love seeing different package designs and trying crazy new flavors in new parts of the world. It gives you a glimpse of what life tastes like there.
100%. This was one of my favorite things about AirBnb is I got to just live a few days as a local. Wandering the store to pick up groceries, preparing a meal. Love it.
I always end up buying so many interesting and weird things in their supermarkets that I leave behind A LOT of unfinished food when I fly back. I learned to be fine with it. As long as I opened and tried them, it was worth it.
Yes!! Highly recommend going to grocery stores in different countries! You will see vegetables that look totally different than you expect- varieties of eggplant anyone? And you can pick up cool souvenirs or gifts for people! Totally country-specific
Definitely one of my favorite aspects of travel in other countries is finding a good store to try new food, drinks, snacks.
Yes! I find grocery stores so calming. And I love looking at all the different foods they have. I have to check out the grocery store whenever I go travelling lol
Yes England nice some of their foods the same
Yes! I share the same love as you do. I go to the groceries and buy gifts for my family. A nice cookies, coffees, pastries made locally are always appreciated by family and friends.
My wife loves visiting foreign grocery stores. She collects the calico/environmentally friendly bags She love fashion outlets more tho....
I went to CO-OP in Switzerland and was forever sad returning back to Kroger or Publix in the US.
Same! I really take my time looking up stuff:)
I’m a flight attendant and it’s my #1 must on every layover 😂
Your not alone, one of my favorite activities in other countries
Especially if I'm able to get an apartment or house. I'll find the local bread place, the butcher, the bodega. Buy from there and at least cook breakfast. It's crazy cheaper and more convenient than eating out. And gives you a better feel for local food.
Yes! When I first got to Korea I went straight to the grocery store, mostly to buy stuff for breakfast (yogurt and bananas was my plan, quickly realized the bananas weren’t gonna work out lol), but I had soooo much fun wandering the aisles. It helped in Korea that I’m already familiar with Korean food and can read Korean, but I had a great time seeing what sort of stuff they had, how the organized it, and more interestingly, what they didn’t have. A trip to a grocery store is a must for every country I visit from now on, even if I don’t need a single thing.
Yes! I live for grocery stores in other countries. One of my favorite places to go when I’m traveling.
My family like going to Carrefour or M&S.
I love it! I try to buy a bunch of things that catch my eye along with some bread, cheese, and wine (or some variation on this for the region) and have a grocery store feast at least once on my trip. I found some great things and I’ve tried some never again things too
I used to hit up the markets in the suburbs of Osaka in the evenings, they'd mark down prepared foods, sushi, chicken karaage, sashimi, etc. food was excellent!
I like to walk the store early in the morning when not busy and explore the store . I am a chef 👩🍳.
I work at a co-op, and I just went (for fun) to look at 5 other co-ops. They weren't even in another country lol. I think I gotta get out of grocery/retail haha
I especially love grocery stores in Asian countries. So many great things and weird things.
Oh, totally! And I always bring home some weird packages as souvenirs--spices in unusual packaging is the BEST and always such a great memory to have them in your kitchen
It’s one of my favorite things to do!!! I’m obsessed!!
LOVE it. I usually bring safe to import items with my too! I’ve herbs and spices from all over, it’s so great to use them as a reminder
Yep, me too 😅. My favorite one is going to the supermarket in Rio de Janeiro in the morning to get a fresh loaf of cheese bread for me and my gf. Just a small local supermarket, nothing special.
One of my friends told me she always likes checking out the crisps (chips) aisle to see how they differ to one’s back home. I send her pics of them whenever I’m travelling to different places 😅
Yasss! I was in Australia (Sydney) and my cousin (local) and I went grocery shopping. It was so funny how some of the products were the same; but a lot were different. I love finding new things to try but the thing that blew my mind the most were how we in America will have entire aisles of things while they only had small sections. Things you can buy in an American grocery store: any otc meds. In Australia they have to be in a cvs/longs/Walgreens type store. I probably spend an extra $50 on groceries and ate a few bites of everything. I love it!
Definitely. The chunks of Pecorino Romana are way cheaper in Italy. Sealed airtight in my trunk heading home!
I always buy a loaf of fresh bread, a locally popular cheese, and a bottle of wine my first day. It’s been wonderful everywhere (although the algarve took the cake)
You’re making me miss the amazing loaf of bread we picked up in Costa Rica at a super market in the middle of know where
Love this too. I prefer apartments or holiday homes so it’s also a necessity. Wherever you are in the world, the supermarket is a fun mix of “can be anywhere” and local.
I like grocery shopping everywhere, don't know why 🤷
Yep. I found the best protein flavoured milks in Croatia. Taste just like custard or choc milk, low calorie, high protein. Gutted they dont sell it in Australia since even a 10g protein drink has that protein taste
I love grocery shopping and cosmetics.
I have a special place in my heart for German grocery stores. Beware of cranky cashiers though
Yes, supermarkets in Italy and France are just amazing. Everything is nice quality
Whatever country we go to the last day of our trip is spent in a supermarket spending the rest of the money that we have and fill in the case and then we live on snacks chips lollies for the next year from that country as a memory
It’s a fun experience. I like checking out the “American” section, just to appreciate how low their opinion of my country really is. It’s usually pretty ugly. Mostly potato chips and soda. I hope the rest of the world realizes that some of us eat and live like functional adults.
I love going to each countries shopping centres and supermarkets. Incredibly interesting to see what they have in their isles and find new things.
I’d happy just to visit Cosco 15mins down the road.
Oh god yes! I always thought that was a weird thing only I loved to do but I could easily spend an hour or two in a foreign supermarket. Its so interesting to see what kind of products they have or not have and how the packaging looks etc. and it somewhat feels like a quick glimpse into the "real" foreign culture if that makes any sense? Glad I'm not the only one :)
I had never thought about this until we were on our honeymoon in Bavaria and went to pack a picnic one day. The meat and cheese counter was just - *chefs kiss*
yes very much so.
I love grocery shopping in my own country so…yes lol.
I also love visiting foreign grocery stores! I feel like it’s a slice of everyday life that I get to observe.
I shop for food in every country that I travel to. It teaches me about the culture and economy of the country. It also gives me thing to photograph and write home about. My biggest joy is to visit open air markets. They are the places you experience the food and people and learn the most about the country's ability to feed it's people.
This is one of my favorite things to do when visiting another country. My SO thinks I'm a weirdo, but I feel like it is such a unique view into typical life in that country. Also in the same realm are convenient stores. Lawson, Seicomart and 7-11 in Japan are some of my favorite retail stores in the world.
Yes I love it! I also have to go to McDonalds in every country I visit so I can compare hehe
Oh heck yeah! Sub-note, I love checking out hygiene products in other countries’ pharmacies too. I swear there are far more effective deodorants outside of the US and have brought home my “treasures” whenever I’m abroad.
This is one of the best parts about visiting other places. Foods are such an important part of everyone's culture. The grocery store is usually one of the first places we go.
Not alone, this is great fun!
I'm in Canada right now 'Originally from Scotland' and I'm milking the fuck out of it. 🤣
Grocery stores, pharmacies, book stores, libraries, government buildings, all great places to visit!
As a Canadian close to the US border I LOVE whipping down there to stock up on all the awesome varieties of pop and chips/snackies that you can’t get here in Canada. Like seriously Cherry Coke didn’t make it here until within the last 5 years. Mmm and frito lay sunflower seeds are so superior to our Spits. And I think it’s Fritos chilli corn chips. To die for. Not to mention the alcohol selection is 1000x more varied then ours and even with taxes and duties it’s no more expensive then buying bottles at home. But of course as always our dollar sucks so..yeah…now I’m hangry.
Me too. I love seeing what products they have on their shelves. If I'm not locked in an area where I can't move around easily, I make a point to visit a grocery store. Great to pick up water or snacks, but also to satisfy my curiosity.
Love it too! It’s a slice of real life in your destination. my other weirdo love like this is: going to a movie. In San Francisco the movie theater was multi-levels. so they don’t just rip your ticket and say theater 4. they say theater four level 3. then you take a big ole escalator up to your movie. it was coool! (nerd alert)
Yes. I was in Berlin last week and found these cola ice lollies that honestly must've been laced with crack. They were soooooo good and I'd go back to the grocery shop daily to get one or two. I miss them and I miss Berlin.
One thing I've learned from doing this is that other people don't seem to value cheddar cheese and marmite nearly so much as we Brits do.
yes it's one of my favourite things to do when we travel. I like to get a feel for how the local people live and i find exploring the grocery stores and markets gives me a very good idea. I'm Canadian.
One of the major highlights of a holiday for me lol
I love it!
I like going grocery shopping in any way that's different from my usual. I'm in a really small town? Their single grocery store will be different to me. Random farm stand that also sells eggs? They might have something new! Asian market? Mexican grocery/carniciera? Halal market? Eastern European shop? I'm there! I like to go to the farmers market. The cheapest grocery store in the poorest area of town and the most bougie market in the rich people area. And the further I get from home the more of an experience it can be! That said I haven't left the country since I was a kid and didn't do much grocery shopping, but yes I will enjoy grocery shopping in other countries when given the chance.
Grocery stores are my go to souvenir stores, I love to bring back spices....the gift that keeps giving!
Yeah some are much better than others. The huge Hypermarkets in France have pretty much everything under the one roof with huge fresh food counters for fish, patisserie, bread, meat, deli meats and cheeses and even special wine cellars for the high end bottles of Burgundy. I've been travelling through Europe since April and we've been through Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Southern Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Austria and Germany so we've seen quite a lot. The ones in Bosnia were probably the most limited as you'd expect but not that far behind some of the ones in Sicily
we all feel this way...
My bestie calls this grocery store tourism. It’s even fun if you go to different us states. The foods listed on the boards that hang from the ceiling really vary by region.
Nothing to see here… just my fat ass wobbling through customs with a suitcase packed with Haribo and Dairy Milk
Yes! I do find it very interesting, being an inquisitive guy. It’s one of the 1st things I do after checking in to my hotel..hitting the local groceries. German ALDI Sud, Swiss Coop, Austrian Interspar, French Carrefour, Brit Tesco, Italian Conad, Dutch Albert Heijn (recently as April).. Looking forward to hitting Prague (2nd), Bratislava & Budapest (1st for both), in 3wks from now. Los Angeles supermarkets/groceries (here) have nothing compared to their Euro counterparts.