The Virginia Beach Local Secret That Saves Money on Summer Vacations.

       Today's post is sponsored by Food Lion. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Southern Belle in Training! #FoodLionVacation #Sponsored

   

      This summer marks five years since I moved to Coastal Virginia! Five years is enough time to be qualified to make local recommendations, right? 😉 The city of Virginia Beach and the Coastal Virginia area as a whole is such a popular vacation spot in the summer months, and rightfully so! In Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas you'll find miles of great beaches, lots of great lodging options, and a variety of fun local things to do.

       The only downside to visiting Coastal Virginia in the summer? Lodging and travel costs in the area continue to rise each year. Part of it is inflation, part of it is demand, and I'm sure there's other factors as well. As a traveler, it can be hard to control the cost of lodging, flights and gas/tolls. But things you do have control over the cost of? Your meals and activities. And I'm here today to let you in on a top local secret to save money on snacks, drinks and grocery needs when visiting Coastal Virginia during the warmer months!

      First and foremost, if you are staying at a local hotel, never purchase snacks and drinks from the hotel market. As a former Virginia Beach hotel front desk agent, I can tell you firsthand how much any items for sale at your hotel are crazy marked up! Buying food or drinks from your hotel's market is the fastest way to burn through money on your vacation. So where should you be looking for your snack and grocery needs?

     All of the Virginia Beach locals know that Food Lion is the affordable yet well-stocked choice for any of your food shopping needs while on vacation! There are 20+ locations in Virginia Beach alone, and 70+ locations in the greater Hampton Roads / Coastal Virginia area. Whether you are staying in a high-rise hotel at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, renting a beach house in Sandbridge, or enjoying the Chesapeake Bay vibes at Chic's Beach or East Beach, there's a Food Lion store conveniently located near you.

     Now that beach season is here once again, I stopped by my local Food Lion recently for some healthy-ish snacks to have on-hand for my own beach days! Nothing beats getting to live in a place that makes you feel like you're on vacation yourself in the summer months. I grabbed some fresh cut fruit from one of the coolers, cheese sticks and lightly salted nuts from the Food Lion store brand, and a small trail mix pack and a package of sparkling waters from the Nature's Choice store brand, which is always a favorite label for me to shop when looking for items with better ingredients at a good price point. Everything I picked for my beach snack haul was at great prices!

     If you’re visiting Virginia Beach this summer, consider this your sign to make a quick Food Lion stop before heading to the beach. 

     Eat fresh. Spend less. Vacation harder. 

  

     xoxo Annaliese