I must admit that I am not frugal on the occasions that I travel. I suck it up and buy the expensive airport food and drinks. I do take reading material with me, so I don’t have to buy magazines. I don’t usually buy food or drinks on airplanes though.

Unfortunately one of my greatest unexpected expenses is grabbing a pint at the pub. When traveling I am always rushed to wait. So not being occupied can be expensive.

I usually just budget in airport or train station spending into the trip budget, as I know I’m always going to buy something. Especially duty-free shopping. I sort of lose my mind when I see all the shiny, sparkly things in the duty-free section.

To answer your question yes you can bring an empty bottle through the security line and fill it up after you pass through. Security doesn’t have a problem with the bottle its the liquid inside. I have a metal water bottle I bring with me and have never been questioned about it. I also bring sncaks but make sure it is not something “liquidy” I got my Peanut Butter taken at Heathrow but not my water bottle.

We just got back from a mediterranean cruise, and like you said the expenses from sheer boredom while waiting at the airport certainly do add up. We bought magazines, candy and liquid refreshment while waiting for flights to and from our destinations. It was tempered a bit by the fact that we brought empty water bottles as discussed, and filled them up once we got past security. We also brought some of our own snacks which cut down on some of the costs.

In the end I think you just have to expect to have some of those costs when you travel, and budget accordingly.

we always, always, always pack our own food when we travel, as here in the states they don’t give out food on most airlines anymore and we have dietary restrictions (vegan) that mean that food is difficult to come by in airports. Plus, it’s overpriced , low quality, and not very nutritious.

I usually pack some sandwiches- I make them up the night before we travel- and baggies of things like pretzels, carrot sticks, etc. I tuck them into my carry on bag or sometimes we actually bring a temperature - regulating lunchbox as one of our carry-ons. It sounds ridiculous, but when we went to hawai’i we missed some connections and it took us 24 hours to get there. Having pre-made food on hand turned out to be a total lifesaver!

You can just bring an empty plastic water bottle with you through the airport security too. We do. They won’t make you throw it away if it is empty.

On really long flights with lots of connections for vacations, though, we sometimes indulge a little in drinks. A waste of money, but we get a little tipsy and vacation-y feeling

oh! for fun things to do that are frugal, bring the crossword from your morning paper! sometimes we save up hard crosswords(fridays and saturdays) a few weeks before we travel so we have lots to do while waiting at the gate . I love crosswords and whatever book you have checked out of the library at the time. Also people often just ditch their papers/mags in cafes. I am not above picking them up and carting them off for my own reading pleasure. .

I recently learned that if you are diabetic, you are allowed to carry water and food as long as you have documentation from a doctor.

I’ve flown about 4 times since then (and not had documentation) and they’ve let me through with the water after seeing my needles and insulin.

What is really interesting is that they never seem interested in the needles - it is my 12 oz bottle of water that gets me flagged!

With two kids and myself, just buying water can easily run $10, so I’m thrilled with this discovery.

I wonder if other illnesses qualify for the water exemption also?

I bring a book or listen to the ipod, and eat beforehand. I might get just a drink or snack in the airport so I don’t have too many incidentals while traveling.

I’ve given up on food in airports. It’s all gross and, as neimanmarxist said, hardly anything is served on board anymore. I try to make it fun by packing as delicious a picnic as I can think of. We usually get some admiring glances from fellow passengers. I’ve been known to bring tomato salad, eggplant dip, pita sandwiches, fresh strawberries. I’ve never had a problem from security.

I thought of you this weekend as I saw an Oktoberfest t-shirt.

Re unexpected expenses, I try to keep an extra bag of change ready & waiting!

@Mydailydollars:
You’re making me jealous just thinking about that food. I pity your poor fellow passengers who have to watch longingly as you eat it.

@Frugal Notes:
Yep, I keep extra change, and make sure that I have a little of my holiday money left at the end of the trip as well.