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Meals

Meals represent dining experiences during your trip - from quick breakfasts to fine dining dinners. Plan restaurant reservations, local food experiences, and culinary adventures.

What is a Meal?

A Meal is any dining event during your trip, including:

  • Restaurant reservations
  • CafĂ© visits
  • Street food experiences
  • Picnics
  • Food tours
  • Cooking classes
  • Bar/cocktail venues

Creating a Meal

From Day View

  1. Navigate to a specific day
  2. Click Add Meal
  3. Fill in the meal details
  4. Click Save

From Trip Overview

  1. Find the day section
  2. Click Add Meal
  3. Complete the form
  4. Save

Meal Form The meal creation form

Meal Fields

Required Fields

Name - Restaurant or dining location name - Example: "Trattoria da Enzo", "Le Bernardin", "Street Food Tour" - Max 100 characters

Meal Type - Type of meal - Options: - Breakfast - Morning meal (7:00–11:00 typical) - Lunch - Midday meal (12:00–15:00 typical) - Dinner - Evening meal (18:00–23:00 typical) - Snack - Quick bites, coffee, dessert - Shown as a badge on the event card

Optional Fields

Start Time - Reservation or planned dining time - Example: 12:30, 19:00, 20:30 - Used for display ordering within the day

Duration - Estimated length of the meal - Dropdown: Not specified, 30 min, 1h, … up to 7h 30min - Typical values: 30–60 min for breakfast/snack, 1–2 h for lunch, 1.5–3 h for dinner

Address - Restaurant location - Example: "Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Rome, Italy" - Enables map display and directions - Max 200 characters

City - City name - Auto-populated during geocoding - Max 100 characters

Cuisine Type - Type of food - Example: "Italian", "French", "Japanese Sushi", "Street Food"

Reservation - Whether a reservation is required/made - Yes/No field

Notes - Additional information - Example: "Try the cacio e pepe. Cash only. No reservation needed. Ask for outdoor seating." - Max 500 characters

Confirmation Number - Reservation confirmation - Example: "RESY-20250314-001", "OpenTable #123456"

Price - Approximate cost per person - Example: "€30-40", "$$", "Budget-friendly"

Website - Restaurant website or booking link - Auto-filled via Google Places enrichment

Phone Number - Restaurant contact number - Auto-filled via Google Places enrichment - Useful for calling ahead

Day - Which day this meal occurs - Can be left blank to create an "unpaired" meal

Meal Types

Breakfast

Typical times: 07:00 - 11:00

Examples: - "Hotel Breakfast Buffet" - "Café de Flore - Croissants" - "Local Bakery - Fresh Pastries"

Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Tips: - Check if hotel includes breakfast - Note opening times for cafés - Consider grab-and-go for busy mornings

Lunch

Typical times: 12:00 - 15:00

Examples: - "Roscioli - Deli Lunch" - "Pizzarium - Pizza al Taglio" - "Picnic in Central Park"

Duration: 1 - 2 hours

Tips: - Popular spots fill up 12:30-13:30 - Some European restaurants close 14:30-15:00 - Consider time between morning and afternoon activities

Dinner

Typical times: 18:00 - 23:00

Examples: - "La Pergola - Fine Dining" - "Osteria Francescana - Tasting Menu" - "Night Market - Street Food"

Duration: 1.5 - 3 hours (fine dining may take longer)

Tips: - Book reservations well in advance for popular restaurants - Check dress codes for upscale venues - European dinners often start later (20:00-21:00)

Snack

Typical times: Anytime

Examples: - "Gelato at Giolitti" - "Coffee Break - Café Terrace" - "Afternoon Tea - Hotel Lounge" - "Tapas Bar Hopping"

Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Tips: - Use for breaks between activities - Great for trying local specialties - Can be flexible timing

Making Reservations

When to Reserve

âś… Always reserve for: - Fine dining restaurants - Michelin-starred venues - Popular tourist area restaurants - Large groups (4+ people) - Weekend/holiday dining - Special occasions

⚠️ Maybe reserve for: - Moderate restaurants during peak season - Lunch at busy spots - Specific seating requests (outdoor, window, etc.)

❌ Usually no reservation needed: - Casual cafés - Fast food/takeaway - Street food - Markets - Breakfast at hotel

Reservation Information to Record

When you make a reservation, note: - Confirmation number - Contact name (who you spoke with) - Table preferences (outdoor, quiet area, etc.) - Deposit (if paid) - Cancellation policy - Special requests (dietary restrictions, celebration, etc.)

Example note: 

Reservation confirmed for 4 people at 20:00.
Confirmation: RESY-2025-0314
Outdoor table requested. €50 deposit paid (non-refundable).
Mentioned celebrating anniversary - they'll prepare something special.
Contact: Maria (reservations) +39 123 456 7890

Location and Maps

Geocoding

Complete addresses enable: - Map pin display - Walking directions from previous event - Distance calculations - Grouping nearby venues

Good address: 

Via dei Vascellari, 29
00153 Rome, Italy

Finding Restaurants Nearby

Plan meals near your other activities: - Check map clustering - Note walking time from morning experience - Consider transit time to evening plans

Reduce Travel Time

Group meals near other events in the same area to minimize travel.

Google Places Enrichment

Auto-populate restaurant details using Google Places.

What Gets Enriched

  • Official website
  • Phone number
  • Opening hours (kitchen times)
  • Google Place ID
  • Additional business info

How to Enrich

  1. Enter restaurant name and address
  2. Click Enrich button
  3. Select correct result from search
  4. Details auto-fill

When Enrichment Helps

âś… Useful for: - Established restaurants with Google listings - Chains with verified info - Popular tourist-area restaurants

❌ Less useful for: - Small local spots without listings - Street food vendors - Pop-up restaurants - Home dining experiences

Managing Meals

Editing a Meal

  1. Click meal card
  2. Click Edit
  3. Update fields
  4. Save

Deleting a Meal

  1. Click meal card
  2. Click Delete
  3. Confirm

Warning

Deletion is permanent.

Moving to Another Day

  1. Edit the meal
  2. Change Day field
  3. Save

Unpaired Meals

Create meals without assigning to a day: 1. Leave Day blank 2. Save to "Unpaired Events" 3. Assign to a day later when schedule is finalized

Use cases: - Researching restaurant options - Tentative reservations - Backup plans if primary restaurant is full

Best Practices

Realistic Timing

Breakfast: 30–60 minutes 

Start Time: 08:00
Duration: 1h

Casual lunch: 1–1.5 hours 

Start Time: 12:30
Duration: 1h 30min

Fine dining: 2–3 hours 

Start Time: 20:00
Duration: 3h

Add Buffer Time

Allow extra time for: - Waiting for table (even with reservation) - Slow service (especially outside peak hours) - Enjoying the experience without rushing

Using Notes Effectively

Great notes include: 

Signature dish: Cacio e pepe
Reservation: Table 12, outdoor terrace
Dress code: Smart casual (no shorts)
Payment: Cash only, ATM nearby
Dietary: Mentioned vegetarian options needed
Backup: If full, try "Taverna Trilussa" next door

Dietary Restrictions

Record dietary needs: - Add to notes when booking - Confirm with restaurant in advance - Research menu beforehand - Have backup restaurants with suitable options

Example: 

Notes: Confirmed gluten-free pasta available.
       Spoke with chef about celiac requirements.
       Dedicated prep area. Menu code: GF-OPTIONS

Budgeting

Track meal costs to manage budget:

Type Budget Range
Street food €5-10
Casual café €10-20
Mid-range restaurant €25-50
Fine dining €75-150+
Michelin-starred €150-400+

Special Meal Scenarios

Food Tours

Name: Trastevere Food Tour
Type: Dinner
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Notes: Walking food tour. Multiple stops.
       Includes: Pizza, supplì, gelato, wine tasting
       Meeting point: Piazza Santa Maria
       Wear comfortable shoes.

Multi-Course Tasting Menus

Name: Osteria Francescana - Tasting Menu
Type: Dinner
Time: 19:30 - 23:00 (12-course menu, allow 3+ hours)
Notes: €350 per person. Wine pairing +€150
       Dress code: Formal
       Confirmed dietary restrictions with chef

Picnics

Name: Picnic in Borghese Gardens
Type: Lunch
Time: 12:00 - 13:30
Address: Villa Borghese, Rome
Notes: Buy supplies from Roscioli beforehand
       Bring: Blanket, wine opener, napkins
       Spot: Near Pincio Terrace for views

Hotel Dining

Name: Hotel Breakfast Buffet
Type: Breakfast
Time: 07:30 - 08:30
Notes: Included in room rate. 7:00-10:00 service.
       Get there early (before 8:30) to avoid crowds.

Tips for Different Cuisines

Italian Restaurants

  • Lunch: 12:30-15:00, Dinner: 19:30-23:00
  • "Coperto" (cover charge) is normal
  • Dress nicely even for casual spots
  • Coffee is espresso, ordered after meal

Japanese Restaurants

  • Omakase needs advance booking
  • Sushi bar seating for best experience
  • No tipping in Japan
  • Reservations via hotel concierge often easier

French Restaurants

  • Lunch: 12:00-14:00, Dinner: 19:00-22:00
  • "Menu" = fixed-price meal
  • Water: Specify "carafe d'eau" for tap (free)
  • Service included in bill

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add meals without reservations?

Yes! Add any dining plan, with or without reservations. Use the "Reservation" field to track which meals are confirmed.

How do I handle walk-in restaurants?

Add them to your itinerary with a note: 

Notes: No reservation (walk-in only). Arrive early (before 12:00) or late (after 14:00) to avoid waits.

What if a restaurant is fully booked?

Keep in your unpaired events as backup: 

Notes: BACKUP OPTION if first choice is full.
       Similar cuisine, same area.

Create separate meal entries: 

Meal 1: Tapas Bar A (19:00-20:00)
Meal 2: Tapas Bar B (20:30-21:30)
Notes: Bar hopping night - multiple venues

How do I handle food delivery or takeaway?

Add as a meal: 

Name: Pizza Delivery to Hotel
Type: Dinner
Time: 19:00 - 19:30
Notes: Deliveroo app. Order from: Pizzeria Bonci
       Room service not allowed, eat in lobby lounge

Should I include hotel breakfast?

Yes, if it's part of your daily routine: 

Name: Hotel Breakfast
Type: Breakfast
Time: 08:00 - 08:45
Notes: Included in room. Buffet style. Good coffee!

  • Experiences - Combine food tours with experiences
  • Days - Plan meals within your daily schedule
  • Transfers - Travel between restaurant and other events
  • Stays - Note which stays include breakfast

Next: Learn about managing transfers and transportation