In my limited readings of travel blogs, I rarely come across posts about breakfast options abroad.  Maybe I’m just not Googling the right thing.  In any event, I think it’s important to discuss the topic, since it is the most important meal of the day.

Chris and I suffer from the same unfortunate eating disorder:  hanger.  Actually, to be precise, I get hangry if I have not eaten in 3 hours, and Chris just gets hungry and is concurrently forced to deal with me.  It can get ugly.

This is most often true of breakfast, as a lack of coffee makes me particularly… difficult.  We also both need protein-filled breakfasts.  For me, a couple of eggs with some whole wheat bread and a side of fruit is ideal.  For Chris, meat is non-negotiable.  And in most cases, these needs can be met by the breakfasts included at our hotels.

But breakfast in other parts of the world is open to interpretation.  In some places, like Italy and France, the locals are sustained with breakfast pastries (muffins, danishes, etc.).  In other places, local restaurants do not serve breakfast or do not open until mid-morning.  So if we need to start our fun-filled day of sight-seeing before lunch, adequate sustenance can become an issue if our breakfast is not already a part of our accommodations.

And here is where we are sometimes forced to break a cardinal travel rule: sometimes when abroad, we eat at McDonald’s.  In travel etiquette, this is a huge no-no.  It’s right up there with “Don’t over-pack” and “Don’t forget to update your travel documents”.

Seasoned travellers are now probably searching for their unsubscribe button after that attrocious confession.  You’re probably gawking at our decision-making and assume we are now stereotypical obnoxious American travellers.  How could we turn down opportunities to have buttery Parisian croissants, English crumpets, Australian toast and vegemite, or fresh Italian pastries?  How can we say we’ve experienced other cultures if we haven’t even had traditional breakfasts?  I can assure you I dreamed of Nutella crepes in Paris and perfectly toasted English muffins in London for months before we embarked on those adventures.

Let me be clear.  We are not turning down opportunities to sample.  We are making measured decisions about how to nourish ourselves for a full day of activity.  Here are a few example occasions of when we had to opt for a breakfast at McDonald’s.

• In Edinburgh, when the smoke alarm went off in the hotel at 6:00am.  And since we were already up, we went ahead and got breakfast at one of the only establishments open: McDonald’s.
• In Venice, when we managed to stay at a hotel that didn’t serve breakfast until 9:00am and our tour to Murano started at 8:30am.
• In Sydney, when our travel agency booked us at a hotel that not only did not serve hot breakfast, but was also under construction.  We have since opted to book our own hotels.
• In Berlin, when we arrived 2 hours early for a 10:30am train to Frankfurt, and our only breakfast option in the station was actually Burger King.

All McDonald’s are not the same:  McDonald’s menus abroad provide a little more insight into the local cuisine than you would think.  In each of the the above circumstances, here is what we learned.

• McDonald’s in Scotland offers a delicious Bacon Roll, a sub-like sandwich filled with British-style bacon.
• McDonald’s in Venice offers coffee that tastes better than some coffee in American coffee shops.  And along with offering prosciutto in their breakfast sandwiches, they also offer veggie and gluten-free burgers (after 11:00am).
• McDonald’s in Sydney offers a breakfast BLT that was good enough to order a second time.
• Burger King in Berlin offers mini-pancakes, Belgian waffles, and a Breakfast Burger with tomato, bacon, eggs, and beef.

Obviously, these are not necessarily healthy options.  But it reflects the food expectations in other countries.  And I would certainly never advise any traveller to opt for the Americanized McDonald’s version of local cuisine.  But, when in need of nourishment, you have to go with what’s available.  And some travel rules are made to be broken.  Except that rule about neglecting to check your travel documents: if you break that one you will be stuck with breakfast at American McDonald’s.  Or possibly whatever airport security is offering.

So the take-away is this.  When abroad, plan ahead for your most important meal of the day with one or more of the following:

1.)  Try to book a hotel that provides breakfast daily.

2.)  Do research before-hand of restaurants nearby that serve breakfast.  Take note of opening times.

3.)  If you’re accustomed to a certain amount of protein throughout the day, bring your own snacks and protein bars along for those times when needed.

4.)  If all else fails, stop at McDonald’s.  We won’t judge you.