Veterans Day promotions and budget travel planning represent two distinct categories of consumer offers and cost-saving opportunities. The available source material provides specific details about Veterans Day restaurant freebies in central Ohio and practical advice for reducing travel expenses in Ireland.
Veterans Day Restaurant Freebies in Central Ohio
Multiple restaurants in central Ohio offer complimentary meals and discounts to veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day. These offers typically require some form of military identification for redemption.
Participating Restaurants and Offers
The following establishments provide Veterans Day freebies:
Bob Evans: Offers a choice of 10 meals, including the classic breakfast (two eggs, breakfast meat, bread), Sunrise (two eggs; hash browns, home fries or fruit; bread), biscuits and gravy, brioche French toast, buttermilk hotcakes, and Down-Home Country-Fried Steak (with mashed potatoes, green beans and bread). Locations can be found at bobevans.com.
Chicken Salad Chick: Provides a scoop or sandwich, one side, and a regular drink. Locations include 1056 Dublin Road, Grandview Heights; 687 Worthington Road, Westerville; and 6304 E. Dublin Granville Road, Northeast Side. More information at chickensaladchick.com.
Chipotle: Offers buy-one, get-one entrees from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Locations can be found at chipotle.com. Additionally, from November 11 to November 16, customers can round up their tab on the Chipotle app or website to donate to the United Service Organizations.
City Barbeque: Provides a complimentary meal, including a sandwich, one side, and a drink. Locations can be found at citybbq.com.
Eddie Merlot’s: Offers Eddie's Prime Cheeseburger with fries. Specific location at 1570 Polaris Parkway, Far North Side; phone: 614-433-7307; website: eddiemerlots.com/columbus.
Fusian: Provides a 10-piece signature roll selection including spicy tuna, spicy salmon, California, spring chicken, crispy shrimp, vegan, salmon crunch, Philly roll, and PB&J. Locations include 4214 N. High St., Clintonville; 855 W. 5th Ave., Fifth by Northwest; and 4190 Worth Ave., Easton Town Center. More information at fusian.com.
Golden Corral: Offers a dinner buffet and beverage. Locations include 2005 Stringtown Road, Grove City; 4750 E. Main St., Whitehall; and 1660 N. Bridge St., Chillicothe. Details at goldencorral.com.
Hofbräuhaus: Provides one meal, up to $20 value, available anytime from November 11 to November 17.
McDonald's: Free meals are available via dine-in or drive-through, not on the McDonald's app. Breakfast meals are only available until 10:30 a.m. Locations can be found at mcdonalds.com.
Mimi's Cafe: Offers a meal up to $20, dine-in only. Location at 1429 Polaris Parkway, Far North Side; website: mimiscafe.com.
Raising Cane's: Provides a 10% discount on entire purchases for active or nonactive military, fire, police, and emergency medical personnel, as well as their families. This offer is valid every day with valid ID. Locations can be found at raisingcanes.com.
Savvy Sliders: Offers an original or fried chicken slider. Locations include 2106 N. High St., University District and 1450 W. Broad St., Franklinton. More information at savvysliders.com.
Sheetz: Provides a half turkey sub (including extras and add-ons) and regular size fountain drink, plus a car wash at locations with that service. Locations can be found at sheetz.com. Sheetz customers can also donate loyalty points during November to the USO, with 100 points equaling a $1 donation.
Smokey Bones: Offers a bacon cheeseburger, pulled-pork sandwich or chicken tender platter, with a side. Locations include 3939 Morse Crossing, Easton; 2200 Baltimore Reynoldsburg Road, Reynoldsburg; and 1615 Stringtown Road, Grove City. Details at smokeybones.com.
Starbucks: Provides a tall (12 ounces) brewed coffee, hot or iced.
Additional Discounts
101 Craft Kitchen: Offers $10 off. Locations include 7509 Sawmill Road, Dublin; 397 Stoneridge Lane, Gahanna; and 817 Polaris Pkwy., Westerville. More information at 101craftkitchen.com.
Charleys Cheesesteaks: Provides gourmet fries. Locations include 3900 Morse Road, Northeast Side; 1855 Morse Road, Northland; 5033 N. High St., Clintonville; and 3849 E. Broad St., Whitehall. Details at charleys.com.
El Vaquero: Offers 20% off at all 13 locations in central Ohio. Locations can be found at vaquerorestaurant.com.
Budget Travel Strategies for Ireland
The source material provides practical advice for reducing travel costs in Ireland, focusing on transportation, accommodation, dining, and attractions.
Transportation Cost Reduction
Public Transportation: Using public transportation in cities like Dublin and Galway is efficient and cost-effective. Buses and trains can take you to major tourist destinations for a fraction of the cost of car rentals and fuel. Multi-day bus or train passes are recommended for those planning to stay in one area.
Rental Car Savings: For those needing a rental car, booking early and monitoring prices is advised. Using a service like Autoslash can help find better deals. Booking refundable rates and monitoring for price drops is recommended. Some booking platforms offer better deals when logged into an account or booking via their app.
Flight Deals: Dublin is one of the cheapest European cities to fly into, especially from larger U.S. hubs. Positioning flights can yield tickets under $450 from cities like Chicago, Boston, or New York. From mid-size airports, fares can hover around $550, especially in the off-season. Flexibility is key, with off-season travel (October–March) offering the best deals. Google Flights is recommended for tracking prices and finding cheapest travel days. A Thrifty Traveler Premium subscription is suggested for finding amazing flight deals.
Accommodation Strategies
Hotel Costs: Hotels in Ireland range from $150–$350+ per night for a private room with a bathroom.
Alternative Accommodations: - B&Bs with shared amenities: Usually in someone's home, these can be more affordable. - Airbnbs: Can save upwards of 50%+ on nightly rates compared to hotels, working in both major cities and the countryside. - Midweek Stays: Hotels are more expensive on weekends, especially in tourist-heavy areas. Booking during the week can result in significantly lower room rates.
Points and Loyalty Programs: Using hotel points can save thousands on accommodations. Tools like Awayz can help find award hotels by adding credit card programs and hotel loyalty points along with destination and dates. Example: 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night for the Hyatt Centric The Liberties in Dublin.
Dining Cost Management
Lunch Specials: Many restaurants offer lunch menus with the same high-quality dishes as dinner but at lower prices, typically around €10-€15 per person.
Casual Dining: In the evenings, casual dining and pub food are delicious and budget-friendly with huge portions. Typical costs: fish and chips at a local pub around €15, shepherd's pie €13-€18.
Non-Irish Restaurants: Restaurants serving gyros, pizza, Thai food, and other cuisines are often cheaper than traditional pub food options.
Free and Low-Cost Attractions
Free Attractions: Ireland offers many free or low-cost attractions, especially less popular experiences like oyster farm tours or the Kerry Cliffs. Many museums and galleries in Dublin offer free entry.
Self-Guided Visits: Top sites like Trinity College and the Giant's Causeway are easy to explore on your own, saving the cost of guided tours (typically €30-€70 per person).
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
Less touristy destinations tend to be cheaper. Exploring smaller towns and rural areas instead of major hubs like Dublin or Galway can yield lower costs for accommodations and food. The Dingle Peninsula is mentioned as an example offering stunning views, rich history, and lower costs.
Travel Planning Considerations
Budget and Experience Alignment: Deciding on a maximum trip budget and desired experience type is recommended. Initial cost calculations can help determine if adjustments are needed, such as using travel points to reduce hotel and airfare costs.
Mid-Range Trip Cost Estimates: - Accommodations: $100–$300 per night (more in cities than rural areas) - Food: $30–$60 per person, per day - Rental Car: $30–$50 per day - Activities: $40–$100 per person, per day
Conclusion
The available source material provides specific, actionable information about Veterans Day restaurant promotions in central Ohio and practical budget travel strategies for Ireland. For Veterans Day, numerous restaurants offer complimentary meals and discounts to military personnel with proper identification. For Ireland travel, cost-saving opportunities exist through strategic transportation choices, alternative accommodations, budget dining options, free attractions, and off-destinations. The information is limited to these two distinct categories and does not cover other free sample programs or promotional offers.