<p>Should we go with the basic 160 meals then upgrade if need be, or should we just go right for the 220 or unlimited? Son doesn’t eat breakfast but is a big lunch and snack eater. </p>
<p>Also, do the all you can eat meal plan locations accept cash? If so, how much do they charge? If son ran out of meals with 2 weeks left in the semester, could he just use cash for entrance into those locations?</p>
<p>How does the Grab N Go option work? Is it just a pre-made deli sandwich or do you get a drink & chips with it?</p>
<p>My son has the 160-meal plan. There is no way that he will use all 160 this semester. He didn’t use all 160 in the fall, either. He prefers his cereal and coffee in his suite. So, right there, one can save 5-6 meals per week. … And remember, too, you do have those $300 dining dollars that you must pay for. Lots of places in T-Town accept them, so your son can eat off campus, too.</p>
<p>I’ve never done the Grab N Go, but I often get a to-go box from the dining halls. I know Lakeside and Burke make sub sandwiches to order during lunch and dinner, and Bryant probably does too. I haven’t been to Fresh Foods in awhile, so I forget if they do. I’d expect chips and a drink to be included though.</p>
<p>Dining locations accept Dining Dollars, Bama Cash, cash, and credit/debit cards, including AMEX IIRC (student receivables does not accept AMEX). I think the breakfast/lunch/late night price is $9.45 and dinner might be a couple bucks higher.</p>
<p>I rarely eat breakfast even if I am awake at that time. 160 meals proved to be too much for me even though I usually eat at the dining halls 2x a day. I might go down to the 50 meal plan next year or just not buy one at all. Friday dinner and both Saturday meals have a limited selection (ie no Asian food at Lakeside) and I do like eating at off-campus restaurants. I buy my snacks at Publix right off campus or at Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, or Super Target, none of which take Dining Dollars. I don’t patronize the pop/vending machines, so I will get every dining dollar I had to buy refunded back to my account.</p>
<p>As a word of advice, teach your son how to use Domino’s Pizza coupons/specials so the Dining dollars don’t go so quick. Last semester, I also remember Bama Dining selling blocks of 20 meals for those who used up all of their meals. I didn’t e-mail them to inquire about the price of these 20 meals. Note that 10 meals can be used as guest meals if the student wishes. However, they are on a separate screen on the register, so sometimes a cashier will say a student has X meals left when they actually have X+ whatever guest meals they have not already used.</p>
<p>I guess we’ll start off with the 160 plan and see where he is after a couple months. Can always upgrade if he’s using up his meals at a rapid pace.</p>
<p>I’ll be sure to let him know about using pizza coupons. Back when I was in school, all the places would honor their competitors coupons as well. We used to play dominos, bama bino, Papa Johns, and pizza hut off each other. Not sure if they still do that though and I know Bama Bino went the way of the dinosaur back when I was still at UA.</p>
<p>That publix right there on the strip will be a godsend. I wish it was there back when I was in school.</p>
<p>To piggyback on what Sea_tide said about the coupons, students also receive them in the mail (so get a post office box). My son is not much on Dominos and Papa Johns (must be used to eating what my mom calls, “Northern Pizza,” as my family is from the New York City area), but he hangs onto the coupons for others. </p>
<p>Because there are so many places on the Strip and in town, you and other relatives could get him some gift cards. My son had several this year to use – Starbucks, Qdoba, Subway, Ruby Tuesdays. He got some from me, and others from his friends at last June’s graduation. So if the relatives do not know what to give, the gift card is a good thing. </p>
<p>Also, encourage your son to make that run to the Super Target or Wal-Mart for snacks. A case of water is a lot cheaper there than buying each individual bottle. Same thing for soda. … And while I know this will sound very strange, you can send snack food, and have him pick up the box at Paty (the school’s receiving center). My son loves pretzels. He ordered in bulk from Utz about six weeks ago.</p>
<p>Just in case anyone else was wondering. I emailed Bama dining today and they said they charge $9 for breakfast / lunch and $9.29 for dinner when paying by cash or credit card. </p>
<p>That gift card suggestion is a great idea. I’ve had several family members inquire as to what to get my son for graduation. I’ve been telling them gift cards to Wal-mart & Target but the cards to various eateries that are near the strip would work great as well.</p>
<p>If a person has to pay for a meal, I think it’s cheaper to go to one of the on-campus retail dining venues …like the Food Court in the Ferg. </p>
<p>Lloyd Hall is opening some retail dining venues. Even the upstairs in Gorgas library has some nice ready-made sandwiches. </p>
<p>Here are some of the on-campus retail locations.
Bidgood Bistro
Buffalo Phil’s and Burke Convenience Store
Doster Cafe
The Ferguson Center Food Court
Maea Restaurant</p>