Hotel food can be extremely expensive and often regular delivery options consist of pizza or Chinese food. But delivery services like Grubhub and Eat24 can save you money, time, and give you more food options when you’re traveling.
What Are Grubhub & Eat24?
Link: Grubhub
Link: Eat24
Grubhub and Eat24 are food delivery services that let you order online and give you access to restaurants that don’t otherwise
Items on the menu cost the same as they would if you were dining at the restaurant. Delivery from many restaurants is free. But there are fees associated with some restaurants.
What’s the Difference?
With Eat24 you can choose from over 25,000 restaurants in 1,500+ cities within the US. While Grubhub has 30,000 restaurants in 700 cities. So Eat24 is available in more cities and Grubhub has more restaurant partners.
I did a quick search of a few locations to see how many options you get with each service.
| City | Grubhub Restaurants | Eat24 Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA | 122 | 97 |
| Austin, TX | 26 | 2 |
| Denver, CO | 54 | 31 |
| Lawrence, KS | 10 | Not Available |
| Mission, KS | Not Available | 1 |
| Seattle, WA | 20 | 93 |
Most importantly, Grubhub can cost you more. That’s because while Eat24 has delivery fees with some restaurants…
Grubhub also charges a service fee at certain locations. So if you find a restaurant you like on Grubhub, you may want to check Eat24 to see if you can save money on fees.
That said, even after the fees, this is likely a cheaper option than eating at your hotel restaurant or ordering room service.
Grubhub and Eat24 are 2 of the largest food delivery services, but they are many others to choose from including:What Are the Drawbacks?
While food delivery services are a good option when you’re traveling and don’t want to spend a lot of money eating at your hotel, there are some downsides:
- Fees can add up
- Service may not be available in smaller cities
- Can’t use restaurant coupons found in magazines or brochures
- You may not get 2X points for dining on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I made a test order from Grubhub and I did earn 2X points. I’ve also ordered from Eat24 and did NOT earn 2X points. However, readers report getting 2X points on both services. So your results may vary.
Discounts for Grubhub and Eat24
From time to time Gruhub and Eat24 will post coupon codes on their social media pages and here are other ways you can save!
Save $3 at Eat24
You can find Eat24 coupons on sites like RetailMeNot. You can currently get $3 off your order by entering code “34h2” at check-out.
Note: You must be logged into your account to enter a coupon code.Save $5 at Grubhub
Grubhub will give you a $5 coupon for when you refer a friend (up to 20 friends) and they make their 1st purchase by August 31, 2014.
Bottom Line
With Eat24 and Grubhub you can see restaurant options, read reviews, and order all in 1 place.
But you may not earn bonus points for dining on cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred. And depending upon which restaurant you choose, food delivery services can cost you more in fees than dining at the restaurant.
I always recommend folks get out of the hotel while traveling and try the local restaurants. But if you’re traveling on business, with kids, or you’re tired after a long flight, delivery services might be a good option.
Have you tried Eat24, Grubhub, or any other food delivery services and did you earn 2X points?