Travel TipsJuly 24, 20253 min read

How to Travel with Dietary Restrictions: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Allergy Guide

Navigate travel with food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diets. Destination tips, restaurant strategies, and packing advice.

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Go-Via Team

How to Travel with Dietary Restrictions: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Allergy Guide

Research your destination's cuisine before departing. Some cuisines are naturally accommodating (Indian food for vegetarians, Thai for gluten-free) while others are challenging (French cuisine for vegans). Learn key phrases in the local language: "I am allergic to..." "Does this contain..." "No meat/dairy/gluten please."

Essential Apps and Cards

  • Happy Cow -- the best app for finding vegan and vegetarian restaurants worldwide
  • Find Me Gluten Free -- restaurant database for gluten-free dining
  • Allergy translation cards -- printable cards that explain your allergies in any language (available at selectwisely.com)
  • Google Translate camera -- point at menus and ingredients for instant translation
  • Best Destinations by Diet

    Vegan-friendly: Berlin, Tel Aviv, Chiang Mai, London, Los Angeles Gluten-free friendly: Mexico (corn-based cuisine), Japan (rice-based), Thailand Allergy-aware: Australia, UK, Scandinavia (strong labeling laws) Challenging: France (dairy and gluten heavy), China (language barrier for allergies)

    Restaurant Strategies

  • Call or message restaurants ahead to confirm they can accommodate you
  • Show your allergy card to the chef, not just the waiter
  • Stick to naturally safe dishes rather than modified versions
  • Visit markets and cook some meals if you have kitchen access
  • Carry safe snacks for situations where no options exist
  • Pack Emergency Food

    Always carry backup food: protein bars, trail mix, instant oatmeal packets, or other shelf-stable items that fit your dietary needs. Airplane food is often the hardest to navigate, so having your own meals for long flights provides peace of mind.

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