Gluten-free travel requires some planning, but we have lots of tools and resources to help you. The articles below are good places to start.
Before You Take a Car Trip
In many ways, cars are the easiest way to travel for people on gluten-free diets, because you can bring along supplies and equipment. Before you travel a long distance by car, review our suggestions for pleasant gluten-free road trips.
Before You Feel Like You're Starving for a Snack
It's crucial to be able to get your hands on a gluten-free snack when you need one, especially when you're in a strange place and don't know where to shop. Our list of snack suggestions is based on one from About.com's Guide to Weight Loss, but it’s been adapted for gluten-free diets.
Before You Travel by Plane
Gluten-free travelers cannot eat regular airline meals, so some planning is required before plane travel. But with a few minutes' preparation, you can be enjoying gluten-free snacks in the airport and on the plane, while your fellow travelers survive on skimpy bags of junk food.
Before You Stay in a Hotel
If you're on a gluten-free diet, you'll be more comfortable if your hotel room has a cooking area and if the hotel staff understands how they can help you. We've prepared an article with hotel survival tips that might come in handy whether you'll be in a regular room or a suite with a kitchen.
Before You Travel to an Unfamiliar Place
In the U.S. and Canada, it's a good idea to contact the local chapters of the national celiac organizations before you travel to unfamiliar places. Their members will be able to advise you about nearby celiac-friendly restaurants, kids’ activities, food shopping resources, and more. If you’ll be traveling abroad, visit the web sites of celiac societies in the countries you’ll be visiting. All of these societies can provide advice for travelers. Our list provides links to celiac groups in more than 30 countries, from Andorra to Uruguay!
Before You Visit a Country Where You Don't Speak the Language
Restaurant cards that describe the gluten-free diet in a variety of languages are essential if you’ll be traveling to a place where you don’t speak the language. Most are designed to be carried in a pocket or purse and given to restaurant staff to help explain the restrictions of the celiac diet. Recently, restaurant cards for PDAs have become available.
Before You Have a Disappointing Restaurant Experience
Be sure to visit the online directories of restaurants offering gluten-free menu items, and consider ordering a printed one as well. (In the United States, one of my favorite resources is Triumph Dining’s
Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide.) Also, consider reviewing our guidelines for safe gluten-free dining in restaurants.
