Traveling to Europe with Food Allergies: Read This Before You Book
There are a few reasons that traveling to Europe with food allergies is simpler than you think, and I want to share them with you. But first, you need to know a little about me and my experience.
I’m Corinna, and I’m a 19-year Food Allergy Mom and Food Allergy Travel Advisor. This means I have the expertise, knowledge and contacts to help food allergy families worry less while on vacation, so they can make amazing memories! If you’re looking for food allergy travel tips, you’re in the right place (and follow me on Instagram, @friendlypantry). Just know that I’m most active in IG Stories, since I don’t have a lot of time to create new IG posts!
Our family is from Canada, but we love to travel and have been to Spain, Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, Mexico, the Bahamas, all over the US (including Disney World and Disneyland), and all over Canada with severe food allergies, all before our kids were teens. We are visiting Germany and the Netherlands this summer!
Are you dreaming of traveling to Europe with food allergies? As a PRO Travel Advisor specializing in food allergies, I can help you find the right accommodations that go the extra mile to keep your family safe. Let’s skip the stress and find the perfect worry-free vacation for you!
When booking accommodations only, there’s no extra charge for my services but by booking through me you’ll get:
an EXPERIENCED voice working on your behalf to vet destinations, accommodations, tours, and more.
one-on-one support and all the tips & secrets I've learned over many years of traveling with multiple food allergies so that your vacation is safer and less stressful.
someone who understands food allergies and asks the hard questions so you don’t have to.
If you’re ready to book, email me here to get started. You can see my Travel Advisor Profile and see reviews from past clients too. I can work with you virtually if you are from the US or Canada.
Keep reading, because you’ll learn new ways to make traveling to Europe with food allergies easier and less stressful. Tips that you haven’t heard before! Plus see pictures of our family in Europe as my kids have gotten older!
Our Family in Ireland, Near Killarney as We’re Traveling to Europe With Food Allergies.
Why Traveling to Europe With Food Allergies is Simpler Than You Think
There are a few reasons that traveling to Europe with food allergies is simpler than you think:
Top 14 allergens listed on products and on most restaurant menus. Keep in mind that this does not guarantee that cross contamination/contact is non-existent. You still have to check their processes to minimize cross contamination, but knowing what’s in the food is a great start and big help.
Awareness and effort is quite good. Many countries that I’ve been to in Europe make a good effort with allergies. I found France to be the most difficult, and there are still some restaurants that are better than others in every country, but for the most part, awareness and knowledge of allergies is good in Europe.
English is widely spoken throughout Europe. Even so, if you find yourself in a country where English isn’t their first language, you can use allergy cards like these to communicate your allergies.
You don’t have to do it alone. As a Food Allergy Travel Advisor, I can work together with you to make this the safest, most stress-free vacation! I have extensive experience with travel and with suppliers and can take away the overwhelm of research!
Our Family in Italy, Near Pompeii While Traveling To Europe With Food Allergies.
Tips to Make Traveling to Europe With Food Allergies Easier
There are many tips for traveling with food allergies. Feel free to click on “travel” on the right side of this blog for my best travel tips from flying to dining out and more. In this post, I want to talk about some of my favorite accommodation options that work best for traveling to Europe with food allergies.
Accommodations with Kitchens: If you’re booking through me, this can vary from apart hotels to full-service hotels, or short-stay apartments. I’m not a huge fan of Airbnbs because I’ve just had too many where the quality isn’t up to par, and that’s not the vacation I want for you.
Whatever you choose, getting a kitchen is one of the best ways to fully control your food. I often recommend this for clients who have 3 allergies or more, or are very worried about finding safe food. In this situation, I often recommend checking the country’s border control website to see what food is allowed in, and recommend that they bring some of their safe food. The idea is to bring the non-parishable, dry or baked goods like safe bread, muffins, cookies, granola bars, pasta so that when they arrive, shopping is simplified. They only have to shop for meats and produce, and other allergy-friendly perishables and simple foods that don’t require label reading. This saves hours and hours in the grocery store, so you can focus on seeing the sites, not spending the whole time finding safe food. Much less stress, and more time to make memories.
Hotels with a restaurant that can manage food allergies. There are some hotels brands that truly get food allergies. These hotels are often brands that prioritize service and attention to detail. When researching these hotels, I ask them about how they lower the chance of cross-contact/contamination. What are their processes in the kitchen to ensure a dish is allergen free? Do they train their staff about allergies? How often? Of course, it is very difficult for a hotel or restaurant to guarantee that food is allergen-free. Instead, it’s important that they have good procedures in place to lower the chances and that they train their staff well. I share their answers with you so you can decide if it works for your family. You get all the research, without spending hours doing it yourself.
Cruises: This is something that many people don’t think of, but there are some really great, allergy-friendly cruise lines that visit the Mediterranean, and all over Europe. There’s even itineraries that depart near London and go to Spain, Portugal, Norway, Ireland, The Baltics, France, Belgium, Denmark and more. Imagine seeing Pompeii or Barcelona or a quaint village in France, but then heading back to your ship for an amazing allergy-friendly meal! This is what we did, and we loved it. Again, I’ll share all the research so you can make the best decision for your family.
River Cruises: River cruises bring all the benefits of ocean cruising and have a few more of their own too. Unfortunately, river cruising has a reputation for being only for retirees. But things are changing! Not only are there fun, interactive cruises for people age 8-88, but there are some that are amazing at managing food allergies too.
Think about biking in a small, historical village in France, or wandering/playing in the gardens of Claude Monet (yes, they still look like they do in the paintings), and then going back for a decadent meal onboard the river cruise. This is what we did, and we loved it!
I know of cruises that have activities for families, couples, single travelers, and multigenerational groups. River cruising can simplify traveling to Europe with food allergies because many meals are included so you can eat safely without constantly searching for food. You unpack once, but experience many ports and adventures. And river cruises aren’t out in the “open ocean” so it can be easier to get to medical facilities if needed.
Our Family Enjoying Lisbon, Portugal While Traveling to Europe With Food Allergies
What do you think?
Are you interested in traveling to Europe with food allergies?
As a Food Allergy Travel Advisor and food allergy mom, I’ve spent 20 years navigating Europe and traveling to other destinations. From European vacations, to Disney, to all-inclusive beach resorts or cruises, I know what it takes to travel safely with food allergies.
No matter what type of accommodation you choose, I can help you with the details of traveling to Europe with food allergies. Whether it’s booking the right cruise, researching hotels, or creating a custom itinerary that takes the guesswork out of traveling with food allergies, I take the overwhelm away so you can relax.
When you book with me, you won’t have to search endlessly for advice or worry you’ve missed something. I’ll guide you through the entire process - you don’t have to figure it out alone!
Let’s make your trip to Europe with food allergies not only possible but also enjoyable and worry-free.
Email me at corinna.meckelborg@fora.travel to get started!
