Allergy-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts: Read This Before Booking!
Updated March 2025
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First a little background…
I’m Corinna, and I’m a Food Allergy Travel Agent. This means I help food allergy families keep their kids safe, and worry less while on vacation so they can make amazing memories! If you’re looking for safe food allergy travel & lifestyle tips, you’re in the right place (and follow me on Instagram, @foodallergytraveladvisor).
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.
GOOD NEWS!
Dreaming of a relaxing, allergy-friendly getaway? As a Certified Travel Advisor specializing in food allergies, I can help you find all-inclusive resorts that go the extra mile to keep your family safe. Let’s skip the stress and find the perfect worry-free vacation for you!
There’s no extra charge for my services! Just 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, just email me here to get started. I can work with you virtually if you are from the US or Canada.
Unearthing The Perfect Allergy-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts
Vacation time is coming, and whether you’ve booked a trip already and you’re feeling a little hesitant, OR even if you’re not ready to book a trip yet, THIS is for you.
Many families, with or without food allergies, want to go to all-inclusive resorts.
I think there are a couple of reasons for this…
You want a vacation from cooking, and if you can find an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort, it seems like the best bet.
Allergy-friendly all-inclusive resorts usually cater to families, so there’s lots to do for everyone.
It seems easier than getting accommodations with a kitchen, but with food allergies, this could be a bit of a myth. We’ll talk more about that later.
Those are the draws of an all-inclusive, but are there any downfalls?
I think there are a couple.
You’re putting all of your eggs in one basket since you’re trusting that resort for the WHOLE time that you’re away.
If you get a recommendation from another family or blog or Instagram post, that’s amazing, and it’s helpful when you’re planning a trip. But I want to remind you that things can change at any time.
Maybe there’s a new manager who doesn’t make food allergies a priority, or maybe the resort is going through changes and they change their policies. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to recommendations. For example, when we went to France a couple of years ago, I did some research and got a few recommendations for restaurants. It was surprising how many of the recommended restaurants weren’t even there anymore.
The other thing is that the person who gave you the recommendation in the first place, may not be at the same place as you when it comes to food allergies. Do they take the same precautions as you? Did they check for cross-contact? It’s almost like you need to ask them how they manage food allergies before you know if a recommendation from them will work for your family.
All of that said,
I know that having a vacation from cooking is a very big benefit of allergy-friendly all-inclusive resorts, so I want to give you a few tips for finding one that might work for your food-allergy family.
Full disclosure, we have never stayed at an all-inclusive resort as a family (but we have taken 3 all-inclusive cruises). Usually, we get a place with a kitchen, and then I’ll research 1-2 restaurants nearby so that we can make our own food but also have a few nights out. I find that this is a nice balance, especially with food allergies.
But guess what?
Since becoming a Food Allergy Travel Advisor, I’ve seen that some resorts are taking allergies seriously and are starting to train their staff and follow allergy protocols. They’re realizing that when one child has food allergies, it will affect the travel choices of the whole family, and extended family too!
This means I’m seeing some truly amazing allergy-friendly changes happening in the all-inclusive niche, and I’m so happy about it. I even plan to take our family to a couple of allergy-friendly all-inclusive resorts soon!
Let’s start by talking about a few things you have to address BEFORE your trip.
Sometimes, people think that if they go to an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort, they will be able to relax when it comes to food allergies. And yes, that may be the case if you find a resort that knows how to handle allergies well.
BUT, even if the resort is AMAZING with food allergies, other essential strategies still help make a trip smoother, safer, and less stressful.
Go here if you want to know about our family’s 5 best places for traveling with food allergies.
If this is your FIRST trip with food allergies, or even if you’ve already taken a few trips, I have a few considerations you may not have thought of.
Here’s a surprise:
Food allergy travel is MORE than just finding allergy-friendly destinations, accommodations, and safe restaurants.
There are a few skills that I recommend every food allergy family master before any vacation or trip for the smoothest experience possible.
Get your mindset in the right place so you can confidently navigate whatever comes your way during the trip. For example, flight delays or discovering a restaurant isn’t safe when you arrive can be frustrating, and with food allergies, it can be a real stressor! That’s why having the right mindset is just as important as having a good plan. When you stay calm and know what to do next, you’ll be able to adjust quickly and keep enjoying your vacation instead of stressing over every change.
I remember when we were about to go on our first overseas trip to Spain. We had researched and planned it all out. But a week before, I WAS A MESS! I wanted to cancel the whole thing. I even had mom guilt because I was feeling guilty for deciding to take the unnecessary “risk” of travel.
Thank goodness my husband calmed me down because our family would have missed out on SO MUCH if we hadn’t taken that trip!
I tell you this so you know that these feelings of fear, doubt, and guilt are real and will likely happen at some point during a trip, and having the right mindset and good support are game-changers!
Mindset and support both help you make smart decisions without spiraling into stress and worry that could ruin your trip. With an experienced Food Allergy Travel Advisor by your side, you’ll get expert planning, helpful tips, and the confidence to create amazing, worry-free memories.
Flying safely with food allergies. Flying to and from a vacation destination can be challenging and a little scary at times. From booking to walking off of the plane, there are several things to think about.
Before and after stays. Even if you’re staying at an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort, navigating a new location can still be challenging. From finding safe snacks at the airport to handling layovers or exploring, unexpected situations can arise. A Food Allergy Travel Advisor can help you prepare with personalized tips and local recommendations so you can focus on making memories instead of stressing over what’s next.
Researching and vetting restaurants and what to ask is an important part of traveling with food allergies. Even if you plan to stay at the resort the whole time, you will need to confirm each time you eat, and you may need to vet restaurants on your travel days too. Don’t forget this important skill!
5 Tips for Finding An Allergy-Friendly All-Inclusive Resort
Ok, so now that we’ve gone over a few of the food allergy travel skills you’ll need before your vacation, let's talk about tips for searching for an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort.
Get recommendations.
YES, go to the blogs and the Instagram posts and the Facebook groups. Get the recommendations, BUT always check into things yourself for all the reasons I already mentioned.
Another great option is to book with a Travel Agent that specializes in food allergies. They can keep a good pulse on whether a resort is keeping up with good food allergy protocols. Look for someone with extensive food allergy travel experience. You want someone who knows how serious food allergies are AND has extensive experience with travel.
Once you have your recommendations, you can dig into a few more things that will help you decide.
2. Think about hospital access and care.
How close is the allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort to medical care? Is it within your comfort zone?
3. Talk with the concierge before booking.
Ask who you can talk to about food allergies at the resort. Sometimes they may transfer you to a Head Chef or Head of Food And Beverage, or maybe it will be the Concierge. Ask them the hard questions to ensure they fully understand food allergies and how to manage them well. Then, decide if their allergy procedures will work for you.
You’ll also want to consider the types of food they will make for your child. For example, sometimes, allergy-friendly restaurants lean on salads or plain ingredients to accommodate allergies. I can tell you that it may be fine to have a plain veggie salad once or twice, but for a full week, or more, it can become too much, especially for kids.
For us, desserts are an important part of vacation. It’s not that we have to have a huge array of options, but it is nice to have 1 to 2 dessert options that I know would be very special for my daughter so that we can all indulge a little without leaving her out or feeling guilty.
4. Avoid asking the wrong questions.
The idea is to dig a bit into the resort’s processes and allergy procedures. You may come up with some resistance, but its important to ask the hard questions so you can discern if the resort is really allergy-friendly. A simple “Can you manage severe food allergies?” isn’t enough. I like to ask about HOW they ensure food is safe for people with food allergies. I’m looking for answers that talk about cleaning surfaces in the kitchen, using different colored utensils for allergies, and opening new products to avoid cross-contact.
It’s important to note, that there is never a guarantee because mistakes can always happen. Even so, if there are good protocols and procedures and training in place, the chance of a mistake is lowered.
5. Do your due diligence once you arrive.
You’ll STILL need to confirm your allergies when you order every meal and ensure that the chef understands the severity of the allergies.
You’ll also need to confirm that you’ve received the right meal once it arrives.
This is why I say that an all-inclusive may not give you the most relaxing experience. Yes, they cook for you, but you do need to be active once you get there, at every meal. You can’t just sit back and not think about allergies at all.
Don’t expect restaurants to be perfect, just because you’ve heard they’re good. It’s important to ask lots of questions and ensure everybody is on the same page, every time you dine at a restaurant, whether it's at an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort or not.
What if you can’t find an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort that works for your family?
If you don’t find an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort that will work, know there are other ways to make things easier on you too. It doesn’t have to be an all-inclusive. There are some other great resorts where you can get the best of both worlds.
As I mentioned, we usually book a resort with a kitchen and then do some research to find one or two allergy-friendly restaurants nearby.
That said, there have been many times when I’ve researched a restaurant before leaving home but have NOT felt comfortable with it once we arrived. Safety is always our number ONE priority ESPECIALLY on vacation, which meant that we would not eat at a restaurant if we didn’t feel confident with their food allergy protocols.
This uncertainty means that vacations with food allergies often mean packing the right things, shopping for food, and cooking ourselves.
I know that people want a break from cooking on vacation, and usually seek out allergy-friendly all-inclusive resorts to get it. Still, I want you to know that it’s possible to make the burden of finding and cooking allergy-safe foods stream-lined and easy so the person who cooks for the family can enjoy the vacation too.
What do you think?
Whether you’re heading to an allergy-friendly all-inclusive resort or exploring a new destination, a safe and stress-free trip starts with having extensive experience OR great support.
That’s where I come in. As a Food Allergy Travel Advisor, I’ve spent 18 years navigating destinations like the Bahamas, Mexico, Spain, Ireland, the UK, Italy, France, and all over the US and Canada. From Disney vacations and beach resorts to road trips, tours, and cruises, I know what it takes to travel safely with food allergies.
When you book with me, you won’t have to search endlessly for advice or worry you’ve missed a critical step. I’ll guide you through the entire process — from choosing the safest resorts to planning for airports, excursions, and dining. Plus, you’ll get essential travel planners and packing templates to make your trip even easier.
Let’s make your next family adventure not only possible but also enjoyable and worry-free.
Book with me today, and travel with confidence! Email me at corinna.meckelborg@fora.travel to get started!
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