Vegan traveling doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you prepare in advance. Whether you’re traveling to another state or internationally, there are things you can do ahead of time to make sure you’re never put in a compromising dietary situation. Here are five vegan travel tips that can help make your upcoming trip as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
1. Pack Your Own Vegan Snacks
When you’re traveling and enjoying new sights, it’s surprisingly easy to forget about eating until you’re already famished. Packing your own vegan travel snacks is a great way to be prepared at all times and avoid making less-than-ideal food choices due to poor planning. Bonus: packing your own snacks is a great way to save money!
On a long flight or layover, you’ll be glad to have snacks that hold up in your carry-on and don’t require refrigeration. Pack snacks that travel well. (Sorry, that banana isn’t going to make it.) A few suggestions for healthy, on-the-go snacks include:
- Fruit bars from That’s it.
- Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
- Granola
- Kale chips
- Nuts
- Roasted chick peas
2. Research Vegan Restaurants Ahead of Time
Once you know where you’ll be staying, you want to research vegan (or vegan-friendly) restaurants in the area prior to your trip. Be sure to jot them down in your phone or include them in your typed-up travel itinerary. You never know when you might lose cell service, especially when traveling internationally.
Popular websites like Yelp, Zomato, and Trip Advisor give you the inside scoop about various dining establishments in different parts of the country and world. Make sure to review restaurant menus, read reviews, and pay attention to hours of operation.
3. Use Apps to Find Vegan-Friendly Eateries
Planning where you want to eat in advance is a great way to ensure a stress-free trip, but you’ll also want the ability to be flexible and make last-minute changes to your dining plans if needed. Fortunately, there are apps like HappyCow that you can download on your phone that make it easy to quickly find nearby vegan restaurants, no matter where you are.
You can also download apps that allow you to scan the barcodes of common food items to find out if they are vegan or not. This can be a helpful tool to use when you’re grocery shopping in an unfamiliar area. It can also come in handy in international airports when you want to make sure you choose something that fits within your dietary plan.
4. Learn Food Terms in Local Language
If you’re traveling to a foreign country, it’s wise to learn a few common food terms or phrases in the local language before you go. This also requires researching the culture, as some countries may not have an understanding of what veganism is. It could be better to say, “no cheese” instead of, “Can I have a vegan dish?” Focus on learning food-related words that are especially important to you, including foods you can’t eat and foods you can eat.
Here are a few suggestions for phrases you might want to translate into the local language before your trip:
- I am vegan.
- Can you tell me where I can find vegan-friendly restaurants?
- What are your vegan menu options?
- I can’t eat meat, dairy or eggs.
- Which menu items don’t contain animal products?
- Do you have vegan meals?
There are also convenient apps that allow you to translate words into various languages in a matter of seconds. Download one of these apps before your trip, and you’ll be better prepared to communicate your food preferences and needs to others.
5. Choose Accommodations with a Kitchen
If you want to enjoy home-cooked meals while you travel, the best thing you can do is book a hotel or rent an apartment or Airbnb with a kitchen. Depending on what country you’re visiting, it can actually be more cost-effective to rent for your trip instead of paying for a hotel.If possible, you’ll want a fully stocked kitchen with a refrigerator and a stove so you can easily prepare your own meals. Even if you plan to eat out for most of your meals, it’s always wise to have a way to keep snacks and leftovers fresh.
Adequate preparation is the key to really enjoying your vacation and not stressing about what you’re going to eat. To help you maintain your plant-based diet, check out this vegan guide that discusses everything from the transition into veganism to expanding your vegan diet to traveling and more.
And, if you’re looking for healthy vegan snacks you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, That’s it. has you covered! Click below to show all our vegan products.
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