Travelling as a vegetarian or a vegan can be a fun adventure and learning experience. Here is a list of vegetarian travel tips and tricks for vegetarians and vegans (or anyone with dietary restrictions) can use to help make their next trip abroad a success! Plan your next vacation with us and find out how to make the most of your life as a vegan or vegetarian on the road.
Pick a hostel or guesthouse with a kitchen
While some of the best travel experiences can be sampling new and exotic foods, there’s always an opportunity for adventure at a local market. When picking accommodation on your next trip, why not book a tiny guesthouse or hostel that has a kitchen? Lots of hostels have kitchens where guests can cook their own meals. The best part is that you can head to the local market to buy food that suits your vegetarian diet.
Travel with snacks wherever you go
Whether you are going to the airport or just leaving for a day of exploring a new city, make sure you have some snacks on you! Items such as trail mix, granola bars, most types of produce and other solid food items are all allowed in your carry-on for flights within Canada.
If you forget to pack a snack before your trip to the airport, then make sure to pick something up at the airport before boarding your flight. I always enjoy scouring the snack and gift item kiosks of the departure lounge when I’m travelling. It’s a fun way to discover some local food items to grab before boarding your flight and you don’t need to worry about getting passed security! The same goes for when you’re on your trip. Before heading out for the day, bring a veggie-friendly snack or two with you in case you can’t find anything suitable for vegetarians or vegans during your day of exploring.
Research your destination to find restaurants with vegetarian options
It’s always recommended to do some research on the country you are visiting a few weeks or months prior to your trip. What are the basic phrases to learn? What are the important cultural customs and rules that travellers should follow? Make a list of a few recommended vegetarian and vegan restaurants before your trip to learn about the destinations food culture. This is just one of the positive aspects of travelling as a vegetarian or vegan: it forces you to learn a little more about the local culture!
Lots of Buddhist countries like Vietnam and Thailand can be fun for vegetarians and vegan travellers because there is always a temple in the area that serves simple (and often vegan) food. At the very least there will be a Buddhist restaurant close by which will only serve vegan food. For example, there is a law in Vietnam which states that there should be at least one vegetarian restaurant in town! Even if you’re in a small town, the country must be accommodating to the local population who are practicing Buddhists. And the meals at these little places will be simple, cheap, and often delicious!
Learn the local language
If you are travelling to a country where you don’t speak the local language, it’s best to be super prepared! After learning how to say “hello” and “thank you”, practice how to say “no meat” or “I’m a vegetarian” in the local language. Make sure to be specific, because sometimes “no meat” can translate as a yes for chicken or fish. Or better yet, have a local write it down or translate it for you in the local script and show the paper at the local street vendor or restaurant. If I don’t have any local friends, I always ask the staff at my hotel or hostel for assistance! They usually know the best way to communicate this to restaurant staff or street vendors.
Enjoy the ride being vegetarian on the road
Vegetarian and vegan travel has a lot of positive aspects to it. Travelling as a vegetarian has helped me find some interesting and unique spots to eat and forced me out of my comfort zone. Plus, there’s the added bonus of not having to worry about accidentally eating undercooked meat or anything that can lead to travel sickness. Make sure to download apps like Happy Cow before your trip, which gives you recommendations for the top places to eat in your destination that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Travel Tip: Eat a few portions of yogurt or anything with probiotics the few days leading up to your trip. This will help coat your stomach and prepare you for any different foods that you might try during your travels. If you’re a vegan, there’s always probiotic drinks like kombucha or kefir water!
Make the best of your vegetarian holiday!
Keep in mind that your life as a vegetarian or vegan should never get in the way of your adventures! Embrace the positives that come with travelling as a vegetarian or vegan and be prepared for your next big (or little) vacation. We hope this list of vegetarian travel tips will help you on your next trip!
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