You can also contact us by clicking here.his spring, I spent five weeks travelling around Mexico – my longest time away from home since becoming a vegan two and a half years ago. The trip was an educational one: I ate a lot of amazing vegan food and guacamole, as well as experiencing the occasional cheese-related disaster. What I discovered about being a vegetarian on holiday and what advice I got from more experienced vegan travellers.
Choose your destination wisely
Alexis Gauthier says, “I’m completely blown away at the differences in attitudes and progressiveness between places.” Michelin-starred vegan chef. “I found that the cuisines in Mexico, India and eastern Mediterranean/Levant are all vegan. They are great for vegan holidays because they use beans and pulses in their cooking as the main ingredient. Mexico is another great option: you can find beans, rice, guacamole and veggie tacos almost anywhere.
But don’t rule anywhere out – even France
Gauthier: “It’s a shame that France, my homeland, has not caught up yet with the rest of world when it comes to vegan food. However there are some smart things you can do.” “In the North it is harder, because there is still heavy cream, butter, and red meat.” Paris is changing – there are now lots of really exciting places opening, especially bakeries.” This was not my experience. Last autumn I visited Paris and found it difficult to find vegan food.
Gauthier continues, “In the South it’s best as menus rotate naturally around seasonal vegetables.” “Falafel and socca are popular.” [chickpea flatbread], panisse [chickpea fries] Tapenade. You can live forever on good tomatoes, aubergines and basil, chickpeas with olive oil, olives, olive oils, chickpeas or chickpeas. “And there’s always France, with its greatest dish ratatouille. My favourite dish on earth.”
Travelling in the UK can be more expensive than you expect
Holly Johnson is the editor of Vegan Food & Living magazine. “What is normal in a Bristol cafe, may be strange and even offensive to people in rural farming communities. “I was laughed out of a Devon corner shop for asking for oatmilk.”
Enjoy a city getaway
“Berlin, Brighton, and Vienna are all great cities for vegans. They have a very forward-thinking culture,” Gauthier says. London is a great city for eating out (although it’s expensive) and Mexico City was my favorite place to eat vegan. PetaThe animal rights organization has free vegan city guides Berlin, New York and Sydney plus Goa, the Indian state.
Give the countryside some chance
Elisa Allan from Peta says, “I have learned to never assume there will be no vegan options.” “I recently visited a small rural village in Ireland. A quick online search had not revealed any vegan options. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to find that the local café offered two vegan cakes, both home-baked. The owner’s young daughter was vegan recently, and this inspired them to expand their menu.”
Search for a different scene
In El Cuyo, a laid-back fishing village at the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, practically every restaurant had hummus and tofu on the menu.
Use the Happy Cow Appreciate the app
Every expert I spoke to suggested the Happy Cow app and website“I relied on it heavily in Mexico. Happy Cow will be your best travel companion when looking for vegan options. “You can use it for research on local restaurants before you travel or even while you are walking around the city,” says Chelsea Harrop of Veganuary. “You can filter vegan and veggie eateries as well restaurants that offer plant-based food if you are traveling with others who don’t eat vegan. Happy Cow is a useful app. I’ve been to many small towns, including those in Ireland and Scotland islands, where I never expected to find vegan options.
Learn some useful phrases in the local tongue
The word vegan is not a common term. Sascha Camilli from Peta says: “A friend of mine tried saying ‘vegan’ in Bali and they all thought she meant ‘pagan’. I was offered gluten-free foods in Portugal because people didn’t understand what vegan meant. It’s helpful to explain the situation simply, “No eggs, milk or meat please”. Harrop suggests that you learn the names of ingredients like milk, fish and egg so you know what to look for on menus. Phrases such as ‘I don’t eat fish’ or ‘Does it contain egg?’ “They are also very useful.”
Keep a cheat sheet handy
Camilli says, “In Egypt I had an Arabic infographic that stated exactly what I did not eat.” Peta’s Sadie Buckles says: “When I visited China, my professor helped me make a little card that said: ‘I am a strict vegetarian. No dairy products, eggs, fish or cheese. “Onions and garlic is OK. In China they ask if you’re a Buddhist vegetarian. This means that you can’t eat pungent foods like garlic, onions, leeks and shallots.
Call ahead
Jennifer White of Peta calls restaurants and hotels ahead to explain that she’s a vegan. She says, “Be very nice and they’ll probably make you something delicious even if there is nothing on the menu.” Johnson says that she finds most chefs to be happy to accommodate and are even excited to cook a different meal. I always make sure I show my gratitude – they might just add more plant-based options to the menu in future.” I called ahead to book a city trip to Genoa and the chefs prepared delicious meals around seasonal ingredients like artichokes.
Book a vegan hotel
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Vegan Welcome The website provides a list of 35 hotels in different parts of the world which offer a 100% vegan cuisine. The website also includes a list of hotels that are vegan-friendly. Most retreats are also suitable for vegans.
Consider Self-catering
Harrop says that if you have researched your destination, and it does not seem vegan-friendly to you, then choose self-catering. You can also explore local markets and shops. This is a wonderful way to learn about the culture. Emma Robinson of Veganuary said: “Visiting traditional markets is one of my favorite travel activities. I like to look at the unfamiliar products and try to figure out what they are and how to cook them. In Mexico I tried chaya (a spinach-like vegetable), nopales (the fleshy fronds from the prickly pears), and huitlacoche — a corn fungus that sounds disgusting but tastes great in tacos. White recommends buying the basics in supermarkets: “They’re surprisingly well-stocked in many different countries and you can find tofu, oatmilk, etc.”
Harrop says that it is important to take advantage of online communities, particularly Facebook groups and Instagram and TikTok influencers. There is a strong vegan community in most large cities. Also, there are Facebook groups for vegan travelers that offer many useful tips.
Your vegan holiday can include a vegan quest
Harrop: “I treat vegan cafes, restaurants and other places as tourist attractions in their own rights so that I can include them on my itinerary.” “Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path to uncover local vegan treasures – it’s a rewarding way to connect with a city’s culture.” Sophie-Anne Nabhan Sandison, from Veganuary, did exactly that in Dubrovnik. “We found a little vegan restaurant that is hidden and it was the best meal I’ve ever had,” says Sophie-Anne Nabhan-Sandison. Last summer, I went on a quest to find a vegan restaurant in LindosEven my gyros-addicted friend had to agree that it was well worth the trip.
Harrop offers a warning. If you are planning to travel, double check that the place you want to visit is open. It took me over an hour to walk to a cafe in Paris that was vegan only to discover it closed.
But don’t bore yourself
If you find a place that ticks everyone else’s boxes – full of local people, on a beautiful piazza – will it kill you to eat bread and salad for ONE NIGHT? If you find somewhere that ticks everyone else’s boxes – full of local people, on a beautiful piazza – will it kill you to eat bread and salad for a night? “All my friends and family are so supportive – they wouldn’t want to take me anywhere that’s meat-heavy,” says Johnson. Johnson says that he would not stop his friends and family from attending the event. If necessary, he’d simply eat beforehand or afterward and join in on the fun.
Research ‘accidentally vegan’ dishes
Johnson: “I was in Cyprus recently, and many of its traditional dishes are vegan-friendly.” “Hummus is a great vegan option. It’s packed with flavour. Olive bread, falafel and other meze dishes also are.” Ed WintersThe author of This Is Vegan Propaganda The following are some examples of how to get started: How to Argue with a Meat EaterI found this on vacation in southern Italy. I was surprised at how many local dishes were plant-based, or easily veganisable. “For example, focaccia barese is one of Puglia’s most famous dishes. It has tomatoes and olives.” Every country has its own vegan staple, such as rice.
Ask for changes politely
Gauthier says you could substitute chickpeas for tuna or cheese in your salad. In Mexico, I requested my enfrijoladas’sin huevos’: soft tortillas covered in refried bean, greens and tomato sauce, without the fried egg on top. This is a simple request that many restaurants will gladly accommodate. You may have to learn how to say no. In one cafe I asked for hummus instead of butter and jelly (hummus was listed on the menu). They refused. I offered to pay more. Still no.
Find vegan alternatives to local dishes
No vegan goes to Spain to eat Thai green curry – we want tapas and paella like everyone else. In Germany, I discovered that restaurants are particularly good at serving plant-based versions such as schnitzel, which is fried meat. They also offer maultaschen, which are filled dumplings. Oaxaca in Mexico had several places serving vegan takes on pozole (soup made from hominy – a type of dried corn – with soya chunks instead of meat), chilaquiles (stewed tortilla chips, minus the usual dairy) and tortas (a kind of hearty sandwich), including a hangover-busting barbecue mushroom version.
Sometimes it’s okay to stray from the piste
If you are on a longer holiday, you may find that your taste buds crave something different. Chinese, Indian, Thai, Korean and Japanese restaurants usually cater well to vegans – in Mexico City, I found an incredible vegan ramen place.
Read – and write – reviews
Vegan travellers are generally helpful and will highlight vegan dishes in reviews of restaurants on Tripadvisor, Google, etc. Harrop advises that you should return the favor by leaving your own review to assist other travellers looking for vegan food. You can share pictures of the dishes or menus.
Map apps can be used to your advantage
The search resulted in a fantastic restaurant. It took me to a fantastic Japanese smokehouse and sake barThe restaurant served vegan sushi and agedashi tofu. White says that in some countries, navigation apps are used more than Google Maps. South Korea, for example, has Naver. Download these apps and use them instead.
Pack snacks
Carrying snacks is a good idea, just as you would do at home. Johnson advises, “Never assume you’ll find food at the airport. Most airlines offer vegan options once you board the plane if you’ve ordered it – but don’t forget that said vegan option might just be a banana and a pair of chopsticks.” Harrop suggests nuts and snack bars; I carried a packet of fancy-looking granola all over Mexico.
Plant milk
Johnson advises that oats milk is the best option. It’s a terrible feeling to wake up in your hotel room and see those sad little UHT cow milk pots. I like the travel-sized Oatly sachets If I’m moving, then yes.
Try vegan activities
I took a cooking class in Thailand, where I learned about ingredients like banana blossom. I use it regularly in my curries. Many cities offer vegan food tours. Companies such as Naturetrek Offer wildlife holidays at vegan hotels
Support animals
Visited the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve in Yucatán – the entry fee helps protect the habitat of manatees, sea turtles, jaguars, pumas and more. Choose wisely. “Fifteen-years ago, when I visited Thailand, I was ecstatic to see a baby tiger in a restaurant. Johnson: “I’d stay away from places like that.” The research shows that wild animals kept for human entertainment are most likely to have been abused and kept in unnatural, often cruel conditions. I’d love to experience authentic experiences like safaris or animal sanctuaries, but first it’s best to verify the origin of the company.
You will make mistakes.
In one restaurant I ordered what I believed to be a vegan dish, but was presented with a plate of melted cheddar. In a small campsite, in the middle a jungle, miles away from anywhere, scrambled omelets were served for breakfast. Johnson says that this has happened to him a few time over the years. “I don’t let it worry me – we all slip up sometimes and I just carry on as normal. “Obviously, it’s different for someone with an allergy. But I’m a vegan for other reasons.”
Supplements are not a problem
Home is where I do my daily exercise. vegan supplement. The life is too short to spend it on holidays. I’m just drinking the odd green juice Eat a diverse diet. Johnson does take a multivitamin on holiday, but says: “It’s not something I worry too much about – no one is going to die of a deficiency during a week or two away.”
Ice-cream is still available.
Vegans need not live a life of sorbet. Dark chocolate ice-cream, in particular, is usually dairy-free.
When all else fails there are always chips
Gauthier suggests ordering fries as a side with every curry or salad. It keeps the holiday spirit high!
