Traveling with an Allergy Just Got a Whole Lot Easier
Food is undoubtedly one of the most exciting parts of traveling, especially when you are crossing country lines and experiencing new cuisines. Food can say a lot about a place and tell beautiful stories about its people. However, those with allergies may find food to be a daunting and highly stressful aspect of traveling. It can be tricky navigating airports and language barriers when it comes to following the restrictions and limitations of food allergies, but with these simple steps, anyone who must take an allergy into account can travel safely and worry-free while still indulging in some of the best local fares.
Overpack your snack bag
While an overpacked suitcase is not recommended, an overpacked snack bag totally is. Rather than attempting to fish out an allergy-friendly meal at the airport, pre-pack what snacks and meals you will need to get you from check-in to your final destination. An overpacked snack bag will ensure a hangry-free travel experience no matter what delays or flight changes may occur.
Pre-order inflight meals
When traveling on a lengthy domestic or international flight, most airlines provide meals that a majority of the time, are not friendly to the “big eight” allergens - peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, eggs, milk, fish, soy, and shellfish. When booking a flight that provides inflight meals, be sure to request an allergy-friendly option at checkout or contact your airline up to 24 hours in advance to secure your meal. Delta, American, and United are some leading airlines in offering allergen accommodations. Not a fan of in-flight meals? Good thing you have your trusty snack bag!
Allergy apps to download
Have you ever tried ordering off a menu where you can only translate half of the ingredients and it feels like a shot in the dark? Language barriers can be one of the most intimidating aspects of traveling, especially for those with allergies that have anaphylactic reactions. Thankfully, there are many trusty apps that make language barriers a problem of the past. These are some of the best apps tailored specifically for traveling with an allergy:
Spokin - Geared to the travel community, this app allows users to navigate the best resources specific to the allergy chosen. Spokin can connect you to the most enticing restaurants, hotels, and food products in your area.
Allergy Smartz - Using this app requires no internet connection to allow access on the go and translates 13 food allergies to 20 different languages. It is there when you need it, wherever that may be on the globe.
AllergyEats - By simply plugging in your zip code this app can connect you to thousands of restaurants and allergy resources all over the world. With valuable user input, this app is sure to ease your travel experience and allergy concerns.
Allergy Translate - With translations curated by professional native speakers, this app enables quick and effective translations from English to 28 languages. Ordering in a foreign language just got a whole lot easier!
Food should enhance your travel experience, not limit it. Follow these tips and tricks to take off a load of stress and enjoy the place and the dishes that come with it! If you find yourself tasting a scrumptious fare, snap a pic and share with @theedge. Bon appetit!