Bon Voyage!

International Travel Tips

Planning for any trip can be stressful. If you or a loved one has food allergies, it can be even more difficult. Here are some of the best tips we’ve compiled from members who have had successful and safe travels with food allergies.

•    Have your chef card translated to the local language and bring extra copies. There are several translation services available online. Find these services by searching for “travel” and “food allergy translation” in your search engine.

•    If possible, book a room with a kitchenette so that you can prepare your own safe foods.

•    Contact the consulates of the countries you are visiting and determine whether you can bring packaged foods into the country – this can be a great help.

•    Write down information about anaphylaxis and what to do in case of an emergency on a laminated tag and attach it to your purse or backpack.

•    Make your own snacks for the airplane and bring wipes to clean the trays and seats on the aircraft.  

•    If necessary, contact the airline ahead of time to arrange for food allergy accommodations while flying. Check out our Advocacy section for more information on airlines.

•    In addition to having a chef card translated, it’s a good idea to learn how to say your allergen and emergency terms in the local language.  

•    Carry your doctor’s written and translated instructions for treatment in case you suffer a reaction while traveling.

•    Carry all of your emergency medications in your purse or backpack and travel with refills.

Food allergies shouldn’t stop you from having a great trip. For more information, check out FAAN’s Traveling With Food Allergy: Foreign Sources booklet, available from our online store.  

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