How to Travel as a Vegetarian

Navigating any foreign country can render both nerve-racking and endearing thoughts aplenty. And when it comes down to the scope of strange cuisines on offer, steering through the food scene as a vegetarian can sometimes be challenging.

Don’t get me wrong, from buzzing Barcelona to blissful Bali, I’ve stumbled across titillatingly tasty, plant-based plates, but sometimes, our luck simply strikes out. These are my top tips and tricks for How to Travel as a Vegetarian.

Here’s what we cover in this guide:

• Tips for flying

• Choosing a vegetarian-friendly destination

• Local language and vocabulary

• Local markets and picnics

• Veggie-focused apps

• Being willing to compromise

• Packing snacks

• Medication

Flying High: Veggie Style

Let’s kick it off from the beginning before you’ve even taken off.

I’d highly recommend preparing a snack or two beforehand (think bananas, nuts, protein bars, dried fruits, olives, etc.) for shorter flights. Alternatively, you could consider eating at the airport before take-off or arriving at your new destination.

If the airline offers in-flight meals, the variety of options can be customised when you book your flight. If not, before boarding the plane, you must speak with staff to request a vegetarian option. Eating bigger meals can keep you awake if you’re cruising for snoozing during the flight. This is because they are more problematic to digest when all you’re doing is sitting down for hours. So keep that in mind too.

Long-haul flights are certainly no picnic. But not all of them have to be dismal. Check out these top tips to prepare for a long-haul flight.

Opt for a Vegetarian-Friendly Destination

If you get a say in electing your travel destination, choose a country that embraces plant-based dishes. Travelling to a vegetarian-friendly country can make all of the difference, and it even means you’ll get a chance to scoop up more of the native, local cuisine rather than just heading straight to your typical veggie-targeted restaurants.

Some of the best countries for vegetarian travellers include India, Thailand, Israel, Sri Lanka, and some South-East Asian countries. The magnitude of these specific destinations boasts skyrocketing numbers of vegetarian residents due to religious beliefs and restrictions.

Nowadays, there are even more developed countries like Australia and England that offer many plant-based options. You’ll find vegetarian restaurants, cafes and even vegan ‘junk food’ bars aplenty.

Research online and beforehand to determine what destinations are best for vegetarian travellers.

Learn the Lingo

Do you speak vegetarian? Travelling the world as a vegetarian isn’t always a breeze. For many locations worldwide, the word ‘vegetarian’ isn’t precisely universally understood.

To effectively communicate your dietary requirements to both airline and restaurant staff, it’s well worth learning a few phrases. Learning the basics of a local language, like ‘hello’, ‘please’, and ‘thank you’, is just as essential as learning how to say ‘vegetarian’.

My top travel tip for vegetarians is to learn a bit of food-based vocabulary, especially words like fish, pork, chicken, and beef. By brushing these specifics, you can quickly glance through the menu, skipping over the sections containing the ingredients above. Another plus: this basic vocabulary will also be the ultimate time-saver in the supermarket.

Local Markets & Picnics

If you want to mix things up and save some cash, heading to a local market is a stellar idea. Gathering your own ingredients proffers some of the best opportunities to pick up local goods and support small businesses.

Choosing from the variety of vegetables and fresh goods at a local market can also give you a more authentic insight into how locals live daily. If not many veggie-friendly restaurants are available, picking out produce is a great thing to do when travelling as a vegetarian.

For the perfect picnic recipe, get your hands on some veggies and dip, fruits and nuts, and top it off with some wine and dark chocolate. Don’t forget napkins, paper plates and utensils. Oh, and check the weather beforehand!

Travel tip: Practice caution when washing your vegetables and fruits with water, especially if your country doesn’t have drinkable water. I’d recommend using bottled or filtered water.

One Word: Apps!

Thank you, technology! Cut your research time in half by downloading a vegetarian restaurant app. Yes, they exist.

With apps like Happy Cow and Foursquare, you can quickly encounter various veggie-friendly options. Designed with vegetarians and vegans in mind, conquering cravings in your travel destination will be much easier. Some essential apps for globetrotting veggies are

• #1 Happy Cow: Offers the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants and meat-serving places that boast delicious vegetarian dishes.

• #2 Foursquare: Flags restaurants as vegetarian-friendly and also offers a wealth of honest reviews and pictures from other vegetarians.

• #3 Halla: Features vegan-friendly restaurants that you can fully enjoy with your meat-eating friends.

And last but not least, good-old Google Translate. While it’s not a vegetarian restaurant app, decoding a menu can be a downright lifesaver. I’d honestly say Google Translate is a staple if you’re travelling as a vegetarian.

If technology isn’t your thing, there’s no need to fret. Research the restaurants before you arrive. A top tip for travelling abroad as a vegetarian is to take out the time to look at menus, guidebooks, and online veggie blogs, and even talk to friends who’ve previously visited that destination.

Be Willing to Compromise

Whilst travelling overseas as a vegetarian can be pretty challenging, you must remain flexible if there’s one crucial thing. Fussy eaters, prepare yourselves. Plenty of times, I’ve ended up at a restaurant, and the only option is a basic salad or bread.

Most restaurants will offer minimal vegetarian plates, especially if you’re visiting a more rural part of a country. These locally owned, authentic restaurants may not have the ingredients available to cook a vegetarian meal, so be sure to ask politely, and if they are unable to offer anything, thank them for their troubles and get on your way.

One of my top tips for travelling as a vegetarian is to get cultured by recognising that not all communities in a country have access to fresh vegetables and fruits because, for some, it’s simply an issue of survival rather than one of ethics.

The Travel Essential: Backup Snacks

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And a lot of the time, your thorough travel plans don’t go as you’d hoped.

If there’s one thing you should know about how to travel as a vegetarian, it’s this.

Packing a supply of vegetarian-friendly snacks can avert catastrophes and save you stress. Who knows… you might end up stranded in the airport for 15 hours waiting on a delayed flight… Devoid disaster by stocking up on backup supplies like granola bars, nuts, trail mix, fruits and veggies.

Packing vegetarian-friendly snacks is one of my top tips for travelling to countries as a vegetarian.

Stock up on Medication

Let’s be honest; travelling isn’t all glitz and glamour. If there’s one thing you consider from this guide to travelling as a vegetarian, it’s this point right here.

Plot down to the pharmacy and pick up some medicine in case you have an upset stomach. Sometimes, due to language barriers and miscommunication, it’s more than possible to consume a dish that contains meat. Additionally, foreign foods can cause stomach issues, so it’s always a brilliant idea to bring over-the-counter medication that can relieve you.

Travelling as a vegetarian can sometimes be nothing short of a challenge. But, as with most things, planning ahead of time can be made significantly more straightforward. From choosing your destination, learning the basics of the local language, downloading restaurant apps, and even bringing your own veggie-friendly snacks, these tips can be the best staples for sticking to your plant-based preferences. This guide incorporates all the essentials, my experiences, and advice on How to Travel as a Vegetarian.

Do you have any tips for veggies travelling abroad?