Vegan travel doesn’t have to be complicated – Our 3 tips for your next trip.
Nowadays it is not difficult to travel vegan in many parts of Europe, especially in the big cities. Vegan restaurants and cafes are commonplace. But with a little preparation and research, it is easy to avoid animal products even outside the big cities. Here are three tips to make it easy to travel vegan in Europe.
#1 Choose vegan or vegan-vegetarian hotels.
The easiest way is to choose a hotel that serves only vegan-vegetarian or even solely vegan cuisine. This is also a good way to start a vegan lifestyle, as you can get a lot of inspiration for your own kitchen.
The two South Tyrolean hotels LA VIMEA and Paradiso Pure.Living are ideal addresses. Both hotels are located in beautiful hiking areas. LA VIMEA is holistically vegan, i.e. not only in the kitchen, but also throughout the hotel (e.g. in the down bedding or leather upholstery). At Paradiso Pure.Living on the Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s highest alpine pasture, guests enjoy not only the Dolomite nature and first-class vegan-vegetarian cuisine, but also changing exhibitions of contemporary artists.
Not purely vegan, but still sustainable:
If you don’t want to book a vegan hotel directly, or if there are no vegan hotels in the region you’re traveling to, it’s best to ask the hotel about vegan dining options in advance. In the Green Pearls® network, most hotels offer vegetarian or vegan options for breakfast and dinner. At the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, for example, vegan dishes are always available. The new GenussART menu at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa also has a permanent vegan option on the menu.
You can inquire about amenities (e.g. down comforters, etc.) in advance. Choosing a sustainable hotel with vegan options is also practical if your partner does not wish to abstain from animal products while on vacation.
#2 Plan your journey
Before we reiterate that traveling by train or bus is obviously more environmentally friendly and sustainable than driving or flying, let’s us focus on the food options. Before you “treat” yourself to one of the less healthy (and usually less sustainable) fast food options at the station or rest stop, you can prepare snacks and lunches at home. Just the way you like it.
If you want to stop along the way, you can look for vegan restaurants just off the highway. At major train stations, you can find more and more alternatives to the classic fast-food franchises. If you are traveling by plane, book a special (vegan) meal at least 24 hours before your flight. All airlines offer this service. Otherwise: Bring snacks and sandwiches. Anything that is not liquid can be taken on the plane.
Extra tip for vegan travel:
Couscous, oatmeal, and the like take up very little space in your pack, keep forever, and can be easily poured over with hot water. So even if vegan options aren’t available, there’s no need to go hungry.
#3 Learn specific terms in the local language beforehand
If you are traveling to countries whose language you do not speak, it is always a good idea to memorize or write down at least some of the terms. This will help you find out if certain dishes contain animal products or if you can order them as vegan. When shopping, translation apps, Google Lens, and other tools are helpful. Travel dictionaries specifically designed for vegan travelers are also useful (and a good tip for those with food intolerances). And of course, search the web and blogs for vegan restaurants, cafes, etc. As a positive side effect, you will usually get more tips on places to go, sights to see, or museums to visit.
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