To ask for advice from people with coeliac disease & going on holiday

[Wanttogoabroad]

My husband has recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease. He’s adapted really well to a GF diet. We would like to go abroad on holiday. We don’t know where yet. He’s very anxious (understandably) about what he will be able to eat.

How do you go about researching this? I mean do you choose where you want to go then research the surrounding area for restaurants and find out if they serve gluten free? Do you have any tips? We are worried about language barriers and also being served something containing gluten by mistake and then he will obviously be very ill.

Just interested how other people navigate travelling abroad with coeliac disease please?

thank you

My FIL is celiac and doesn't have much of a problem. Lots of Spain and the Canaries have a wheat symbol on their menus to advise it's not suitable. He also just says Sin Gluten and they understand right away. Most places are very accommodating. He did have a bit of an issue in Vienna.
Where are you thinking of going?

You need this website.
they have travel cards which briefly explain in the relevant language what you need. My dh is gluten free (coeliac)
for example in Spain it is ‘sin gluten’

Has he joined Coeliac UK? I really recommend it. They have advice including print outs in various languages saying I can't eat gluten etc.

Useful group here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292593134198337/?ref=share

You can buy cards in different languages explaining coeliac disease and what you require eg here https://www.facebook.com/coeliacsanctuary

Some countries are easier than others.

Western Europe tends to be good, with McDonalds in Spain, Italy and other countries even offering gluten free Big Macs.

Menus certainly help and restaurants in EU countries must be able to tell you the allergens. The phrase "no gluten" in the foreign language is likely to be understood. And supermarkets commonly have free from sections.

Further afield outside of the European and English-speaking world can be more difficult. I think they have less awareness of coeliac disease and other situations eg seafood allergies in Asia are of higher priority.

thank you everyone these are really useful tips

There's a few Facebook groups for coeliacs where there's lots of holiday recommendations - I think there is possibly a dedicated group just about travel but it's not one I'm part of.

Italy is supposed to be very good - lots of gluten free pasta and pizza options. There's also always lots in the groups about people bringing stuff back from Spain that they can't get here.

Dh has rarely had any problems abroad. Including Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Sicily, Canary Islands.
it is best to focus on what can be eaten rather than not - it helps if he is not fussy with food (as gf is already such a restriction) So for example breakfast can be fruit, eggs, bacon, yogurt and no major issues if bread unavailable.
maybe take a few crackers/bread with you.
every hotel we have been in has supplied gf bread or rolls.

I hear that Spanish McDonalds stock gf bread rolls!

Italy may be a good option, a family member with coeliac has been there and managed well.

Italy is fantastic for coeliacs- they have a very high % of the population with the condition and restaurants are used to catering for them.
The AIC (italy's coeliac society) have an app you can download (I think for a fee) which can provides lists of gluten free restaurants etc across the country.

Hi I don’t have advice but I am coeliac myself so following for tips if that’s ok!

I'm on holiday in Europe at the moment and generally restaurants are very good. I always know a few basic words for gluten free and then wheat, flour etc. My top tip is order items that you can visually see are gluten free. Also double check everything so ask the waiter and then again the person who brings you your food. If you get a 'should be gluten free' then avoid but generally there is less of this these days.

I think we are thinking Spain or Tenerife. He has just joined coeliac uk on FB

Lots of options in Spain, be wary of buffets though due to cross contamination

Was going to say Spain is really good for gluten free, lots of places clearly labled and clear GF sections in supermarkets

I would avoid France as I found it difficult even just as gluten intolerant.

I have heard that in Italy they are very clued up on coeliac disease as they are all routinely tested as children or something like that.

Spain, and the balearic islands are pretty good at cooking a gluten free paella.

Also a good point on buffets and cross contamination with other people using the wrong utensils. If you see anything that makes you feel uncertain just asked for fresh fruit or a dish prepared separately and most hotels are happy to do this. Also my biggest irritatant is gluten products above gluten free products, if in doubt I don't risk it.

Spain, Italy, Croatia and Greece I havent had a problem at all. Good luck OP.

DH is coeliac and I agree to avoid France. We’ve just returned from the south of France and the allergen labelling in the majority of restaurants was just non existent. We tried to eat in about 5 places on the first night and every time we asked “which dishes are gluten free?” they simply replied with “none”.

Spanish supermarkets carry a much better range of gluten free products than those in Greece or Cyprus in my experience. We like the Balearics - GF beer is usually available in most bars, supermarkets carry lots of products you can get in the U.K. like the Schar brand and menus tend to be very clearly labelled.

Italy are very good with gluten free options as so many people are diagnosed Coeluac there.

There’s a card on the internet you can print out in the language of the country you’re going to, explaining what coeliac disease is and how you need to avoid certain foods.

It all depends on the country you’re going to, and the type of holiday. Use common sense. If you’re back packing in the developing world the people you meet may not have much English (understandably) let alone know what coeliac disease is. If you’re going to a resort hotel in Spain, you’ll be fine.

Some countries are better than others: Italy is very good, because they test children routinely for coeliac disease and have a huge range of GF products. Other countries, not so much. Self catering can be a safer bet, and research restaurants on Trip Advisor before you go.

I’m gluten free and have never had problems in Spain or the canaries - supermarkets often have a better selection than in U.K.
I do take a supply of my favourite GF crackers though as they are helpful when eating out to go with starters or tapas