When I was on google, I was curiously looking up vegan travel questions, and the question is it hard to travel as a vegan caught my eye.
The answer to this is a bit hard. Yes, it is hard to travel as a vegan, and no, it isn’t. Some of the easiest ways of traveling as a vegan is preparing for your travel because if you don’t, Jesus Christ, no one else will. People will forget what vegan means, and if you say you don’t eat anything from an animal, they’ll suggest a grilled cheese for your lunch.
But suppose you’re prepared for eating, being relaxed about how people perceive you, and enjoying the moment over worrying about what happens next, then yes. In that case, traveling as a vegan is easy.
So, if you’re not a fan of preparing for travel, traveling as a vegan might be more complex.
The easiest way to prepare for your vegan diet is to understand the cultural stance on Veganism. For example, is the country generally a plant-based nation? Is there a language barrier? These are some of the questions that must be asked before taking the plunge to travel.
If the country is considered “third world,” it might be easier to be vegan. Meat tends to be more expensive, so it’s not generally in cuisine. Or, culturally, meat wouldn’t have been introduced until after colonization.
*Remember, kids, colonization is bad.
But make sure meat is a normal thing in the country. If not, research how to make meals vegan for you. Vegetarian is just one step away from being vegan, and explaining how you don’t want anything from an animal would be easier presented to a country that does it daily.
However, if it’s not, prepare by having snacks for your trip. Be ready to buy staples at a grocery store or prepare by having protein bars or vegan jerky in your bag. You won’t be able to have a fridge in your luggage, but you can have an Airbnb that has one, or you might be around a tiny kitchen that offers accessibility to make things (rice, oatmeal, etc.) You generally like excellent coffee, so why not make it at home?
If there is a language barrier, try to learn the phrase to say, “hi, I am vegan.” It is hard to deal with languages, but saying something simple like “hi, I am vegan” allows people around you to try their hardest to help. Or learn how to say, “I’m allergic to meat and dairy.” People might not culturally know or agree with Veganism, but universally, people are kind and will try their hardest to make you feel safe and secure.
If the nation is plant-based, you don’t have to worry about changing the meals offered. You might have to say you can’t have milk or cheese, but saying no to meat will be easier. It is also safer since much food poisoning overseas comes from meat or poultry that has gone off. If you are a vegan who doesn’t want to share your grill with meat products, you might have difficulty explaining that.
But Vegan travel is easy if you’re determined to make it so. Research needs to happen for most trips (it really gives that country a fair chance), so research, research, research. Mentally prepare for the barriers, but be open to the opportunities. By doing that, you will experience all the world has to offer.
