Best Gluten-Free Vacations for an Unforgettable Family Getaway
Welcome! If we haven’t met, I’m Corinna. I’m a 16-year food allergy mom turned Food Allergy Coach and we’ve traveled the WORLD with multiple, severe food allergies (peanut and tree nut allergies and gluten intolerance). I know all about the best gluten-free vacations.
We’ve been to England, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Bahamas, Mexico, Portugal, and all over Canada and the USA and more.
BUT wait….
Our Family After Climbing Mount Vesuvius In Italy
If your family manages Celiac disease, you may see the words “gluten intolerance” and think you’re in the wrong place.
But I want you to know that because we also have severe food allergies, we know how important cross-contact is. Cross-contact (aka cross-contamination) affects both food allergy sufferers and Celiac sufferers, so I get it!
Not to worry, if you have Celiac (or a wheat allergy), I’ve taken that into consideration when writing this post and I’ve got you covered!
That said, even though we’ve found these destinations to be gluten-friendly, not every restaurant in the location will be. You’ll still need to contact restaurants to ensure that they are safe for your family, and the same goes for food allergy families too. Things can change and managers and staff change, so it’s always important to check before eating anywhere.
Secondly, I highly recommend that you book accommodation with a kitchen since it will still be easiest (and less expensive) to cook most meals yourself while going out to eat at one or two safe restaurants.
If you’re not into cooking, or you want a break from cooking, I suggest looking into a trusted cruise (see below), since that would require the least cooking. Alternatively, I also teach how to make cooking easier on vacation in my Food Allergy Travel Workshop so you can feel like you get a break too.
And, one last caveat for this blog.
I want you to know that you don’t HAVE to be tied to any specific gluten-free vacation ideas, including the ones below. With planning and preparation, and accommodations with a kitchen, you can actually travel almost ANYWHERE and have an amazing and stress-free vacation.
I can teach you how.
I’ve already helped hundreds of food allergy, gluten-free and Celiac families travel safer, with less stress and anxiety with my Food Allergy Travel Workshop and travel blogs.
The workshop is cool because I take you through the process of not only planning a great gluten-free vacation but also help you figure out what food to pack (and what to leave) so that you never have to worry about not being able to feed your child or being stressed about finding safe food.
You’ll learn the exact process for how I’ve kept my daughter safe from a severe food allergy reaction on our travels, and you’ll get an amazing planning and packing workbook to make travel so much easier!
Learn more about the workshop here.
*When you click on the links above you will be brought to the website where you can learn more and buy the Travel Workshop. I completely trust and recommend this workshop!
Now let’s get to those top gluten-free vacation spots!
Our Best Gluten-Free Vacation Destinations for Families
Disney World
Disney has done so much to help people with food allergies and Celiac eat safely at their parks. Not only is this gluten-free vacation fun but with a little research, you can eat really well. Especially if you’re a kid and you rarely (or never) get gluten-free waffles, chicken fingers, and EVEN baked goods.Yes, Disney even has gluten-free baked goods like churros, donuts, and cakes! Keep in mind, they aren’t everywhere, and you do have to do some research so you’re not wasting valuable park time searching.
For more information about an amazing gluten-free vacation at Disney World, go to my post all about it.
2. Hawaii
Hawaii is such a family-friendly place. I love that you get a great culture fix without having to speak another language. Because when you have food allergies or Celiac, going to destinations that are English definitely makes things easier.
We’ve been to Oahu and Maui and especially in Oahu I love that there are chain restaurants like P.F. Changs, California Pizza Kitchen, Monkey Pods, Hard Rock Cafe, and Roys because I find that chains are better at understanding cross-contact and training their staff than smaller, one-off restaurants (but of course, ALWAYS check with each restaurant before eating anything). Not to mention that the chain restaurants usually cater to kids and families too.
A beautiful Hawaiian sunset.
3. London, England
We were in England for a few days this summer (2023), and they have definitely upped their game when it comes to allergies and gluten-free foods. We even found gluten-free fish and chips in a small-town pub in the countryside!
I love that many restaurants in London have an allergy menu. It makes things so much easier.
London has some amazing family-friendly attractions like Legoland and Harry Potter World. In full honesty, our family hasn’t visited these attractions, BUT there are definitely gluten-free options at both places.
As of Aug. 2023 Here is the allergy/celiac statement from Harry Potter World (be sure to double-check before you go):
“Our menu dishes are prepared in environments that are not totally free from allergen ingredients. Our hygiene practices are designed to reduce the risk of allergen contamination and our catering teams receive training to help ensure that these standards are met”.
And here is the allergy statement from Legoland.
If you’re not into theme parks, there are so many other family-friendly options in London!
Try a musical in the West End (on our trip, Frozen was playing), a ride on the London Eye a trip to Covet Gardens, or even just walking around this historical city you’ll find entertainers and fun distractions for families!
The Beautiful London Bridge
4. Banff & Canmore, Canada
Did you know that I’m from Calgary, Canada? Well, now you do! I have to say that overall, Canada in general has increased their gluten-free options a lot in the past few years. We’ve had good luck in Canmore, Banff, Vancouver, and Ottawa and I’m confident that these locations would be amazing gluten-free vacation destinations for families.
In full honesty, Calgary is OK, but still not as good as these other locations, but we’re getting there!
In Banff and Canmore, there are many natural hikes, views, and outdoor activities to find in the gorgeous rocky mountains.
From horseback riding and hiking to skiing and snowboarding there are a ton of family activities to do here in summer or winter.
Although French is one of Canada’s national languages, English is the most commonly spoken throughout Canada, except in Quebec.
Not all, but many of the restaurants in these locations will have allergens and gluten-free markings on the menus. If you don’t find this, you can often ask the waiter or chef for more information. Of course, it helps a lot to research which restaurants have gluten-free options in advance so that you don’t have to search during your vacation.
At the Banff Springs Hotel when it’s decorated for the Holidays
5. Ocean Cruise
We’ve been on a Disney Mediterranean cruise, and it was especially amazing with gluten-free options. I remember my daughter being in food heaven because she would have options at every meal.
For example, for breakfasts and lunches, instead of eating from the buffet, she would pre-order her meals the day before and they would make it in the kitchen in a separate area so there wouldn’t be issues with cross-contact.
I remember her getting the most delicious gluten-free doughnuts for breakfast one day. They were better than the gluten-filled ones I found on the buffet!
There were a couple of times when she almost had the wrong meal delivered to her. Mistakes happen, so we still have to be on high alert to make sure that we are always double-checking that the right meal is being delivered every time.
Lastly, another consideration for cruises is that you will have days when you are off the ship. In this case, it’s important to research restaurants or have non-perishable foods like safe granola bars. Unfortunately, some countries do not allow you to bring your own food onto land, so if you don’t have a safe restaurant lined up, OR you don’t feel comfortable finding one on the day of, you may want to stick with half-day adventures so you can come back to the boat to eat.
Entry Statue on the Disney Magic
More Gluten-Free Vacation Tips
What country is the best for Celiacs?
In my opinion, I don’t think it’s necessarily easy to lump whole countries as the “best” place for celiacs or gluten-free. As you can see from my list, many of our top picks are areas or certain places within countries.
So I have to say it again…
With planning and preparation, and accommodations with a kitchen, you can actually travel almost ANYWHERE and have an amazing and stress-free vacation.
What is the best city to be gluten-free in?
Again, this is really, really hard to choose. If I go by my recommendations above, I would say: Banff & Canmore, Canada, and London, England, but that would miss the other destinations that aren’t actually cities. So take that with a grain of salt, I guess!
How can I go gluten-free on vacation?
Knowing the best gluten-free vacation destinations is a great place to start. Now you need to get into the nitty-gritty details of figuring out how to actually get to where you’re going, find food, and do it all so it’s easy and stress-free! It can be easier said than done, but I can show you how in my Food Allergy Travel Workshop.
In this workshop, I’ll show you exactly how we’ve traveled gluten-free and allergy-free to so many locations worldwide without issues and without stress. You’ll even get a Travel Planning Pack to help you plan your vacation, figure out what to pack, (and what to leave), and ensure you always have safe food options.
And don’t miss the Dining Out With Food Allergies workshop. This workshop will help make dining out as safe as possible and help you feel confident checking if restaurants are right for your family’s allergies or celiac.
*When you click on the links or buttons above you will be brought to a website where you can buy the workshops. I completely trust and recommend these workshops!
What gluten-free vacation are you dreaming of? Let me know in the comments!
You may also be interested in these posts.
Must Do’s Before Hiring a Food Allergy Travel Agent (OR Celiac Travel Agent)
Delight in Gluten Free At Disney World
Confidently Traveling to Europe With Food Allergies (or Celiac)
