 |
| A page from my overburdened passport |
I get a surprising amount of e-mail from vegans and vegetarians who admit they're afraid to travel, for fear of consuming something non-veg. As a veg-head who's been to 30+ countries--and counting--I'm here to tell you that you can--and should travel. Your lifestyle choice should open doors, not close them, and infuse the world with positivity. Traveling vegan just takes a little planning and patience.
- Before you go, visit Happy Cow and compile a list of veg restaurants in your destination.
- Don't forget to order a vegan meal from the airline a few weeks in advance. As a back-up, you might want to pack your own sandwich or snacks. Airlines are notorious for two things: "running out" (!) of vegan meals and offering vegan [and non-vegan] meals that are inedible, at best.
- Create a post on your favorite veg forum and ask if any fellow veg-heads have ventured to [insert vacation destination here]. Other vegans can offer valuable words of wisdom, and more importantly, tasty restaurant recommendations. The Post Punk Kitchen and Vegan Freaks are good starting points.
- Learn how to say basic vegan phrases in the necessary language. When I'm in a Spanish-speaking country, for example, I become "Senora Sin Queso y Sin Crema." "I'm allergic to..." is another useful phrase to learn. Of course, it's better to explain the ethics behind your diet, but this is not always possible in a foreign country, when you don't speak the language.
- I avoid checking in baggage like the plague. How do I fit all my girl props into those pesky 3-ounce containers in my carry-on? I decant toiletries, like toothpaste, gel and moisturizer, into recycled containers. [As you can see from the photo below, empty Lush moisturizer containers are great for this purpose.] Also pictured is my Lush Karma portable perfume, Lush solid shampoo, which doubles as soap, a Lush body butter, and Occitane Shea Butter.
 |
| Decanting can save you big bucks. Trial sizes are ridiculously overpriced. |
- Since you went to all that trouble toting your vegan toiletries halfway across the world, you may as well tell the hotel management why you aren't using their provided, non-vegan shampoo and shower gel.
- Size does matter. And in this case, smaller is better. Pictured is my mini toothbrush, mini, cruelty-free makeup brushes and mini Thai deodorant stone.
 |
| Smaller is better. |
- Don't forget your vitamins. See photo, above.
- Be mindful of the environment. Reuse hotel towels, when possible. Ask the maid not to change the sheets daily [Who does that in real life, anyway?] Take only digital photos. Recycle. Use vegan, biodegradable sunscreen, especially if you're at a sea- or lake-side destination.
- When you come back, post about your trip on your blog or Faceboook account, so other veg-heads can benefit from your experience.
Please feel free to post your own vegan traveling tips as comments.
Labels:
Blasts from the past
