Don’t Stress on Vacation—Follow These Tips for a Relaxing, Vegan Trip
Having worked for various PETA entities for over 30 years, I’ve had my fair share of travel experiences. With nearly 85 countries under my belt, I’ve learned a lot. Here are some of my top tips for vegan (and not vegan yet) travelers.
Tips for an Easy Journey When Flying Vegan
What’s the Deal With (Vegan) Airplane Food?
Singapore’s airport has a fantastic vegetarian restaurant, and many major hubs now offer vegan options. Berlin, for example, has poke bowls with vegan salmon, which are worth trying.
Some airlines go above and beyond with vegan meals. For instance, Korean Airlines offers three different vegan meal options. My favorite is a Korean-style meal with tofu, kimchi, and mushrooms. It’s so good that I’d visit a restaurant just to order it!
AirAsia also impresses with its vegan chicken Penang Curry, which my son would crawl across broken glass to get. On the flip side, some airlines serve a piece of bread with onion and green pepper and call it lunch. Not every flight will have a good option, so pack some vegan meals if you can.
Pack Some Snacks for the Flight
Staying healthy while traveling isn’t always easy, but McDougall instant meals are a lifesaver. If I’m tight on luggage space, I’ll take the meals out of their packaging and transfer them into a smaller container.
One item I never travel without is hot sauce. Travel-sized bottles can fix just about any bland meal you encounter.
A word of caution—don’t bring hummus in a carry-on unless it fits the liquid or gel limits for flights. I’ve had hummus confiscated twice at security, and finding beetroot hummus outside of Australia is no easy task!
Aim to Travel Carry-On Only
Speaking of luggage, I always aim to travel with a carry-on only. My vegan Paravel bag is a favorite—I spent a year hunting for it on sale and finally snagged one, and it’s been worth every penny. My Troubadour Apex Backpack 3.0 is another essential—it looks sleek and professional and fits perfectly under airplane seats.
Bring Comfortable Headphones for the Flight
My headphones are a key to peace. Both Jabra and Bowers & Wilkins make excellent leather-free headphones (not all styles are vegan). I wear them while I catch up on the latest documentaries during my flight.
Finding the Best Vegan Options for Your Trip
Download HappyCow for the Vegan Low-Down
HappyCow is an essential tool. If you don’t have the HappyCow app on your phone yet, download it immediately. It’s like a Bible for vegan travelers, showing you nearby vegan-friendly restaurants and offering tips on local dishes you might not know about. For instance, I would never have tried Chimney Cake in Budapest without seeing it on HappyCow.
Ask a Local Vegan Facebook Group for Recommendations
Before traveling, I recommend joining the local vegan Facebook group for your destination. Almost every major city has one, and it’s a great way to find out what’s happening in the local vegan scene. Post that you’ll be in town and ask if there are any events or meetups—vegans are usually happy to connect.
Charge Your Phone and Camera to Document
Whenever I travel, I charge my phone and camera, so I’m ready in case I witness cruelty to animals. I encourage everyone to document anything they see. Even if you think the issue is widely known, having fresh evidence is essential. Take videos, note the GPS location, and report it to PETA. We are bombarded with people who just missed documenting something important. Don’t be that person.
Make Sure Any Tours Are Animal-Friendly
Some companies, like British Airways Holidays, Booking.com, and Airbnb, have significantly reduced or eliminated animal-related activities from their tour offerings. Check out PETA’s long list of operators who do not endorse abusement parks like SeaWorld. Still, it’s always best to be as careful as possible when choosing a tour. While it’s easy to avoid a dolphin show, some tours might not disclose stops at places like crocodile farms or, as I once experienced in Thailand, a horrifying dancing elephant show at the end of a tour. I now always confirm details with third-party sellers, who can usually connect you directly with the tour operator. If you encounter issues on your tour, file a complaint on TripAdvisor.
Leave Reviews Everywhere You Go—Your Voice Matters
I always leave reviews for every place I stay on TripAdvisor. It’s essential to fill out hotel comment cards or provide feedback anywhere that asks, always keeping animal welfare in mind. Businesses may not even realize that their practices are cruel or disliked by customers, and your input can help raise awareness.
Go Vegan at Home and on the Go
The possibilities for a compassionate vacation are unlimited, so it’s easy to keep animal exploitation off your travel itinerary!
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