For quite some time now, I've been impressed with the level of gluten free knowledge in New Zealand. Like Australia, its larger neighbor to the west, New Zealand seems to be pretty high on the GF learning curve and offers a decent number of places to dine if you're gluten free. Of course, this is easiest when you're in the heart of one of the major towns of New Zealand Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. (You can do a quick search of those towns -- and others -- by entering their name in the Search box on this page of our website.) When you do some of the more picturesque and remote sightseeing, it's obviously a bit tougher! That's why Ellen Morse of Gluten Free Travel-Us set to work planning an itinerary for her gluten free clients interested in visiting New Zealand. She wanted them to be able to see all the highlights -- and even make a stop for a few days of R&R in French Polynesia -- without worrying about how they could stay safely gluten free. As always, Ellen has planned a first-rate trip and vetted the hotels where you'll stay -- and the tour companies and guides... Read more →
February 2019
In addition to searching reviews on our website, GlutenFreeTravelSite, for informative first-hand travel and dining feedback from others on gluten free diets, it's a good idea to contact a support group in the area you plan to travel. Many times they will be able to provide you with a list of Celiac-friendly restaurants and grocery stores that offer gluten free foods. Here's a list of the well-known Celiac associations, both in the U.S. and worldwide...their websites have contact information and often list support groups/chapters. National Celiac Association: Incorporating the former Celiac Support Association, NCA provides educational materials, works with industry and the government to improve labeling practices, and offers a Recognition Seal certifying products as Gluten Free. Beyond Celiac: In addition to promoting awareness and having numerous valuable resources for Celiacs on their site, this U.S.-based foundation has a very helpful list of Celiac Disease support groups around the world. Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG): They are involved in advocacy as well as GF certification and accredidation for products, food services, and restaurants. They include contact information for their local chapters in the United States. Canadian Celiac Association (CCA): Provides information on sources of gluten free food, fosters research, and encourages... Read more →
In today's do-it-yourself world, many people don't see a need for help with planning a trip. They figure they can hop online and book something on their own. However, there are a few potential pitfalls with this strategy. Let's start with the most obvious: it can take a while to gather the information you need before making a decision. You may sit down at your computer, only to find that, hours later, you're overwhelmed with the choices and no further along in making a decision. Another pitfall is that booking hotels, resorts, and apartments site unseen can often result in disappointment, even if you read online reviews. And beware that deals that sound too good to be true usually are. A promotion from a reputable hotel chain to a popular tropical locale that was offered to my mother last year sounded like a great deal. However, upon further digging, we found out that it was in a less-than-desirable area of the popular resort town -- and the resort itself was under major renovation, with construction equipment everywhere. Good thing we did our research, because if we had booked this trip, it likely would have been a disaster. The whole experience... Read more →