Traveling with allergies can be difficult for any family. While some allergies can just be an annoyance, others can be life threatening. This makes it very important to figure out a way to travel safely no matter where you are going. Fortunately, there are some travel tools that can help people with a whole range of allergies. With the help of these tools it can take some of the uncertainty and anxiety out of the travel experience.
Language Cards
These cards are a great tool for those that are visiting a foreign country and don’t speak the language. Language cards are about the size of a credit card and provide both a picture and the allergy on the card. These cards can be ordered online or you can simply print them from your computer.
Allergy Apps For Restaurants
There are apps for just about everything and food allergies are no exception. AllergyEats is one of these apps and the best part about it is that it’s simple to use. All the user has to do is type in the zip code where they are planning to eat and click on the food allergy that they have. A list will then be generated for “safe” restaurants for them to eat at. Also, if they have a particular restaurant in mind they can put the name of the restaurant in the search bar and it will display whether or not it’s okay to eat there.
Alternative Transportation Requests
For those that have allergies that will not allow them to be near their allergen, such as those with pet allergies or food sensitivities involving smell, they can make requests on planes and trains to accommodate their intolerance’s. Before traveling you need to simply contact the airline you are flying and let them know that you have allergens that you cannot be near. In order to accommodate you they may place you in a food free zone or seat you in an area on the plane where your allergens are restricted.
The key to dealing with allergies when traveling is to prepare ahead of time. Don’t be afraid to contact the hotel you are staying at, airline you are flying or places you plan on eating at and let them know about your allergies, reactions and how they can best accommodate you. In most instances they will be more than happy to assist you as long as they have the proper notice to make the necessary preparations ahead of time.
Allergy management while traveling requires careful preparation. Our comprehensive Hantavirus and traveler health guide covers the broader landscape of health considerations every traveler should plan for.
