Vegetarian Vacationing 5.21.11

Having to go through life with food restrictions can be a hard obstacle sometimes. Many establishments don’t cater specifically to vegans and vegetarians, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have food on their menu that you can enjoy, even on accident. Of course, most of those items are salads and the iffy garden burger. While I’m not a vegetarian myself, I can appreciate a good meat-free meal, but I don’t I don’t have to wonder if the cook is using stock without realizing it or cooking my food on the same surface as the one that cooks the burgers and steaks. If they do, then it’s not going to make too much of a difference to me, but it will to you, because it makes you food non-vegetarian at that point.

"luau" salad

Not every restaurant is as courteous to vegetarians as I am in my house where we grill our veggie friend’s foods on foil, so it doesn’t come in contact with the “meaty” grill or the meat itself, and use a totally different set of utensils to move them around and serve them. I just don’t think many restaurants realize this kind of care and concern is important in their establishments. I would think if you were being paid for the food you produce, you would pay more attention to those with certain dietary requests. That got me thinking about how if it’s so hard to explain your needs to people in your own country, what about when you travel and you may not speak the language? That’s got to be a million times harder and more frustrating.

I scoured the web and picked some brains about traveling as a vegan and vegetarian and came up with some fun, practical advice and I’m bringing back a “cool travel gadget” from a couple weeks ago that might just be something you want to purchase and take with you on your next trip.

chocolate mousse

Where can you go? While you can get vegetarian food pretty much everywhere, did you know that there are destinations where it is more easily obtained than others? I found the top 10 vegetarian destinations for you (in alphabetical order):

                                    Canada                    Taiwan

                                    Hong Kong              Thailand

                                    India                        United Kingdom

                                    Malaysia                 United States

                                    Singapore               Vietnam

Where can you stay?  Look for eco-lodgings that grow their own food. Most likely they will serve vegetarian and/or vegan food. In fact, we stayed in an eco-lodge when we traveled to Ecuador. While I wouldn’t stay there again, because they have no electricity in the cabins and the result was giant bugs hanging out with your overnight, the menu was vegetarian and everything we ate was delicious. We had a total of 6 meals there and each was different and all the food was grown on their land. It was impressive and the price for our lodging, food included, was very reasonable. The cabins themselves were large, comfortable and amazing, despite the crazy bugs that showed up at twilight.

cornbread

If you plan to stay in a hotel, ask that you get a room with a fridge, so you can stock your room with foods you can eat. You may also be interested in booking a room with a kitchenette. This is useful for everyone, but even more so for the one that must eat only certain foods. It helps if you can make some of your own meals. Staying for a week or more? Get a vacation rental, with a full kitchen and more space, which will save you money (generally) over a hotel. 

If you don't really want to do the research yourself to figure out where to go and eat, check out VegVoyages. They are a vegetarian/vegan tour group that offer vacations worldwide. Travel anywhere and never worry about finding appropriate dining options on your entire trip.

I'm a big fan of VegNews magazine, even though I'm not a vegetarian. They have fabulously delicious and easy recipes and they feature a new travel destination each issue, which can be found online as well. Each article will tell you must-eat, must-stay, must-shop place and other info for the visiting Vegetarian. Check out the current article here and find past articles on the right side. (Aside from these helpful ideas, you can shop in their store for vegan candy bars, peanut butter cups, marshmallow and other tasty treats.)

Where to eat:

• Ethnic restaurants are often your best bet for vegetarian and vegan options. Look for things like vegetable or tofu stir-fry, meat-free curries, vegetarian sushi (yes, that exists!) and bean burritos.
• Opt for the buffet. Buffets have a wide variety of foods on them, generally, so you are more likely to find something that you will eat. If your traveling companions are meat eaters, you’re likely to all be happy with this choice, because you can choose from salads, veggies (cooked and raw), fruits, potatoes, breads and pasta.
• Farmers markets are another good place to make a stop on your travels. Pick up some local fruits and veggies, breads, spreads and cheeses (or not if you’re a vegan). Chances are that you will find some new favorites this way and you’ll also save money by not dining in a sit-down restaurant.
• Research your dining options by looking on HappyCow.Net. It has a guide to restaurants that offer vegan/vegetarian entrées, as well as any natural food stores in the area you can shop at.
• You're always likely to be close to a chain restaurant, no matter where you are, even if that restaurant is the Hard Rock Cafe (on of my personal favorites). Check out PETA's list of menu items at popular chains that are vegan options for you.
• Download the VeganXpress app. At $1.99, it's another great app to take with you on your travels. It has over 100 popular restaurants and their vegan menu items.

Don’t see anything vegetarian on the menu? Ask for it anyway. Seriously. You should not feel embarrassed to ask for something suitable to your food needs. If they say no, be pushy. They can adapt something they have for you and make it a special order. It should not cost more, because it’s meat-less.

Bring your own flashcards. SelectWisely has some great cards to take with you when you travel to show the wait staff at restaurants or just so you can keep up on translations. They have them for food allergies, people who need gluten-free foods and for vegetarians and vegans. They are bright and laminated and contain the phrase in your language and the language to where you will be traveling. They seem to be a pretty good deal for the price of just $7.50.

BreakAway has similar cards that you can print yourself if you feel like that’s the better way to go. They have a more limited selection of languages. They only have Vegetarian cards to print, so you won’t find vegan or food allergy ones for free here.


As I've said before, Veggie Passport is a wonderful app to travel with, as it translates important vegetarian and vegan phrases into other languages. Pick the phrase you wish to use and the language you need it translated into and then show your phone to your waiter or host. For just $1.99, is a fantastic bargain.

I know I already told you about this fancy insulated bag from PicnicTime, but it's so fantastic, I think it would be perfect for the traveling vegetarian. It's great for packing snacks on the go while you are traveling, both for adults and those traveling with vegetarian/vegan children. Children who eat meat are picky enough, but those with more dietary restrictions are liable to be harder to please. The Tourismo bag is a great addition to your travel bag, because it can keep items warm or cold, has room for a good amount of munchies, like fruit, veggies and sandwiches, along with juice boxes and other drinks.  With all the pockets they have, you will be able to bring along any other necessities as well: cell phone, money, sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen and more! You'll love it. 

I'm all about free stuff! Well, with Swagbucks, you can earn "bucks" by just doing internet searches and then trade them in for prizes like travel and restaurant gift cards. Swagbucks is celebrating Memorial Day next week with a special Score Four and Twenty Swag Bucks promotion - they'll have 4 special Limited Edition collector's bills available, and if you can snag all four by the end of Thursday, you'll get a bonus 20 Swag Bucks. ALSO, this Thursday they're have a Swag Code Extravaganza, a day filled with fun, games and the opportunity to snag over 40 Swag Bucks worth of codes throughout the day. Be sure to visit Swagbucks all this week for opportunities to win big!

Not a member yet? Sign up through my referral link and enter the code MEMORIALDAY when prompted - it'll pad your account with an extra 50 Swag Bucks on top of the 30 that everyone starts with. Get started earning your reward points today

The Northwest is particularly vegetarian- and vegan-friendly to travel in and around. Dunhill Travel has teamed up with Travel Oregon to bring you one of ten Adventurecations. All you need to do to win is "like" the Travel Oregon Facebook page and fill out the short entry form. Whether you like hiking, biking, kayaking, golfing or other outdoor activities, you'll find an Adventurecation for you!

Seattle's HotelFIVE wants you to stay a night on them. Book 3 nights and only pay for 2 with Portland Perks. Click on the 3rd night free button and fill out the form there. Stay by September 30 for this great deal. The average nightly rate is $121, making your stay an average of $80/night. 

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. Join Ebates.

Got more to add to my tips above? Join my vegetarian traveler discussion in the Savvy Living Community or comment below. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you traveled somewhere and had amazing veggie food? Have your had good luck with traveling to foreign lands?

Vegetarians On The Go 5.18.11

Whether you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, finding things to order when you eat out can be difficult and there usually isn’t much variety either. At least you can go home and whip something up to make you happy. Unfortunately, when you’re traveling, it can be even more inconvenient to find something healthy and tasty several times a day to satisfy your hunger that still sticks to your food ethics. You aren’t the only one that has problems finding dining resources. There are also those with food allergies, gluten allergies, lactose intolerance…and those that just plain don’t like certain things. Restaurants are beginning to branch out and make a broader range of food selections that can satisfy more food restrictions, all while being a bit healthier.

Spinach dumplings

The first time we talked about traveling as a vegetarian, I was learning the basics, as I am not a vegetarian myself and wasn’t really aware that there were so many obstacles to being a non-meat eater and packing your bags to see the world. I found a lot of articles written by vegetarians and vegans that suggested you pack your own food, like peanut butter and soy milk products. Happily, you can get specialty food items in almost all destinations, so you can save room in your travel bag for things you actually WANT to pack, like clothes. You also save checked baggage fees, because you don’t need to bring those items at all. With a little more education on the subject, and chatting with a few vegetarian friends, I’ve now learned quite a bit about what you can and can’t eat and the different vegan substitute products on the market. I’ve even purchased some myself, in an effort to save money and eat better. And yes, you can save money by buying and using some of these products, like egg substitute, which you can use in your baking. It saves you money, because it last so much longer than a carton of eggs and it doesn’t go bad. But enough of my frugal shopping habits.

Swedish pancakes

As a vegetarian, you aren’t just looking for foods to eat at your destination, but on the way as well. I found a great list of dining establishments found in most airports that cater to your needs, so you can eat before your flights and on layovers without having to live on the baggie of carrot sticks you packed in your carry-on.

On the Ground

Argo Tea

• Chickpea Salad (vegan)
• Garden Lentil Salad (vegan)
• Parfaits: Acai Banana, Green Tea, Mixed Berry
• Ruggelah: Apricot Pecan, Raspberry Almond
• Signature Muffins: Banana Nut, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppyseed
• Spinach Tomato Pesto Panini
• Tea Bite: Roasted Tomato Cheddar
• Tomato Garden Vegetable Salad

Au Bon Pain

• Apple Strudel (vegan)
• Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Chickpea & Tomato Cucumber Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Curried Rice & Lentil Soup (vegan)
• French Moroccan Tomato Lentil Soup (vegan)
• Green Bean & Beet Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Portabello & Goat Cheese sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Vegetarian Chili (vegan)
• Vegetarian Lentil Soup (vegan)

Auntie Anne’s

• Pretzels: Cinnamon Sugar, Garlic, Glazin’ Raisin, Jalapeño, Original, Whole Wheat (vegan without butter)

Charley’s

• Delight Grilled Vegetable Plate
• Philly Veggie (vegan without cheese or mayo)

Caribou Coffee

• Bagels: Cinnamon Raisin, Multi Grain
• Banana Bread – reduced fat
• Chewy Granola Bar
• Cinnamon Coffeecake
• Oatmeal: Classic, 7-Grain (vegan)
• Muffin: Better Morning, Blueberry, Cinnamon Streusel, Double Chocolate Chip, French Toast, Mountain Berry
• Pumpkin Pecan Bread
• Scone: Cinnamon Chip, Cranberry, Cranberry Orange, Lemon Blueberry, Maple Oatmeal
• Southwestern Black Bean Salad (vegan)
• Veggie Daybreaker Breakfast Sandwich
• Yogurt Parfait – low-fat

Einstein Bros. Bagels

• Bagel: Sundried Tomato (vegan)
• Bistro Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Chipotle Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Fruit Salad (vegan)
• Kettle Chips Classic (vegan)

Jamba Juice

• Any Drink

Moe’s Southwest Grill

• Burritos: Made to Order (can be vegan)
• Chips (vegan)
• Personal Trainer Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Tacos: Made to Order (can be vegan)

National Coney Island

• Hummus Veggie Sandwich/Wrap
• Vegetarian Pita with Fries
• Vegetarian Tuna

Panera Bread

• Bagels: Blueberry, Everything, Plain, Sesame, Sweet Onion Poppy Seed, Whole Grain (vegan)
• Classic Café Salad (vegan)
• Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (vegan)
• Sourdough Bread Bowl (vegan)

Starbucks

• Cranberry Flax Muffin (vegan)
• Fruit Cup (vegan)
• Hummus Plate (vegan)
• Multigrain Bagel
• Oatmeal (vegan)
• Organic Fruit Scone with Pecans (vegan)
• Plain Bagel
• Protein Plate
• Raspberry Bran Scone (vegan)
• Ratatouille Sandwich/Roasted Vegetable Panini
• Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich

Stuffed poblano pepper

In the Air

Cibo Express offers over 1,000 packaged, ready-to-go menu items that you can grab to eat on the plane. Many are vegetarian or vegan and are fresh and organic.

Most airlines don’t serve real meals anymore, but they do offer snack boxes. The airlines that offer vegan/vegetarian options are as follows:

American Airlines (vegan)

Continental Airlines (vegan)

Delta Airlines (vegan)

United Airlines (vegan)

US Airways (vegan)

Air Canada

British Airways

Aer Lingus (vegan)

Virgin Atlantic

Lufthansa

Air Malta (vegan)

Turkish Airlines

Qantas Airways (vegan)

Air New Zealand (vegan)

Indian Airlines

Cathay Pacific (vegan)

Malaysia Airlines (vegan)

Qatar Airways (vegan)

Singapore Airlines

Vietnam Airlines (vegan)

Unless you’re on an international flight, chances are you’ll be paying for these in-flight meals and snacks, so you may be better off bringing your own to begin with from Cibo Express or from one of the many other dining establishments above. If you don’t mind paying for a meal, make sure you request a vegetarian or vegan entrée well ahead of your flight to ensure the meal actually makes it onboard for you. Usually, you can choose food options when you book your flights. If that is a choice when booking, make sure you order it then, because some airlines will not let you change it later once your reservation is in the system.

Chocolate layer cake with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce

There is so much more I want to get to regarding vegetarian and vegan travel, once you get off the plane, so check back on Saturday for my next installment of this topic. I had such great response to the first post I did, I hope this will further help you take better vacations and eat more things at different places. On Saturday, we’ll look at the top travel destinations for veg-heads, where you can find places to eat and how to order off a foreign menu when you aren’t fluent in the language. Sure, we’ve covered this before, but this will be totally different information!

Are you a traveling vegetarian? Have you found other food options at popular airport restaurants and delis? Had a good or bad experience with the meals on airlines? Let us know, so you can help your fellow trip-takers have smoother and more delicious travels! 

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. Join Ebates.

Have you entered yet?? Win a $25 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card here on my blog by following me via GFC or Networked Blogs. You can earn more entries by liking my page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, tweeting and/or posting about the giveaway. You will find all the details on how to enter HERE. Enter by 5/21.

It's been a while since I've offered up some deals of the week for you. I think it's time to bring it back, for the folks that may have missed deals on Facebook and Twitter. I have been pondering an extra post per week with just the best deals found. If this seems like something you would be interested in, please let me know.

Backcountry is having their "Memorial Day" Sale right now where you can save up to 40% off travel clothing and active wear from great retailers like Columbia, ExOfficio and Lolë. Save 40-60% off discontinued items as well.

BookIt wants you to travel to Puerto Vallarta over the summer for less! All-inclusive resorts are on sale with low, low rates from $55/night/person. You can also receive incentives, like upgrades, airport transfers, resort credits, tours, free nights and more! There is so much to see and do in Puerto Vallarta that even if you chose a regular resort, you will never be bored, but can still save money. 

Key West is a great place to stay and play. Check out these packages that start from $169 for a double. It includes accommodations and a long list of watersports to choose from. Great deal 

for those that love to be busy with outdoor activities like parasailing, snorkeling and cruising.

Travelzoo has you covered for theater and show tickets. Whether you are going to New York or Las Vegas, you can save up to 80% this week. Tickets for as low as $11. Check out shows in NYC like Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Stomp, Sister Act and Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In Vegas, catch discount shows like Jersey Boys, Barry Manilow and the legendary Blue Man Group.

Save up to 50% off Hawaiian vacation packages with Travelocity and Marriott Hotels, plus, use your American Express card and get $100 off instantly when you use the promo code: ALOHA100AMEX. Book by the end of May. If you only want hotel, you can just book that and still save big. 

Food For Thought 5.14.11

I’m a lover of food and when I go on vacation it’s no different. In fact, I’m even more of a food lover, because all the fresh air and exercise makes me ravenous. I don’t know what that’s all about, but it’s true that I often claim I am starving at least 4 or 5 times a day. I’m worse than a child. Maybe I truly am hungry, but maybe I’m also really excited about being somewhere new that I want to try all the amazing food they have to offer. Either way, it’s just not possible for us to stop to eat all day, because we would never get anywhere and we would be broke by Day 2. We do pad our food budget a little more, just for this purpose, but even so I’ve learned many things about saving on food when we travel and how to pack some snacks each day before we leave our lodging.

Today, I’d like to talk mostly about the fantastic travel accessories that you can take to help you stretch your food budget and be prepared for food-related emergencies. This might also be good for those that are diabetic and need to keep their blood sugar up throughout the day.

Get yourself the Ultimate Day-Trip Bag made by Picnic Time! Whether you’re just hauling the kids to soccer practice or planning a fun-filled ay inBarcelona, having drinks and snacks handy can really be a life-saver. When you’re more active, you get more hungry, and when you’re traveling, you’re often off your normal eating cycle. The Ultimate Day-Trip Bag is the only bag you will ever need when you plan to bring snacks with you. It has 2 insulated compartments that can keep food hot or cold, plus it has a bunch of pockets, so you can use it to carry all your essentials, too, instead of carrying a purse, too. There are removable padded backpack straps and a top handle. It looks like you can wear it as a crossbody bag as well, which is super convenient for a lot of travelers – even men will be willing to carry it. It has a cell phone pocket and an outside pocket for a water bottle. There is also room for your money, keys, sunglasses, camera and anything else you plan to take with you during the day.

Practical uses:

• Theme park visits – Load up on water bottles and/or sodas, sandwiches, fried chicken or other munchies. You’ll be able to ignore the snack carts and spend more time getting on rides, since you don’t have to wait in the long lines for a pretzel and you can whip out any of your snacks to eat while you’re waiting in ride lines or while you’re walking from one ride to another.
• Traveling with babies – Keep formula/milk chilled and make feeding time more convenient.
• Farmer’s markets – This is an awesome way to save money on your trips, because you can buy food for lunches and then go enjoy your goodies in a nearby park or even take it back to your hotel.
• Grocery shopping – Staying in a place with kitchen(ette)? Bring back your frozen or refrigerated items in this.
• Pack a picnic – If you already have a plan to eat your own food for lunch, pack sandwiches or whatever else you’re in the mood for and keep it cool/warm until you’re ready to sit down and relax.

Get a collapsible water bottle! This is one of those things that you never think is a good idea until you get one. Empty water bottles take up so much space in your bag…or are awkward to carry around. Also, if you’re like us, you drink a LOT during the day. Purchasing several drinks a day can really add up and create garbage with each one. Your collapsible water bottle is reusable, so no waste. Fill it with cold water before you start your day – if you’re lucky enough to have a fridge, put it in there overnight – and as you drink from it during your day out the bottle begins to flatten, until it’s empty. Then you can roll it up and stuff it in your bag or your pocket! Refill it throughout the day and save even more!

Who doesn’t love a spork? Granted, they aren’t always very practical and can snap in half just by trying to eat some potato salad, but you won’t have that problem when you purchase these fun and colorful polycarbonate ones. They come in a set of four, have a serrated edge for cutting, weigh practically nothing and are safe to pack in your carry-on. These come in super handy if you plan on bringing your own food or grabbing something at a market. You don’t have to rely on plastic utensils and lack of recycling facilities. Eat with your own tools and then take them back to the room to wash later to reuse another day. Great for having leftovers in your room, too.

If sporks aren't your thing and you want separate utensils, check out this picnic set from Rick Steves that has 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 knives and a corkscrew. They are nearly indestructible, come in a nice seal-able container and are also TSA compliant.

This next week I would like to do a second installment of my vegetarian/vegan travel blog post. I had some fantastic response to the last one and it occurs to me that vegetarians and vegans have a hard time ordering food and finding restaurants that cater to them, as well as eating on the plane and at the airport. Stay tuned and let your animal-loving friends know they can see the first post here and to look for the next one on Wednesday.

Join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 21 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. I will be conducting my first live chat on the new community with the three other great bloggers below on Tuesday May 17 at 5-6pm PST. We'll be discussing Saving on Summer Travel.

• Jodi from Live FabuLESS
• Sarah from Yes and Yes
• Dagmar from Dagmar's Momsense

Happy Birthday to Ebates! They are 12 years old this week and they are celebrating by giving their Facebook fans gifts! 4 lucky fans will win a $250 Philosophy Gift Bag (ends 5/15). Make sure you "like" the Ebates page and also go and join Ebates if you haven't already, because they are super awesome and give you cash back for buying things you already planned! Besides, what other websites PAYS you just to sign up AND to tell people about it? Get $5 for signing up and an additional $5 for each person you refer that signs up and makes a purchase. Plus, the more people you get to join the bigger prizes you can earn, including store gift cards and an iPad.

There are several giveaways I have going right now, so don't forget to sign up to win each one! Here are the details:

Win a Carry On Caddy bag full of travel-size organic toiletries. The bag clips to your carry-on and helps you whiz through airport security by enabling you to have your 3-1-1 bag at your fingertips. No more rummaging in your bag or repacking after the conveyor. You already have to put your shoes back on and stuff your laptop back into your bag. Make this one less thing to worry about. Enter to win on my Facebook page HERE. You can also get a second BONUS entry by subscribing to this blog via GFC or Networked Blogs and then leaving a comment on any of the posts. Enter by 5/15.

Shereen Travels Cheap is sponsoring a $10 Target Gift Card on Free Samples 2 Fill Up Your Mailbox's Big Giveaway on Facebook. They were kind enough to let us enter the giveaway after it had started and we've gotten a lot of new fans and page participants (which I love!). You can find out the rules on how to enter HERE. Enter by May 23rd.

Win a $25 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card here on my blog by following me via GFC or Networked Blogs. You can earn more entries by liking my page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, tweeting and/or posting about the giveaway. You will find all the details on how to enter HERE. Enter by 5/21.

Our next giveaway will be that celebrating our 2,000 fan mark. While we aren't there yet, we hope it will be soon and are going to be offering a big travel prize pack with several sponsors (including Travelon, Humangear-GoToobs, SoakWash and more). There will be a lot of ways to gain entries, including referring friends to the Facebook page. When you enter, the form will have a spot to enter the person who referred you to the Shereen Travels Cheap page. This goes back to the very beginning, so start/keep referring people, because the more you refer and the more entries you'll get into this giveaway!