Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, you have to be careful abroad, as animal welfare laws are not as stringent, and there are also ultra-cruel foods like pate de foie gras (force-feeding geese until their livers turn to pate), shark fin soup (where the fins are cut off living sharks, left to die in the ocean) and octopus (often eaten alive). Also read how to be an animal-friendly tourist
If you need a guidebook to eat around England, try Vegan London (from afternoon tea in Knightsbridge to falafel in Shoreditch), An Opinionated Guide to Vegan London and Vegan North (Sheffield to Liverpool to Manchester). Also available at Vegan South.
VegVisits is the vegan version of Air BNB, where you stay in the homes of other vegans. Book unique accommodation in over 80 countries, or become a host to earn some money (vetting applies). Costs less usually (because vegans tend to support other vegans!) and often the fridge is full with tasty treats on arrival, and details of the best local vegan eateries. Some hosts offer extras like 3-course dishes or yoga classes. Or if you prefer a proper hotel, you can find suitable places at Vegan Welcome and Veggie Hotels.
The Vegan Travel Handbook is a beautifully designed book by Lonely Planet. As well as tips on vegan tours, festivals and food trucks, you’ll find where to explore:
- Cooking classes in India
- Wildlife watching tours in New Zealand & Ethiopia
- Wild camping by Scandinavian lakes
- Vegan wine-tasting in Italy
- Dancing and dining breaks in Seville
- Amazon rainforest trips to see jaguars
- Spotting the ‘big five’ on African safaris
- Mountain trekking in Cambodia
- Supping rum cocktails in the Cayman Islands
- Exploring Australia’s East Coast
- A DIY Doughnut tour on USA’s west coast
If you dine out a lot, VegDining Card offers discounts at participating restaurants and Vanilla Bean App lists local eateries worldwide, with reviews. The Vegan Passport includes phrases to cover 96% of the world’s population (with an app version and pictures, if you get stuck). The new edition boasts 79 languages including Hausa, Igbo, Xhosa and Zulu!
Vegan Travel Agent is a great website to find holidays worldwide. You can also find tips and reviews at one of the many niche travel blogs around including The Nomadic Vegan, Roaming Vegans, Veggie Visa, Justin & Lauren, Veggie Vagabonds and Vegan On Board.
