What (in Your Opinion) Is The Best Place In The World To Travel

[frenchiemama]

Best place ever. List 'em here.

[DingoGirl]

Welllllllll.....assuming I ever GET to travel abroad again, Italy would be number-one choice - very Celiac-friendly.

But I've heard great things about Finland and remember that they do serve gluten-free Big Macs there! that's reason enough for me.....

[Nantzie]

Gluten-free Big Macs?

You're kidding ...

Finland, here I come...

[NJKen]

NORWAY--especially if you're willing to accept wheat starch that meets gluten threshold standards. (As a "silent celiac" who rarely has experienced adverse symptoms from glutening, I had no problem with wheat starch.)

Three of the four hotels I stayed in this summer had gluten-free bread available for their breakfast buffets.

Two different pizza restaurant chains offer gluten-free pizza--Dolly Dimple's and Peppe's.

A restaurant in Aalesund offered gluten-free pasta on their menu (I forget the name, but I could look it up if anyone is going there).

Gluten-free Wasa Crispbreads were available in health food stores so that I could pack lunches for hiking. (Although Crispbreads are a Scandinavian specialty, the gluten-free variety were made in Murten, Switzerland!)

Everyone spoke English and understood what "gluten-free" means.

Why did I leave?

Ken

[natalunia]

I'd go back to Helsinki, Finland. I'd love to have another gluten free cheeseburger.... (see my avatar)

[frenchiemama]

NORWAY--especially if you're willing to accept wheat starch that meets gluten threshold standards. (As a "silent celiac" who rarely has experienced adverse symptoms from glutening, I had no problem with wheat starch.)

Three of the four hotels I stayed in this summer had gluten-free bread available for their breakfast buffets.

Two different pizza restaurant chains offer gluten-free pizza--Dolly Dimple's and Peppe's.

A restaurant in Aalesund offered gluten-free pasta on their menu (I forget the name, but I could look it up if anyone is going there).

Gluten-free Wasa Crispbreads were available in health food stores so that I could pack lunches for hiking. (Although Crispbreads are a Scandinavian specialty, the gluten-free variety were made in Murten, Switzerland!)

Everyone spoke English and understood what "gluten-free" means.

Why did I leave?

Ken

Does *everything* have wheat starch in it? I'll admit, that makes me somewhat reluctant to go back to Europe. I don't want to eat wheat starch, as I am very sensitive.

I have only travelled two places since diagnosis (as opposed to before, when I lived for travel). Las Vegas (ok, I didn't get sick) and Anaheim (for a conference). Anaheim was by far the easiest place to eat. There was a restaurant called Mimi's right next to my hotel that had an extensive gluten-free menu, and every place I went to knew what gluten-free meant.

[aikiducky]

No, not everything has wheat starch in it! There are plenty of European celiacs who don't eat it either.

I'd vote for Finland but I'm biased because of my moms cooking. Sweden should be easy, too. And I've been to England and had no problems, yummy cookies at Sainsbury's...

Pauliina

[NJKen]

frenchiemama wrote: Does *everything* have wheat starch in it? I'll admit, that makes me somewhat reluctant to go back to Europe. I don't want to eat wheat starch, as I am very sensitive.

**Regarding the gluten-free foods available in Norway (and elsewhere in Europe), there are plenty of foods available at the health food stores that are gluten-free and do not have gluten, including pasta, breakfast cereals, cookies, and crackers.

I'm pretty sure, however, that the gluten-free pizzas available at Dolly Dimple's and Peppe's are made with wheat starch. The crusts had a much different consistency than the rice crusts that I've had in the USA.

When I asked about how certain items in the breakfast buffets were prepared, the servers understood "gluten-free" and were able to get definitive answers for me. I found it ironic that I could get straight answers to these questions in English while in Norway, whereas in the USA if I begin to discuss this at many restaurants I might as well be speaking Norwegian!

Ken

[Rusla]

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Starfish Trelawny resort in Trelawny, Jamaica. They would point out everything I could and could not eat each day for every meal in the buffet.

[kristi]

Much of the soy sauce in Thailand doesn't contain wheat. That place was the first big trip I went on after I got diagnosed and started to feel better. I loved rice noodles and Thai food in general. I had good food experiences travelling there. I spent most of my time in the mountains celebrating the Loi Kathong (Sp?) festival, it's a beautiful time at the end of the rainy season. Exciting Adventure!

[astyanax]

ireland was pretty good, but i gotta say disneyworld is the best ! every restaurant can serve gluten free and they have a huge variety of restaurants with different types of food etc. they have stuff in the parks and the hotels and they make you feel like it's a pleasure for them to cook gluten free

[Nooner]

I went on a Carnival cruise right after being diagnosed. I called Carnival and told them, they had me meet with the head waitress on the ship right after boarding, and she made sure I knew what I could eat at every meal. And if I wanted something that wasn't normally gluten free, she had the kitchen make it gluten free. I didn't get sick once one the cruise, and I will definitely go again.

I've heard other cruise lines are good too, but I can personally speak for Carnival. You just have to specify "gluten-free diet" before sailing.

[elonwy]

London, England. Soooo easy. Tons of stuff in stores, restaurants knew what I was talking about - brilliant!

Disneyland. Gluten free hot dog in a gluten free bun at an amusement park? Fabulous.

Elonwy

[floridanative]

The best gluten free meals I've had dining out were in Paris. Many told me the city wasn't Celiac knowledgeable but until I went I didn't know that was only when compared to other European countries.....it's way ahead of the US in my opinion. London was really easy too and my celiac mom had no problems in Rome. I think Dr. Green mentioned also in Austrailia you can get gluten-free pizza and a gb bun at MD's...he's from there I think. Truth be told, almost every civilized place on earth seems better prepared to handle diners with food allergies than the US. I now plan vacation around what places have the best dining options. In the US they seem to be NYC (#1), then in no paritcular order, San Fran, Chicago, Orlando, Vegas, San Diego, LA, Napa Valley(CA) and San Antonio. Anyone know anything about dining out in Greece?

[Sweetfudge]

Planning vacations around the food that sounds funny! That's how my mom remembers places...

"oh that's the one with the amazing raspberry butter..."

not a bad idea though

Thanks for all your sharing guys

My top 3 places to go back to just so happen to be Disneyworld, Jamaica and a Cruise. Haven't done any travelling since dx, but I'm happy to hear positive things about all of them

[Mango04]

Anyone been to Thailand?

[Mtndog]

i'd say, based on what I've heard, Finland, Norway and Sweden (and yes- I REALLY want to go there!).

NYC was GREAT!

I also had NO problems at all in Turks and Caicos. Royal West Indies Resort. Beautiful Beach- French chef, lots of places where gluten free was NO problem. Ahhhh......

[EG+FC]

I also had NO problems at all in Turks and Caicos. Royal West Indies Resort. Beautiful Beach- French chef, lots of places where gluten free was NO problem. Ahhhh......

Where were the places that had gluten free menus?

Thanks

[Sinenox]

In Ethiopia everything is made from their native grain, teff, so you can have everything at meals made of local food. The food, for that matter, is quite good, too! And so long as the meat is well cooked and you're consuming the traditionals (sans pork) you really don't have to worry much about disease either. At least not so much as elsewhere in Africa.