Gf Travel Group?

[MelanieGF]

Hi -

My brother in law and my best friend's boyfriend are both celiac - one has known for years, the other was diagnosed just two years ago. I never knew anything about the disease before, but am much more concious of what I use to cook with, etc., now.

My sister is very active in the gluten-free community and, since I am in the travel industry, she recently sent me an article about the challenges of gluten-free travel. My friend and her boyfriend also mentioned how difficult it is to travel with celiac - and I started wondering if a gluten-free Group Travel Club might be a good idea? A group always has a little more power to get things done exactly right.

I was even thinking, what about a trip that included a gluten-free cooking school - but other adventures and sites as well? I don't know if there is already something like this, or if people would be interested.

I'd love any feedback.

Melanie

[celiac3270]

Bob and Ruth's....an existing celiac travel club.

[Carriefaith]

Thanks so much for telling us about Bob and Ruth's. I am very interesed

[celiac3270]

Yes, here it is:

Open Original Shared Link

[cdford]

I like that cooking school idea.

[frenchiemama]

Has anyone actually been on a Bob and Ruth trip?

I'm normally very, VERY anti group travel (my idea of hell is being herded about on a tour bus with 30 strangers talking very loudly and wearing strange hats), but I'll admit that my normal travel style (very seat-of-the-pants) has me a bit nervous. I don't know that I can afford to be really spontaneous anymore and risk ending up with nothing to eat or sick.

Do they do huge groups? Is it a bunch of old people in bermuda shorts? Are there any trips with NO KIDS?

I checked out the website, and I would just about die to be able to go on that African safari.

[Carriefaith]

I've never been on one, but I am also interested. And I would love to hear from people that have been on the trips.

I'm normally very, VERY anti group travel (my idea of hell is being herded about on a tour bus with 30 strangers talking very loudly and wearing strange hats)... Do they do huge groups? Is it a bunch of old people in bermuda shorts?

[stef-the-kicking-cuty]

Wow, this is awesome. I will definitely try Bob & Ruth.

Some people of our sports team are already glutenfree. Including me of course. And when we travel, the ENTIRE group has to do what WE want to (of course only concerning the food). And since I'm the instructor they don't have a choice. Either they go for it or stay at home . For example sleep in a hotel without any breakfast/lunch/dinner or whatever offers. This way, we celiacs don't have to pay for that stuff and our team spirit grows while we eat in our rooms. Everybody just brings their own foods and they can put it in our team coolers/fridges and the celiacs can use the glutenfree toasters and everybody can use the cooker/grill and whatever we have meanwhile.

But this actual travel group is a great idea.

[CarolSchwan]

Melanie,

I love the idea of a gluten free cooking school trip. Has anything ever come from this posting?

Carol

[cgilsing]

I also have looked at the Bob and Ruth's site and think it's a GREAT idea! However, I'm not really all for group travel. I don't like to have such a structured schedual when I'm on vacation. Does anyone know if you join the Bob and Ruth club if they will offer advice for traveling to specific areas? I don't think I would really be interested in one of the group trips, but I could use some expert advice from time to time!

[Lauren M]

I did a Bob & Ruth's trip to Italy and cruise of the Greek islands. It was beautiful, but expensive. If anyone wants to know more, feel free to PM me!

- Lauren

[Rusla]

Remember everyone Deborah has been working on the "Celiac Freedom Cruise" for April of 2008. Got to www.celiacfreedomcruise.com

We have decided that a week of touring the eastern Caribbean with no label reading will give us a week of no accidental glutenings. She set this up on her own time and her nor anyone else involved are making money on this. All it will be is your plane and cruise fare.

[AusAly]

I realise this is a very old post, but I have only just found the forum!

Firstly, I think the travel group is a fantastic idea - has any progress been made on it?

I have read about Bob and Ruth's (which sounds great for those into organised tours) but a group tour is not for me. What I would love (and have even considered trying to start up myself) is a club or internet site where gluten-free restaurants and hotels can be readily found, preferably booked online, without having to go into long email question and answer sessions. I would also be interested in eg. group gluten free bookings at a particular location, where meals could be shared but there was free time to do your own sightseeing. Our favourite type of travelling here in Europe is bicycle touring or train/walking combinations, so it would be great if that could also be catered for.

I am an experienced traveller, Australian but have lived in Germany for the last five years. I am also an experienced wheat-free eater (though not coeliac, which I understand presents a whole lot more issues), having avoided wheat, lactose and pork for the last 19 years (I was diagnosed at age 15).

I have had good and bad experiences here in Europe trying to cater for this diet whilst travelling, and have mostly been restricted to self-catering accommodation or bringing my own breakfasts and snacks. I have also had two wonderful worry-free travel experiences - once on a 4 day self-guided walk in France (booked through a small specialist French-speaking travel agent in Australia), where the travel agent had spoken extensively with all hotels beforehand, and they provided huge breakfasts, takeaway lunch packs, and gourmet 5 course dinners with ONLY things I could eat and many local specialities (one hotel chef even baked bread just for me)! At the time I hadn't realised what a unique experience this was - I have tried booking similar trips myself with no such luck, at best you get a suggestion as to where you might be able to find a health food shop.

The other fantastic trip was 10 days whitewater rafting on the Franklin River in Tasmania. This was a fully catered small group trip (10 people), and as we were literally in the wilderness the whole time, I made sure beforehand that they could cater for me. The very hardworking guides doubled as chefs in the evening, and did a great job - obviously they are used to challenges.

These good experiences make me think that a large part of understanding is due to language, as you really need to explain and confirm your needs (my worst experiences so far were in Italy asking questions in English and in the Czech Republic speaking German - the hotels seemed to understand but when it came to the crunch I didn't receive what I wanted or had expected). If it was possible to have a 'local gluten free representative' in each country, this would make things a lot easier.

Anyway, sorry for the length of this but I am excited about this idea and hope it moves forward!

Alyson