@dmallbee, about 8% of celiacs react to the oat protein avenin like they do to the wheat protein gluten. In addition, there are some cultivars of oats that apparently do actually contain gluten.
I was diagnosed at 18 months old with celiac and lived without wheat, rye, oats, and barley as instructed by my doctor, Dr. Katz at Boston Children's Hospital in the 60's and 70's. I don't agree nor recommend doctors removing oats from restriction, certified gluten-free or not. I have eaten certified gluten free oats and have had the usual reactions to gluten. Please reconsider this with newly diagnosed patients.
It's great to hear that the trip went well, and the general consensus I hear about gluten-free travel in Europe, including my own experiences, is that it is much easier done in comparison to traveling and eating gluten-free in the USA.
Safely home from my recent trip to the UK. I had zero gut issues while traveling around this pretty country.
Our tour leader was very good at making sure the 2 of us with gluten issues on our tour were well taken care of.
We often got our meals before the rest of the group and adaptations to the menu for us were well thought out and very tasty.
I just wish restaurants here in the USA took as much pride in making food that everyone can enjoy. Many of the hotels and pubs we ate at had numerous options that were safe for us with wheat/gluten restrictions to eat.