Where to travel if you have a nut allergy

While there are some important things to consider when travelling with a nut allergy (disclosing your allergy to your travel insurance, forward planning with allergy cards and familiarising yourself with the local cuisine at your destination), there are certain places where staying safe while experiencing local flavours is totally feasible.

Here are six of the best.

Canada

Canada is one of the easiest and safest places to travel with a nut allergy, thanks to its progressive attitude towards allergy awareness. There are allergy menus, nut-free buffer zones on Air Canada flights, allergen and ingredient labels on all grocery products, restaurants that are well-versed in allergies and strict food preparation regulations. If anything, restaurants and supermarkets are a little overzealous with their labelling, so eating out will be stress-free but to take extra precautions, you can always take a nut allergy card with you to explain to the kitchen what you can’t eat. In the centre of Vancouver, the Loden Hotel has dedicated an entire floor to being allergy-friendly, meaning it’s pet-, feather- and scent-free, maintained by a chemical-free, hypoallergenic cleaning system and antimicrobial air filters.

Japan

Unlike many Asian countries, Japan seldom uses peanuts or any groundnuts in its cuisine, so you can head straight to the sushi bar for a feast. Naturally, there is a significant language barrier but there are easy steps to counter this; know how to pronounce a few safe dishes in Japanese, have translation cards prepared for restaurants and have an app ready for translating labels and menus. Stay in an allergy-friendly room at the central Shinjuku Granbell Hotel.

UK

Around two million people living in the UK suffer from food allergies, so awareness and standards for allergen labelling are suitably high. EU laws state that any restaurant, takeaway or hotel has to provide information on major allergenic ingredients, so even if a tiny amount of peanut has been intentionally added, this must be clearly stated on the menu or label. Most restaurants and pubs will be able to accommodate those with a nut allergy, or at the very least, to communicate with you in English and understand what it is you need. And if you’d prefer self-catering, some supermarkets like Ocado allow you to filter by allergen when shopping online. Treat yourself to a luxurious stay in an allergy-friendly room at the exemplary Bulgari Hotel.

Italy

Food is a fundamental part of Italian culture and is taken very seriously, so local restaurants will go to great lengths to ensure you can eat well and safely. And another great thing about Italian cuisine is that it is known for using fewer ingredients (often no more than five per dish), and peanuts rarely feature. The most common other groundnuts are walnuts and pine nuts but these are generally only used in distinctive sauces like pesto. Olive oil is almost exclusively used for salad dressings and sautéing , while frying is a fairly rare technique in Italian cooking. Restaurants in Italy increasingly have allergy warnings on the menu but just to be safe, carry allergy cards and have some Italian phrases handy to explain to staff what it is you require. Finally, you may have to forgo gelato altogether but do some research because there are some gelaterias (especially in Rome) that strictly separate containers and utensils according to possibly allergic products like nuts, dairy, etc. Situated in the historic centre of Rome, Residenza Cellini’s allergy-friendly suites are decorated in a regal, Renaissance style.

USA

With three million food allergy sufferers living in the USA, awareness here is reassuringly high, as is food hygiene and the willingness of restaurant staff to cater to specific needs. While you will most likely encounter the odd peanut, products are legally required to be clearly labelled, so spotting them is easy. And while flying with a nut allergy can be tricky, many domestic airlines in the USA (and some international ones) say they will refrain from serving nuts if notified in advance, so check the details when you’re planning your trip. With great views over Chinatown, the Wyndham Garden Hotel Midtown has PURE allergy-friendly rooms, cleaned with a seven-step cleaning and purifying process that aims to reduce 98% of allergens.

Australia

Much like the USA, Canada and the UK, Australia is well-versed in food allergies, with approximately 10% of Australian children suffering from them. As an English-speaking country with good medical care, and thanks to strict food preparation and labelling regulations, you can expect considerable clarity in terms of what you can and cannot eat. Certain airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas offer to quarantine part of the aeroplane cabin if you inform them of a nut allergy in advance, while Australian supermarkets including Coles and Woolworths have an extensive ‘freefrom’ section for those with allergies. There are allergy-friendly hotels all over Australia but if you want to combine that with 5-star luxury, the Langham Sydney is a splendid choice.