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A gluten-free travel specialist says the answer can reveal far more about a hotel’s food safety practices than its menu ever will.
For travelers with celiac disease or serious gluten allergies, choosing a hotel is one of the biggest decisions in trip planning. Restaurant research and meal planning matter plenty, of course, but knowing you have a reliable haven for starting and ending your day—and to return to if other arrangements go awry—is critical to enjoying a comfortable and safe vacation.
While many hotels now have gluten-free items on their in-house menus, that’s not always enough to ensure a good experience. Even minute levels of gluten can wreak havoc on affected travelers, causing symptoms like painful cramps and bloating, GI issues, headaches, and more, that can last weeks—not to mention ruin a vacation.
But there are questions you can ask to gain peace of mind and confidence before booking a hotel. We talked to Sarah McCall, co-founder of gluten-free travel planning company Parea + Co., to learn the best way to assess how seriously a property takes gluten allergies.
Personal connections matter
People with celiac disease know firsthand how crucial it is to avoid gluten, so the number one question you can ask a hotel is “does anyone in ownership, management, or the kitchen have celiac themselves?” McCall says. “It’s the single strongest predictor of a genuinely dedicated setup.”
If someone on the property has the disease or has taken care of someone with it, it’s more likely that they’ll be vigilant about making sure gluten-free guests get a true gluten-free experience.
A great follow-up question for a property without that level of personal experience is how often they host guests with celiac disease. The more guests they’ve hosted, the more likely it is that the hotel has a good track record of adhering to strict cross-contact policies and keeping guests safe.
Understanding how many staff members are trained in celiac-safe practices is also important. “A system survives a shift change; a person doesn’t,” McCall stresses.
She suggests asking not only how many staff members are trained on how to avoid cross-contact, but if there is always a chef on duty who is well-versed in creating celiac-safe environments.
Other questions to ask
Even if the property has a personal connection to celiac disease, asking additional questions about kitchen practices can put you at ease about traveling.
“Celiac-safe is not a menu item, it’s a kitchen practice,” McCall says.
Inquire if there are dedicated supplies, like cutting boards, knives, pots, and grills for gluten-free food. You should also ask if frying oil is shared or not, as McCall says “shared oil is one of the most common hidden sources of gluten.”
Things like marinades and sauces can be secret sources as well, so asking how these are handled can provide insight on how much a hotel knows about gluten.
Red flags to look out for
Celiac disease is a serious auto-immune condition and should be treated as such. McCall says it’s a red flag if a property seems to wave off concerns about shared appliances, or can’t walk you through their cross-contact policies.
Listen out for whether the hotel uses the word celiac or just gluten-free. If it’s the latter, they may not grasp the severity of the disease.
It’s always a good idea to call before you book to review a hotel’s policies and practices, and to remind the property of your needs when you arrive. Yes, it’s additional work on you as the traveler, especially if a hotel says they’re gluten-free on marketing materials, but it’s worth the extra legwork to ensure an enjoyable vacation.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
