Travelling with allergies: Top tips on how to prepare for your holiday

Travelling abroad when you or someone in your family has an allergy can be daunting.

There are lots of different choices when travelling and eating outside your home. Available accommodation can range from luxury hotels to B&Bs and self-catering accommodation.

Planning for your trip will be important and starts before you book, and will depend on the sort of holiday you have planned.

There are simple steps that can be taken prior to travel to avoid a serious episode because of your allergy.

Booking your Trip

In terms of legal protection and to take the stress out of booking, it is often better to book with a reputable tour operator which will be protected by the Package Travel Regulations.

A package travel contract is a combination of at least two types of travel service for the purpose of the same trip or holiday; they must be offered by a holiday organiser or retailer, or selected by the travelling consumer.  

One of the benefits of booking a holiday covered by the Package Travel Regulations is that you can pursue a legal claim in England and Wales against the tour operator if something goes wrong. Other claims may need to be brought in the country where the injury was suffered. This can be a longer, more expensive and much more complicated process.

Translation cards

Translation of your allergy into the language of the country you are visiting is a good way to reduce harm to you.  

Allergy UK provide a translation card service that people can access to give you the confidence when in another country. Other allergy organisations also have translation tools online that include translation of products you may be allergic to, the early signs of an allergic reaction and the steps you would like someone to take if you start to show any signs of a reaction. 

For example, if you carry an Adrenaline Auto Immune Injector you should make this very clear. If possible, you should ensure that someone in your party knows where to find it and are trained on how to use it. In addition, make sure your doctor’s details are readily available.

Top Tips

If you have allergies, and you are travelling, it is advisable to do the following before you travel:

• Ensure that your travel insurer is advised (in writing) of your allergy in advance of setting off, or better still, when you purchase the insurance policy.
  
  
• Notify the accommodation provider both verbally when you are arrive and also in writing before you travel.
  
  
• Review your airline / tour operator’s policy for customers who are travelling with an allergy and take steps to pre-warn in writing them before you travel.

Irwin Mitchell is working with Allergy UK to raise awareness of simple steps that can be taken to avoid anaphylaxis when travelling. 

Allergy UK’s webpages have some excellent practical information for those travelling abroad with an allergy, such as Translation Cards.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in helping holidaymakers who suffer injury or illness abroad at our dedicated international serious injury section. 

Translation of your allergy into the language of the country you are visiting is a good way to reduce harm to you. Allergy UK provide a translation card service that people can access to give you the confidence when in another country.”