I'm so excited for a springtime holiday on the sunny southern coast of Portugal! I will be going on a family vacation to the Algarve with a final night in Lisbon. The trip will consist of shuttle buses, airplanes, and trains. I'll stay at an all-inclusive resort as well as a city hotel.

I love providing trip recaps, but in this article I’d love to share some of the pre-planning tips and tricks I use to ensure I'm setting myself up for a safe and stress-free holiday.

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🧠 I Start With My Checklist (So I Don’t Miss Anything)

What started out as a handy Equal Eats resource has become a helpful “don’t forget anything” to-do list in the weeks leading up to my trip. The Equal Eats travel checklist goes through some of the finer things that I want to make sure are covered.

My version includes:

• Allergy translation card ready (correct language!)
• Safe snacks packed
• Hotel contacted
• Emergency meds organized
• A few restaurants researched

Nothing fancy - but it keeps me from that “wait… did I forget something?” feeling at the airport.

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🥪 I Bring My Own Food (And I'm Excited to Eat It!)

This is probably the biggest shift I’ve made over the years.

Before this trip, I’ll make:

• Fresh sandwiches with ingredients I trust
• Easy snacks I know are safe
• Some safe candy as a treat :)

When I have food I LOVE, I have really no temptation to try things outside of my comfort zone. Especially airline food - I never risk it. I honestly feel proud seeing my delicious snacks in comparison!

I make sure I pack extra snacks for the journey, and for any unexpected delays so I'm not left hungry.

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📱 I Set Up My Translation Cards (Portugal-Specific)

I always double-check this step.

Inside the Equal Eats app, I set up my allergy card for Portuguese (Portugal). Equal Eats also carries Portuguese for Brazil, which is slightly different.

As a backup, I print a few credit-card-sized digital cards for peanut and tree nut allergies. I cut them out and store 3–4 in my wallet. I like having extras so I can give them out to waitstaff and not worry if they are returned.

I don't know how significant the language barrier will be, but I like that an allergy card:

• Makes communication clearer
• Helps staff take things seriously
• Gives me more confidence walking into a restaurant

I remind myself: “Show the card—waitstaff appreciate it.”

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🏨 I Email the Hotel Ahead of Time

A quick email goes a long way.

Before arriving, I ask:

• If they offer any special accommodations for food allergies
• What the dining options are and how I should identify myself/my allergies
• Whether I can speak with the chef

Some hotels go above and beyond. Others… not so much. But at least I know what I’m walking into.

When they’re proactive, it builds trust right away.

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🍽️ I Do Some Light Restaurant Research (Lisbon)

I don’t over-plan every meal - but I like having a few options saved in Lisbon that I can present to my family. I love being the one in charge of restaurant choices - but it does take some time and research.

I personally love using Tripadvisor for places in the area. I search reviews and use keywords like “allergy.” I also do something similar on Google Maps and use Spokin to get insider tips and recommendations from our community. We have a very helpful article covering many different services for finding dining options.

Overall, I:

• Look for places with simple menus
• Check reviews for allergy mentions
• Save a few spots ahead of time

When I’m there, I keep it simple:

• Show my card
• Ask a couple of questions
• Trust my gut

If something feels off, I leave. No second guessing.

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💉 I Pack Like My Safety Depends On It (Because It Does)

This part is non-negotiable.

• Multiple epinephrine auto-injectors
• Medical alert necklace
• An emergency plan that I communicate to my family. This includes the emergency number 112 (Portugal) and a light reminder of what to do.

I don't expect anything to go wrong, but I use travel as an opportunity to refresh myself and my family on the basics.

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✈️ Final Thought

Traveling with food allergies in Portugal isn’t effortless - but it is doable.

The more planning I put in, the more freedom I feel during my trip.

I look forward to taking a lot of photos during my trip and noting any “ah-ha” moments or interesting tips along the way. Look out for my follow-up article - where I’ll hopefully share more than just pictures of me being sunburnt!

Kyle