| I'm becoming more convinced that a little meal | | | | need to try to find a grocery store once you are |
| planning for vacations can make it possible to | | | | there. You may want to find a market that sells |
| travel almost anywhere in the world for business | | | | fruits and vegetables, but most likely that won't |
| or for pleasure with plenty to eat (and no stress | | | | be a problem. |
| about it!) Granted, this will be easiest to do in the | | | | You see that this research phase of meal planning |
| states, but you can certainly do it. | | | | for vacations is not too strenuous. It is definitely |
| You can now enjoy luxury vacations at even the | | | | worth doing the meal planning before hand so you |
| most deluxe resorts (especially there) and get | | | | can enjoy a relaxing stay. |
| kosher food. It just takes a little research and | | | | International Travel with little Jewry |
| planning, and believe me, it's well worth it. | | | | International travel is a little bit harder to menu |
| Pick your Vacation Spot | | | | plan. Here's what I recommend you do. |
| As one of the expert kosher travelers I've | | | | 1. Get a list of what you can buy in the country |
| interviewed told me,"Dream about where you are | | | | you are going to. Call the Star-K and do a search |
| going to go, and then figure out where the Jews | | | | on the internet for items you can buy anywhere |
| are." | | | | in the world. Here's a few:bottled water; |
| Back to the dreaming phase. Do you want: | | | | unflavored seltzer; beer; beer on tap in a business |
| -an island vacation | | | | bar; peanuts roasted in a shell; dried beans, split |
| -a private escape where you'll meet no one you | | | | peas, and all other dried legumes and canned fruits |
| know | | | | produced in the U.S. with no additives other than |
| -a luxury cruise, resort vacation | | | | sugar. Please note that canned cherries may |
| -a vacation to see the world on a limited budget | | | | contain carmine, an insect extract used for |
| -to see other cultures, including our own? | | | | coloring. Do not buy canned cherries (these may |
| Dream about where it is you want to go and | | | | also be found in fruit cocktail) without reliable |
| answer some questions like:-am I interested in | | | | supervision. In addition, canned plums may contain |
| meeting new people? | | | | a coloring derived from grape skin.. |
| -do I want to see museums and culture or just | | | | Also, most dried fruits may be consumed; |
| sit on a beach? | | | | exceptions include prunes with added oil, |
| -how long can I go for? | | | | pineapples, pears, raisins, and apples. You may buy |
| -how important is eating to you? | | | | any canned pineapples made in Thailand or the |
| -how long do I want to be on a plane for? | | | | Philippines. You may also purchase any frozen |
| -do I want to be able to eat in restaurants? | | | | vegetables containing no oils or other additives. |
| If you find it is hard for you to make a decision | | | | You may purchase and consume any whole |
| about where to go, try this tool: Handy Dandy | | | | kosher fish. However, if the fish store employee |
| Decision Making tool | | | | cuts the fish with a non-kosher knife, the cut area |
| Luxury Hotel, Cruise, and Resort Stays | | | | may become not kosher. To avoid this problem, |
| If you are staying at a secluded resort and pretty | | | | bring your own knife with you to the store. |
| much spending all of your time there, you can | | | | Do ask your Rabbi as I am not one! |
| either:a. do some research to see where the | | | | 2. Next, do a search on the country you are |
| Jews are and if there are any kosher restaurants | | | | staying at, again chabad.org and are great sites. |
| nearby using or b. order food with | | | | 3. Find the Jews in the country you are traveling |
| royalpalate.com, have it delivered to your hotel, | | | | to. Do enough preparation to make sure the |
| making sure you ask for a refrigerator in your | | | | community knows you are coming. A lot of |
| room.c. call the hotel and ask for the food | | | | community have lists with an approved section of |
| services manager. By now, most anyone working | | | | foods with manufacturer and there is a no section |
| in food services has heard of kosher food. Most | | | | and a maybe. |
| likely, you can arrange to have kosher meals | | | | Email people in advance to talk about food. For |
| delivered to you in your room, in any large resort. | | | | example, in Lisbon there is a woman who cooks |
| (The best place for this is Disney World).d. If you | | | | food for Jewish travelers. In Cophenhagen you |
| are not staying in a Jewish area, simply bring a | | | | can eat their yogurt. All these insider secrets |
| pot and when you arrive, go to a grocery store | | | | come from talking to the residents of the city |
| buying your favorite foods. Kasher the oven and | | | | country you are traveling to. |
| microwave in your hotel and cook. | | | | I imagine if you are touring a country with little |
| Private Beach Vacations | | | | Jewry, you want to see and do and meet people, |
| I know a frum family that spends a lot of time in | | | | and learn about the culture. Like I said, find the |
| the Carribean, Antigua, Barbados, Tobago, the | | | | Jews, contact them, make sure they know you |
| Cayman Islands. They want a really private, cozy, | | | | are coming, find out what you can and cannot eat |
| vacation and don't want to see anyone they | | | | and bring food that is non perishable. |
| know. | | | | You can go anywhere! Part of the fun is doing the |
| What they do is research for private beaches so | | | | research before hand only to be able to use it |
| swimming is not a n issue. | | | | when you get there. |
| Next they reserve a villa that MUST have a | | | | Business Travelers |
| kitchen, stove, refrigerator, a.k.a., a kitchenette. | | | | If you are traveling with your company or on |
| Since finding a grocery store nearby is often rare, | | | | business and need to be able to "blend in" to |
| they bring EVERYTHING they can and devote 1 | | | | company dinners and awards ceremonies, here's |
| or 2 suitcases to doing so. | | | | what you can do. |
| Tuna, jelly, cereal, pretzels, pasta, breadmixes, | | | | Instead of asking your company to provide you |
| etc. 1 or 2 pots and pans. They happen to eat | | | | with kosher (because mixups can often occur), |
| very simply on this vacation. | | | | call the hotel directly and ask for the catering |
| If you want more elaborate food, you can do the | | | | services manager. Tell them you need kosher |
| same thing. Go to restaurants nearby and order | | | | meals. |
| lots of takeout meals. Freeze them. Before you | | | | I know of one frum woman who was being |
| leave, wrap them frozen and put them into a | | | | honored at a company dinner and what she had |
| suitcase. Check the suitcase on the plane. You | | | | the hotel do was use a regular china plate with a |
| may have to check with customs officials to | | | | napkin folded beautifully on top of the plate. On |
| make sure you can bring the meat into the | | | | top of the napkin was a plastic plate holding her |
| country. If you don't want to bring this onto the | | | | actual dinner. It was very discreet, no one noticed |
| plane, you can pack it in dry ice and ship it | | | | that she was eating a different meal. This was in |
| through via the post office. | | | | Cancun. |
| The benefits to these models is that you don't | | | | You can do it too! |