Why a Gluten Free Travel Advisor Travels (And What That Means for You)
- kellyv935
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
If you have celiac disease, you already know that travel is never just about where you're going. It's about whether you'll actually be able to eat when you get there, whether someone at the resort or on the ship will take it seriously, and whether you'll spend your vacation anxious and hungry or whether you'll feel genuinely taken care of. I travel with celiac disease too, and that experience shapes everything about how I help my clients plan their trips.
What a Gluten-Free Travel Advisor Notices That No Website Will Tell You
Every sailing, every resort stay, and every training I attend comes back with details that don't live on any website, and because I'm also navigating celiac disease every time I travel, I'm paying attention to things that most advisors simply aren't. Not just what a destination looks like, but what it actually feels like to be there, and what it takes to eat well while you are.
Sailing with Celiac Disease: What I Learned Across Disney and Princess
There are things you only learn by being on the ship, and the differences between cruise lines when it comes to dietary needs are real and worth knowing before you book.
On the Disney Treasure, I learned that being specific about how I like my food seasoned, not just what I cannot have, makes a significant difference, and I carried that lesson onto the Disney Magic and noticed the difference right away. Sailing out of Galveston on the Disney Magic, I also learned that William P. Hobby Airport is the closer option, and that Marvel Day at Sea is woven into the entire day in a way that never feels overwhelming
On the Sun Princess, it took more effort, but once I tracked down the right head server and chef and showed them photos of food I actually love, they went above and beyond. They had a dedicated process, the staff was knowledgeable, and I came home genuinely confident in Princess in a way I was not before. I can't wait to be back on that ship in June, sailing the Mediterranean with my husband, my daughter, her friend, and six other families.
Sandals Resorts: What Destination Wedding Training Actually Taught Me
During destination wedding training at Sandals Royal Curacao, I was paying attention to the flow of the resort, what the vibe feels like when you walk in, which side has the second beach, and what it looked like decorated for the holidays. The island itself completely won me over in ways I did not expect. Willemstad, the colorful buildings, the Blue Curacao factory, the artwork covering the city from an art festival held every August that reminded me so much of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. The whole island feels easy to explore on your own, and a port stop on a cruise is genuinely enough time to have a great day there.
That training also meant sitting in sessions with representatives from Sandals Resorts, Palace Resorts, and Hyatt Inclusive Collection, and attending a mock wedding on the beach where we watched the sun set during the ceremony, walked to where dinner and dancing were set up, and watched fireworks go off through the trees. What struck me beyond the experience itself was seeing how seamlessly Sandals handles a full wedding reception, and the fact that they made sure I was fully included. They brought me my own salad, my own dinner, and my own dessert, courses timed right alongside everyone else. Anyone with celiac disease knows how much it means to sit down at a celebration and actually be included in the meal, and seeing Sandals pull that off seamlessly means I can tell my clients planning a destination wedding exactly what to expect.
Universal Orlando: Where to Stay Makes All the Difference
Universal Orlando training meant walking straight from the classroom into the parks to apply everything immediately, and I came away with a much clearer sense of how to match different clients with the right tickets and packages. Mardi Gras at Universal is a genuinely fun experience, with nightly parades and concerts on the weekends that bring a real energy to the parks. The resorts are where you will want to pay close attention if you have celiac disease though. I stayed at both Stella Nova and Cabana Bay and can speak to both honestly because I was there. Stella Nova is a smaller, modern property where everything is easy to get to, and Cabana Bay has a energy all its own. What stood out most at Cabana Bay was the dining experience, especially Chef Paul, who consistently goes above and beyond for guests with dietary needs.
Your Gluten Free Travel Advisor for Any Destination
Working with me means you are not figuring any of this out alone, and it does not matter whether you are sailing, heading to a resort, or planning a theme park trip. What I have learned across every trip I have taken comes back to you in the form of real, specific guidance before you ever leave home.
That means knowing which cruise lines, resorts, and theme park hotels handle dietary needs well and which ones require more preparation on your end. It means practical tips I have picked up along the way, like bringing photos of food you actually love to show a chef, or how being specific about seasoning rather than just restrictions can completely change what ends up on your plate. Whether you are sailing, staying at an all inclusive, or heading to a theme park, I have been there with celiac disease, and I know what works.
No matter where you are going, a gluten-free travel advisor can help you get there prepared. You should not have to spend your vacation worrying about your next meal or explaining your diagnosis to someone who has never heard of cross contamination. That is what I am here for. Reach out and let's start planning a trip where you can actually just enjoy yourself.
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