At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.
Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.
BACKGROUND
Slovak cuisine is shaped by a landlocked, mountainous landscape and a Slavic–Central European heritage influenced by the Austro-Hungarian era, so meals tend to be fresh, hearty and seasonal, with soups, pork, chicken, potatoes, rice, sauerkraut, dumplings and cheese.
SPECIAL DIETS
Vegetarian
Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. In Slovakia, there is plenty of delicious vegetarian-friendly options including vegetable soups (often with potatoes or legumes), fried cheese or mushrooms with potatoes, potato pancakes, dumplings with cabbage, and simple salads, alongside sides like sauerkraut and pickled vegetables.
Vegan
Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance, but you should expect fewer options and variety that you may be used to, especially in rural areas and mountain huts where meals are traditionally built around meat and dairy. Vegan-friendly choices are becoming more commonplace in hotels and restaurants and may include vegetable or bean soups made without stock, stewed cabbage or sauerkraut dishes, roast or boiled potatoes, buckwheat or rice, sautéed mushrooms, and salads.
Kosher
Fully certified kosher options are limited in Slovakia and are mainly found in larger cities such as Bratislava. On this trip in more rural areas, kosher-supervised kitchens and ingredients are not possible to guarantee, so vegetarian or vegan meals can be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above, and plan ahead with your guide.
Halal
Slovakia is not a predominantly Muslim country so fully certified halal options are limited and are mainly found in larger cities such as Bratislava. As this trip takes place in more rural areas, halal-certified kitchens, meat and supply chains are not possible to guarantee so vegetarian or vegan meals can be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above, and plan ahead with your guide.
INTOLERANCES
Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)
Gluten-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, options may be more limited compared to those without dietary requirements. While your local hosts will do their best, it’s worth knowing that gluten-free provision may vary in rural areas where it is harder to source specialist products. Therefore, meals will be based on naturally gluten-free dishes more often than specialist substitutes. That said, many standard meals already include several options without gluten, even without special preparation, including grilled meats, potato dishes, buckwheat/rice, eggs and salads. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.
Lactose Free
Lactose-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Many traditional dishes are naturally lactose-free or can easily be prepared without dairy, such as vegetable dishes, cabbage/sauerkraut, buckwheat/rice and potato dishes, legumes, and salads.
ALLERGIES
Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy (including Coeliac disease), please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority.
*Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.
