By: Iris Hami

High-end kosher travel is one of life’s great pleasures and adventures. Kosher family vacations that explore the rich and complex Jewish heritage and history of the Diaspora, or experience the world’s great cultural sites and outstanding natural beauty, can be truly memorable. The potential downside is that kosher travel may be stressful. It can take a considerable amount of planning and coordination to find luxury kosher hotels and appetizing kosher meals, as well as to arrange international flights and local connections that accommodate Shabbat observance.

Fortunately, with some prior planning and a ‘can-do’ attitude, it’s possible to cut out the stress and enjoy the ideal vacation or Jewish heritage tour. This convenient guide to kosher vacation planning will help you create a customized travel itinerary that opens up some of the world’s exciting destinations, without compromising on your family’s religious and cultural values.

Understanding Kosher Travel Challenges

The primary challenge of kosher travel often revolves around food, especially when visiting countries like the Baltic States and Poland, which have a rich Jewish history but no longer host large Jewish communities. If you’re planning to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as trekking or traveling to more exotic locations, maintaining a kosher diet can become even more difficult. Even on a luxury trip, the experience may feel less enjoyable if the food doesn’t meet the high standard set by the rest of the journey.

One of the common misconceptions about kosher dining abroad is that travelers are essentially confined to Jewish neighborhoods and have to plan their trip around their next meal. There are also a lot of unnecessary anxieties about the quality of supervision and certification in kosher-friendly hotels and restaurants that cater to Jews.

These days, it’s possible to balance Jewish religious and cultural requirements with international travel, particularly when you have access to expert kosher travel advice and updated kosher travel tips.

Planning: The Foundation of Stress-Free Kosher Adventures

If you’re planning a kosher vacation, the ideal starting point is to research kosher-friendly destinations online. You may be surprised by the number of resorts and cities, even some quite unusual ones, that make an effort to accommodate Jewish travelers with kosher-friendly amenities. A quick look at the local Chabad site will usually give you a good idea of whether local kosher certification is reliable.

If you’re creating a custom itinerary with an experienced Jewish travel company, they can often offer valuable insights and recommendations based on their local knowledge and contacts. You can also explore the App Store or Google Play for kosher travel apps that provide helpful information about kosher restaurants, street snacks, and locations for finding delis and supermarkets to stock up on kosher supplies.

Securing Kosher Meals with Ease

Whether you’re tucking into a Greek meze by the sea as you explore Jewish heritage in the Mediterranean, or planning a huge Argentinian steak dinner cooked over the asado barbecue grill, sitting together for a shared meal is a big part of kosher family vacations. If you can’t find local kosher restaurants, consider opting for self-catering with car hire. You can easily do a couple of big shops in a kosher supermarket, or arrange for kosher food deliveries. Many Jewish families are attracted to the idea of renting a luxury villa or apartment rather than staying in a hotel.

If you do stay in a kosher-friendly hotel, you have two basic choices. The first is to find a Jewish-owned hotel (or a hotel that is located near a Jewish neighbourhood and routinely accommodates Jewish guests), or you can find a high-class luxury hotel that has the resources and expertise to offer genuine kosher-friendly accommodation and gourmet dining with an immaculate service standard.

Pay attention to online reviews, and don’t hesitate to contact the local Chabad if you have questions. Local knowledge is worth its weight in gold, and a professional Jewish travel company will typically have its own established contacts within the hotel industry and tourism sector.

Kosher Travel Tips for Families: Making It Fun and Memorable

Airline travel and airports can be frustrating and stressful for adults, let alone for kids. You can ease the journey and reduce everybody’s stress levels by something as simple as taking plenty of kid-friendly kosher snacks in your cabin luggage. Not all children cope well with unfamiliar food – kosher or not – so try making the foreign food experience part of the family vacation adventure. It’s an excellent opportunity to broaden your kids’ horizons and expose them to other Jewish culinary traditions, while teaching them more about kashrut. 

Allowing children to help plan or even prepare a Shabbat or holiday dinner on vacation creates excellent engagement and gives them the confidence to explore foreign kosher food. If you’re self-catering, you can turn a vacation Shabbat into a unique event and show the kids how the core traditions of candle lighting, kiddush, and a shared meal can travel with the family.

Expert Insights: Tips from Expert Kosher Agents

Kosher family vacations in places with large and tight-knit Jewish communities, such as Le Marais in Paris, or the Latin American Jewish neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Panama City, are relatively straightforward. There are numerous superb kosher restaurants, supermarkets, and delis, as well as opportunities to sample delicious home cooking. If you travel to Tokyo or Havana, you can still find excellent kosher food, but you’ll need to be a little more organized.

A Jewish travel company will provide expert kosher travel advice, drawing on decades of experience arranging successful kosher trips for families and large tour groups. The local Chabad is usually an excellent source of information and will invariably offer hospitality, religious services, and possibly other cultural activities. Finally, apps and online reviews can be a quick and convenient source of information.

One key consideration when planning a kosher vacation is to take the local security situation into account. US government websites can provide up-to-date travel advice for specific countries. Suppose you choose to travel with a Jewish tour provider. In that case, they can assist in making local arrangements to ensure your safety, such as hiring experienced guides, vetted drivers, and reliable accommodations. It’s also worth noting that many popular destinations for kosher family vacations are often considered safer than the average US city.

Modern kashrut apps, Chabad, and expert Jewish travel companies are helping to open up the world to convenient kosher travel. If you want to plan a luxury tour of a kosher-friendly travel destination, or want to get off the beaten track, and still keep kosher? Talk to Gil Travel. We have decades of experience arranging high-end Jewish travel for families and organized groups.

Iris Hami is the President of Gil Travel Group, the largest travel management firm sending people to Israel. She has over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, and uses that knowledge to craft unique Jewish journeys around the world.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only. Readers are advised to verify the current status of kosher amenities, accommodations, and local regulations before making travel arrangements.