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Eastern Europe Tour Gluten Free Thoughts and Accommodations for a group of 3

We are very interested in this tour: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-tour

We are 2 celiacs and a gluten free guy. We're very sensitive cross contamination, but also very resourceful. My daughter did Estonia for a summer long scholarship course last summer and I led a group of students in France 8-10 years ago. We both did fine. Honestly Washington DC is harder for us than either of our experiences in Europe.

My question is, would this trip be too far out of West Europe to hope to be able make it work? Prague is a bucket list city for us.

Also, does anyone have any experience traveling with three adults with the Rick Steves tours? Can we do it without ending up with a single supplement? Would there be a discount for a triple room?

We've been saving for a last-kid-at-home Europe trip since 2018 and this feels like the right trip at the right time, so any feedback would be appreciated before we book. We all have our passports so we can make the June trip happen.

Posted by
28053 posts

I don't have dietary restrictions, but I've been everywhere that tour goes except Eger, and those areas are quite westernized. However, I recall that Mister E, our expert on Budapest, suggested sticking to major-hotel restaurants (or something like that) when a poster asked about a family member who has a life-threatening allergy. Cross-contamination can happen so easily.

I confess I'd be a bit more leery about Romania and Bulgaria, but perhaps that would be unwarranted. The EU does have strict rules about allergens.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you acraven.

That is a good point about the EU. It is much stricter than the US, so it does matter whether or not we are in the EU.

We rarely eat in restaurants in the United States. We're much more likely to grab something from a market or grocery, especially when we travel. The usual gluten free restaurant options are rarely worth the risk. I assume we would mostly do the same on the tour.

Posted by
1068 posts

"Also, does anyone have any experience traveling with three adults with the Rick Steves tours? Can we do it without ending up with a single supplement? Would there be a discount for a triple room?"

I have not travelled with a group as three adults on Rick Steves tours but I have had many groups of three on past Rick Steves tours. You will all be roomed together in a triple room or a family room, depending on the hotel. When you sign up for Rick Steves tours, they will ask for your bedding preferences (such as three single beds; a double and single bed, etc.). You will only have to pay a single supplement if one of you wants to be guaranteed a single room by yourself, and not share a room with the other two in your group.

Posted by
445 posts

As far as the Gluten Free stuff is concerned why not consider a food tour when in Prague. These guys know exactly what's in the food so at any given location they understand your specific needs etc. It's also a great way to meet people. I'll PM you a link to some GF resources in Prague. And don't worry, for Prague you are only travelling to Central Europe not Eastern Europe :-)