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Best Gluten-Free Holidays

Get all the info on the best gluten-free friendly holidays.

Holidays are all about great choices. Beach or pool? Mojito or cosmopolitan? Two desserts or three? But for travellers with food allergies, deciding where to go, which hotel to stay at, and what to eat once there can be a daunting task. Today, around one person in every 100 suffers from coeliac disease in the UK alone. With the All-Inclusive love affair showing no sign of slowing down, it’s therefore no surprise that it’s becoming tough for some holidaymakers to find a balance between catered luxury and not risking a reaction abroad. So, we’ve whittled down our best options for gluten-free travellers, from hotels on faraway shores, to places a little closer to home.

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MEXICO

In a land where nearly every recipe involves a tortilla, you could be hard pushed to find gluten-free options. However, at the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, gluten-free guests will be given a letter from the concierge at check-in to show at each of the restaurants. At Pizza Pizza, gluten-free pizza dough is made fresh, so your only worry will be deciding between pepperoni and Hawaiian. And, there’s a great breakfast selection at Spoon, too. You’ll even find gluten-free dishes at Zocalo and Zavaz, the Mexican and Caribbean places. Elsewhere, in most eateries the chef can prepare meals to order, giving you complete peace of mind., the Mexican and Caribbean places. Elsewhere, in most eateries the chef can prepare meals to order, giving you complete peace of mind. 
Zavaz restaurant at the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun   Check out our Mexico holidays >

GREECE

Grilled meat and fish top most menus in Greece, and luckily, they’re both gluten-free. However, pita bread, filo pastry and moussaka are still firm favourites, too. At the TUI BLUE SENSATORI gluten-free guests can have a meeting with the Food and Beverage Manager to discuss options and requirements, and the restaurant chefs will happily rustle up a gluten-free version of most menu items. In Kos, at the Blue Lagoon Resort, three out of their four restaurants cater for allergies and intolerances, including the Greek tavern and the international buffet. 
Buffet Restaurant, TUI BLUE Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace       Check out our Greece holidays >

SPAIN

The TUI BLUE Flamingo Beach resort in Lanzarote has been highly rated for its awareness of dietary requirements. At the buffet restaurant, gluten-free pizzas will be made fresh to order, and at the breakfast buffet, you’ll find separate toasters and utensils specifically for gluten-free guests. Plus, each apartment comes with a kitchenette for cooking meals, if you’d prefer to eat in some nights. Meanwhile, at the adults-only Hipotels Natura Palace, all gluten-free options are clearly labelled, and the chef can make personal recommendations each evening., all gluten-free options are clearly labelled, and the chef can make personal recommendations each evening. 
Sea View dining option at the HTUI BLUE Flamingo Beach Resort

PORTUGAL

In Portugal, awareness of gluten-free dining is still in its early stages. Avoid meals with ‘trigo’ or ‘cevada’ listed in the ingredients, and stick to grilled food over fried. Plus, watch out – ‘sin-gluten’ means ‘containing gluten’, the opposite to the meaning in Spanish. In Portugal, gluten-free foods are marked as ‘sem-gluten’. At the TUI BLUE Madeira Gardens in Funchal, you’ll find clearly marked options, and the chef will happily recommend specific dishes that are cooked to order. Over at the Hotel Pestana Porto Santo – which has received top reviews for its gluten-free offerings – there are separate allergy food stations at the buffet, and speciality dishes can be whipped up by the chef in the à la carte places. 
A LA Carte restaurant, TUI BLUE Madeira Gardens      Check out our Portugal holidays >

JAMAICA

In Jamaica creole cuisine tops the bill, with jerk chicken and salt fish as the main players. Allergies and intolerances are well-known here, so it’s a top destination for gluten-free and coeliac travellers. At the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa, the Sumptouri restaurant has a full gluten-free menu, and there’s a special programme in place for guests with allergies. This includes a coeliac dietary card which you can show in the resort’s restaurants to make the chef and servers aware. All gluten-free meals are cooked on their own surface, and the speciality cakes and desserts have gotten rave reviews. 
grilled Jamaican jerk chicken with black beans   Check out our Jamaica holidays >

ITALY

Contrary to popular belief, the motherland of all things pizza and pasta has a remarkable understanding of gluten intolerance. There’s a high level of awareness among chefs and restaurant staff who - in keeping with Italian tradition - would like absolutely everyone to fall in love with their food. Keep an eye out for ‘senza glutine’ – ‘gluten-free’ in Italian. At the TUI BLUE Nastro Azzurro, there are gluten, wheat and lactose-free options, all on a separate menu, and the chef will happily talk through any concerns or preferences. In Scala, at the Z'Intonio Hotel, you’ll find homemade gluten-free pasta and pizza at the ready – just give the chef the nod. 
Generic top down shot of pizza and pizza cutter on wooden platter    Check out our Italy holidays >

Ready to check out our gluten-free hotspots for yourself? 

For starters, browse our Sensatori by TUI BLUE resorts for inspiration – they all cater for allergens. Plus, find out about our best vegan holidays and the best holiday destinations for foodies.

Fancy a closer look at our TUI-designed hotels? Explore our virtual resort.

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Author: Charlotte Harris and Katie Gregory


Last updated: 22.12.2022