Tips for Travelling with PKU

Tips for Travelling with PKU

With summer holidays already in full force in the UK and rapidly approaching for those across the rest of the country, it’s a good time to talk about travelling with PKU.

PKU adds an extra layer to preparing for a family holiday, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a fantastic time with a little preparation. There’s no limit to what you can do or where you can go, as long as you plan ahead.

Once you’ve decided where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, it’s time to start getting organised. If you are driving then it’s easy to pack all the PKU supplement and low protein foods you’ll need. Flying can complicate things a little more, but it’s not impossible to get on board and to your destination with everything you need, and that’s what this blog post will focus on here.

We’re very lucky in the UK. We are close to Europe and it’s often just as cost effective to fly to Spain for a week as it is to have a holiday in England during the summer holidays.

It’s worth doing your research with airlines before you book. While cost is often a huge consideration, many airlines will allow you to take an extra bag for medical supplies. This eases the stress of packing immensely as you can fit in scales, supplements and low protein foods

Choosing your hotel should be a careful consideration, too. Take the time to email or phone around to discuss whether they would be willing to cater for the PKU diet. All inclusive hotels are often a good option if they will cook the low protein pasta, as there are often plenty of fruits, vegetable and salad options freely available at meal times.

When travelling, make sure you always have your ESPKU Metabolic Disorders Travel Passport and a letter from your metabolic clinic with you to explain what the foods and supplements are, and what they are for. This should allow you to bring a small amount onboard in your carry on, ensuring you have a supply in the event your luggage was to go missing.

In the coming weeks we will make a post about travelling at home, so keep an eye on our Facebook page!

And with that, prepare, go forth and have an amazing summer!

What are your top tips for travelling with PKU? Share them with us in the comments!