A simple, effective way to communicate a traveler's dietary needs at restaurants overseas — translated to the local language, in writing, in front of the kitchen.
Every year we collect dietary information from every traveler in advance and notify restaurants ahead of time so the kitchen can prepare. But language barriers, busy nights, and last-minute kitchen changes happen. The cards add a final layer of insurance — visible, in writing, in the local language.
An allergy never gets assumed on a Passports tour. From the moment a traveler enrolls to the moment a plate hits the table, the dietary list is checked four separate times — by three separate teams. The cards on the table are the fifth line of defense, not the first.
At 80 days out, every enrolled traveler gets a dietary-restrictions form. We text, email, and call weekly until they answer — and the only way to clear the prompt is to either declare a restriction or actively click "no restrictions." Silence isn't an answer we accept.
About three weeks before departure, the consolidated restriction list is sent ahead to every restaurant on the itinerary. The kitchen has time to source ingredients, plan substitutions, and flag any dish they can't safely modify — long before the group walks in.
The day before each dinner, your Tour Director calls the restaurant and walks the manager through the night's restrictions one more time. Staff turnover, mid-week menu changes, the chef's day off — all caught here, with 24 hours to fix.
Minutes before service, the Tour Director walks the floor with the server on duty, names every traveler with a restriction, and confirms the kitchen has the modified plates ready. No plate gets sent out without this last green light.
Each card is personalized to the traveler — name, restriction, language. Your group leader receives them printed, two per traveler, before departure.
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Sample 7Group leaders receive personalized cards from Passports based on the dietary information collected during enrollment — two identical cards for each traveler with a noted restriction, plus a few extra blanks for anything that comes up on the road.
Hand the full set to your Tour Director. They carry the cards for the duration of the tour, distribute them at the start of every group meal, and collect them as dinner ends.
The traveler places their card in front of them at the table. Servers and kitchen staff see the restriction in their own language before any food is ordered or served.
We strongly encourage every traveler with allergies or dietary restrictions to use these cards, but participation is at the discretion of the Group Leader. The cards enhance communication; they don’t replace personal responsibility — travelers should still confirm with restaurant staff before consuming any meal. If you or a traveler has a restriction we don’t already have on file, please tell us as soon as possible.
Your Tour Advisor can add a dietary restriction to a traveler’s file at any time before departure. Cards reprint automatically.