Maintaining a gluten-free diet can be a bit challenging at times–especially when you’re traveling! So we have put together some of our favorite travel tips. Having logged in more than 10 trips in my very first year of diagnosis, I picked up a few tricks along the way. Plus, I consulted one of our favorite gluten-free dining experts, Jennifer Rafferty of the renowned Gluten-Free Inspired Blog and am pretty certain that we came up with a stellar list of gluten-free travel tips.

Here are some of our tops suggestions for planning and having a successful gluten-free trip:

• Do Your Research: Food expert Jennifer Rafferty wisely begins her trip-planning with research: “I would say that I put a significant amount of time into the research before I set out on the trip. I search the web, I search GF blogs that might be written by someone who resides in the location where I am going, and I might e-mail them for insider advice. I also have a copy of the Triumph Dining Guide, which I try to bring with me whenever I am going to be away from my kitchen for extended periods of time.”

• Bring Your Own Food: “Travel days,” or days spent largely in airports and on planes can be some of the toughest to manage. We find that we can never pack too many snacks and sandwiches when we fly. Jennifer agrees: “I always try to leave my house with a stock of Larabars and a bagged lunch/snack if I am going to be traveling by plane or train for an extended period of time before reaching my destination.”

• Cook Your Own Meals: One of our favorite ways to travel gluten-free is by opting for travel accommodations with a kitchen. The obvious choice would be an inclusive hotel suite, but we prefer renting through VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner). VRBO allows you to rent residences and vacation homes at rates that are often quite affordable. There is something truly refreshing about arriving in a new city, checking out the local grocery fare and knowing that for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, you have the option of eating a self-prepared, delicious gluten-free meal.

• Don’t Forget Your Enzymes: Many who are gluten sensitive agree that digestive enzymes can help manage accidental “gluten slips.” In an article for Celiac.com, I explored the subject of what to do if you accidentally ingest gluten. And many readers agreed with the doctors that I consulted on the subject that digestive enzymes such as GlutenEase can in fact help. Though they may not prevent damage to your body, they can reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms. My philosophy is “don’t dine out without enzymes.” When traveling, they are the first thing I pack.

Whether you are traveling near or far, we hope that these gluten-free travel tips help prepare you for your next journey!